Blog

Clearing Up After Christmas

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:16:00 GMT

Congratulations! You made it through Christmas.

Taking the Christmas tree and decorations down can sometimes be an arduous task so here’s a few hints to help you.

Declutter and simplify your life

As it was...

As it became!

Give yourself a certain amount of time to do the task and be sure to ‘Finish the Job!’
How about going through the Christmas decorations and getting really serious about what to keep and what to toss? Which ones did you not use this time? It might be time to get rid of the ones you didn’t like or were broken!! Maybe you could replace them with the after-Christmas sale bargains.
Consider storing ‘all things Christmas’ together, in the garage, the attic or in an out of the way cupboard. The tree, the decorations, the new cards left over, the roll of wrapping paper (with a rubber band around it), the list of who you gave cards to (or emailed) and who and what presents you gave. This makes preparation for next year so much easier.
With the Christmas cards and emailed newsletters you received, why not gather them all together and enjoy reading them over a coffee or a glass of wine. Treasure the memories and then toss the card in the recycling bin, unless you want to keep aside until you take action such as ringing or emailing the person.
What about the Christmas presents? No doubt you are already enjoying the gifts you love. But what about the ones you don’t love, like or even need? Remember, when someone gives you a gift, it’s your choice what to do with it. Maybe you could recycle it, give it away to a Charity Store, or re-give it (attach a note to it with who gave it to you, to save the embarrassment of giving it back to them and put it in your gift box.)
Notice how much extra space there is now, without the Christmas tree! There’s room to move again. It’s like taking a piece of furniture away.
Look around – is there any piece of furniture you could do without in your home (or your office)? Can you double up on purposes? Get radical if you want to declutter and simplify your life.
And while you’re at it, how about cleaning up the whole area? Release things that have been begging to leave your home for ages. Somebody out there will love them! (Or the garbage man will oblige and take the rubbish away). You’ll be pleased you did; a decluttered life is a simplified life

Declutter and simplify your life

And if the thought of getting organised on your own overwhelms you............

Simply call Helen @ Clarity Matters on 0410 649 481

or check out www.claritymatters.com.au

Let’s do it together

You are welcome to forward this to your friends; if they would like to receive the newsletter directly, they can go to www.claritymatters.com.au/15-Tips and will receive 15 Tips to help kick start them into action

Christmas and Gift Giving

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:51:00 GMT

Simplifying Christmas This Year

Is it all too much for you to face Christmas this year?

Is there already so much ‘stuff’ in your home that you become completely overwhelmed with the thought of having the Christmas tree up and having a whole new batch of presents under it?

Are there too many Christmas presents to get organised, and wrap, and find a place for afterwards?

How about thinking about Christmas a little differently this year?

Here are some ideas you may like to consider, based on the concept in Gary Chapman’s book,

“The Five Love Languages”, which looks at five different ways people feel loved. These are

Physical Touch
Words of Affirmation
Quality Time
Acts of Service
Receiving Gifts

Suggestions to simplify Christmas giving:

Gift experiences this year – rather than items. Like a Gift Voucher for a massage – for those who enjoy physical touch.
Book a getaway weekend for those who like quality time together, or give tickets for a show.
Give a voucher towards help in the home – for those who would appreciate acts of service… something or someone to help. Book a cleaner for the coming year!
Write an extra special card about their character qualities to someone who loves words of affirmation! This is a powerful way to express love to some people, as an alternative to gift giving and saying little about who they are as a person.
Give gifts to the gift givers – and they will shine brightly like the Christmas lights on receiving them!
You may like to be generous – but how about experimenting with generosity in other areas apart from giving physical items.

We are talking about decluttering and simplifying our lives after all!

A very Happy Christmas to you!

If you need help to declutter and get organised for Christmas, without overwhelm,

simply call Helen @ Clarity Matters NOW on 0410 649 481

There are some times available to help you, up to Thursday 22nd December.

www.claritymatters.com.au

Declutter Your Paperwork

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:14:00 GMT

Where is that piece of paper?

It seems to me the ‘paperless society’ due to computers hasn’t happened yet!
So let’s deal with the paper we do have.

Paper overwhelms many people, quite often due to indecision and a lack of simple systems.
So much time can be wasted looking for that one piece of paper that is ....'somewhere.'

Declutter and simplify your life

'The pile of paper'

As it was...

As it became!

This pile of papers may seem exaggerated to some but to others it’s quite a reality, especially if every piece of paper lying around the house ....or the home office....or the business office was gathered up.

So what did we do?

Asking questions like:

Do I still need this / is it applicable in my life now?
Can I access this information somewhere else?

Helped us decide:

What to keep
What to throw / recycle / shred

Remember, having a file marked ‘Sentimental’ helps with those favourite cards and letters that you really want to keep. Or store them in a special box elsewhere.
Filing cabinets are great inventions, best used to file papers, not as dumping grounds!!
The manilla folders which hold each specific group of papers were labelled with a texta pen, to be obvious, as were the tabs that head up the topic.
Coloured tabs were used in some instances to indicate more than one file for a similar area, for example, car insurances, car maintenance, car registrations all in yellow tabs.
We filed in alphabetical order as one option but in some cases, we file by areas of life. For example, business / property / investments in one drawer; personal / family / household paperwork in another drawer.
Once the system is set up, simply “FINISH THE JOB.” It’s my favourite saying! Put the piece of paper where it has to go, now!
The result: A stress free, simple way to keep your paperwork, so you’ll know exactly where to put it and where to find it. No more piles to sort through!

Declutter and simplify your life

And if the thought of getting organised on your own overwhelms you............

Simply call Helen @ Clarity Matters on 0410 649 481

Let’s do it together

www.claritymatters.com.au

Decluttering the Spare Room

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:22:00 GMT

Here’s the deal:

No judging.....if you’re organised or a minimalist. We all have strengths & weaknesses.

No guilt or condemnation....if you’re a hoarder or cluttered. There’s always hope.

Simply be encouraged and inspired....and maybe apply some of the ideas to your own world!

Declutter and simplify your life.

The ‘Spare Room’

As it was...

As it became!

Some rooms can become ‘dumping grounds.’ Kids grow up and so no longer play with certain toys.

So what did we do?

We sold some and gave others to Recycling / Charity Stores, keeping the most sentimental of them in special boxes, labelled for each person.
Those ‘special constructions’ made at school (like the one on top of the timber cabinet), that are huge and delicate and get damaged are often best photographed initially with their maker; it’s good to emphasise the positives of the photo over keeping the item - a safer, long term reminder! Then it’s easier to remove the item from the premises....with permission....
We turned the bookcase in the corner around, making it more accessible, adjusted the shelves and filled it with age appropriate books.
Moving the timber cabinet from the centre of the room to against the side wall gave more space in the area, opening it up.
The plastic tubs in the cabinet were great to store various items, each labelled.
And finally, the two tub chairs either side of the small bookcase created a more welcoming place for a quiet escape for parents.
The result: a fabulous space for the kids to hang out, which doubles up as a retreat area for a moment of adult relaxation!

Declutter and simplify your life

And if it’s all too much on your own

Simply call Helen at Clarity Matters on 0410 649 481

Let’s do it together

www.claritymatters.com.au

Neighbourly Junk

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:32:00 GMT

I was having a laugh with my neighbour who was throwing her old gothic style furniture out for council clean up. It provided us with the opportunity to chat about the relevance that objects can play in our lives and how something, that at one stage was so precious, can so often turn into garage junk.

Do I really need that many candelabra she asked herself? And would anyone be offended at so many little coffin bric a bric lying on the footpath? Before we finished our cuppa, the coffins were gone, and of course the candelabra went not long after.

Our conclusion: a photo of your things can often provoke just as many memories - and laughs and that it is always OK to give yourself permission to de-clutter.
Her reply? "ah this means room for new things!"

Go on de -clutter this week - you will be surprised how many laughs your garage and cupboards can hold!

Is your Garage Fit for Your Car?

Fri, 15 May 2009 09:38:00 GMT

Clutter, clutter, clutter! Are you overwhelmed by too much stuff, inadequate storage places and no time to spend on putting things away? Sound familiar? You are not alone in this. Many people have challenges in the area of clutter.

Why do we keep things?

Quite often we keep things that we think we might use in the future, yet in a lot of cases have not used in ages. The reasons for this? We don’t like it; it’s out of date; it relates to a past interest; it’s not appropriate for our present stage of life or it’s broken and we’ve never got around to fixing it.

Sometimes we convince ourselves that we might need it one day – but that ‘one day’ still hasn’t arrived. Maybe we could source a new item cheaply on eBay, in garage sales, or in recycling stores.

The main pitfalls:

Having too much stuff
Not storing things in easily accessible, labelled containers
Not putting things away straight away after use
Not making decisions about specific problem items

Three ways to keep the garage organised:

1. Decide what you really need and get rid of the rest

To help yourself with the clean up process – ask yourself:

Am I really going to use this in the future?
Do I really want all this clutter?
Wouldn’t a spacious, organised garage be a refreshing change?

2. Store what you do want to keep systematically.

Use labelled containers where possible.
Have the items you use frequently in a place and at a level that makes it easier to access – according to your height for example.
Compartmentalise – in strong plastic storage containers, boxes, or on shelves that are easily accessible.
Allow yourself a certain quantity of one particular thing, to avoid having an excess of the same item.
Label the boxes – eg. Hardware items, electrical gear, kids toys, picnic gear, sporting goods – to make it easier to find, use or put away.
Train your children to use your system. Make sure they can get to (reach and position) the boxes they need access to.

3. Make yourself finish the job.

Put the items away in their designated place straight away, because every time one item is left lying around, say on the floor, it soon builds up to a mess with another and another and another. Say it, mean it, do it – finish the job!

How to keep your car tidy and clutter free:

Have a plastic bag for rubbish in the car. Keep a store of them in your garage to easily replace used ones.
Finish the job – immediately on arriving home empty the car of everything you took with you, or have bought whilst out and about and put it where it needs to go,
Have a box in the boot (strapped in) for items that need to remain in the car, for example, first aid kit, supply of kids toys, picnic rug.
Use the glove box for items to be kept in the front of the car. Remember to keep tidying it out, especially after big trips.

Happy motoring and safe travels! And remember, your trip has only finished when you have put everything away! You’ll be pleased you did!

De-Cluttering your World

Fri, 15 May 2009 09:54:00 GMT

by Helen Maguire

An uncluttered life. Just imagine it: being able to put your hand on everything you need because it has a place, getting rid of things you don't need or use, enjoying what you have. Without a doubt God is into space and organization. He created space and order and gave us the logic and means to create it and enjoy it within our own lives.

We can so easily get tangled up in the web of clutter in our lives, bringing more and more "stuff" into our homes. Over months or years we can build up useless clutter by keeping things we don't need, sometimes tucking them into cupboards we rarely open, behind closed doors. It's easy to convince ourselves that if we can find a place for it, then we should keep it. The result is our lives are clogged up with too much "stuff"!

Don't get me wrong here. God is a God of abundance, but abundance doesn't always refer to the possessions we have around us, particularly those of limited use. Perhaps we should consider how it might feel to have an abundance of space around us?

As Sharon Hague so aptly writes:

"Space indicates order - Clutter causes chaos;
Space creates freedom - Clutter is cramped and restrictive;
Space promotes energy and creativity - Clutter is draining and destructive."

So how about a little de-cluttering in your world? You can be liberated from that tangled web of clutter. It is freeing on the mind, the soul and the spirit. And it feels just great!

This is what one happy client said after clearing out her home of useless clutter: "De-cluttering has actually done more for me than a holiday because it lifted a heavy weight off my mind. It was life-changing!"

How about making a decision to remove those things from your world that you no longer use, or things that used to be important and are no longer? What about the things you have six of, when one is enough? (Ok ladies, I dare you to go and count the number of take away food containers stashed in the back of your cupboards?!)

Addressing the issue may seem daunting. For some there can be shame attached. You tell yourself, "I should be more organized," or "I shouldn't have let it get into such a state," or "If anyone sees this mess, they'll think I'm an absolute failure. " Forget all those thoughts. God is not a God who puts guilt on us, so let's draw a line in the sand, and begin again. Be inspired to put the past behind you and step into the freedom of the future. Forgive yourself! Then just have a go!

The process can be challenging at first, but it is well worth it. Simply daring to give away one item of clothing, then another, and another, can start the ball rolling. It has a domino effect. Cleaning out one cupboard in the kitchen may lead on to the bathroom cupboard and then the linen cupboard. It can become a family mission to de-clutter. More times than you can imagine, I will start helping a woman get decluttered, only to find her husband gets inspired to clear out his own wardrobe, or the garage or the shed. Children can even catch the de-cluttering bug!

Here are some questions to ask:

Just how many plastic containers can you use?
How many out of fashion handbags do you really need?!
"Will I seriously use all those old eyeshadows that I never liked the colour of anyway?"
"Why am I cluttering up my cupboards with gifts that I don't really like?" (Someone at Vinnies will love them!)

Can you just see it now:

Your wardrobe - where the clothes that greet you are actually those you enjoy wearing. Not the ones being kept out of guilt... or in the hope that you may just wear them when you lose those extra kilograms. The best way to get a new wardrobe is to clean out the old one and make room for the new. You know the principle: when you give, you receive! Being colour-coded is an excellent investment too.
Your sideboard with only the placemats that you like in the drawers, not the ones that you were given as a gift and have felt obliged to keep all those years;
Your linen cupboard - where you have only the sheets and towels you like to use these days;
Your kitchen cupboards - where the plastics don't come out to meet you when you open the door. (Suggestion: put what you need in a box so they don't escape.

A powerful tip to finish with is: "Finish the Job!"

Having de-cluttered, the best way to stay ordered is to "finish the job" and to put things away where they're supposed to go. Train your kids and encourage your husband or flatmates to "finish the job."

Wouldn't it be fun to get a head start on "Spring Cleaning" and de-clutter your world today?

Helen Maguire is a natural encourager and motivator. She is passionate about decluttering and in her business, Clarity Matters, she loves to help people get free of the tangled web of clutter. In her spare time, Helen takes Crisis Medical teams of Doctors and Nurses to Third World Countries. She has been married to her lovable Irishman Brian for 9 years.

Moving House – Decluttering

Fri, 15 May 2009 09:51:00 GMT

While moving house, packing up and then un-packing may not be the most joyful activity in the whole world. It can provide a great opportunity to de-clutter your life and get all that unnecessary baggage out of the house. When you get things organised, it helps in so many ways:

You can find things faster
You feel organised
The house looks less cluttered
You get extra cash when you hold a garage sale
By presenting your house with less clutter, you can clearly show the space available and help realise a better price.

Getting professional help with de-cluttering is the fastest and most cost-effective way to get the job done. Helen Maguire of Clarity Matters can help de-clutter your home or workplace with ease. Helen has a wonderfully positive outlook on life that is infectious to those around her and she takes it into her work.

Would you like to be free of the tangled web of clutter? For most of us, the thought of sorting through clutter on our own is like a massive brick wall we simply cannot jump over. You are not alone if this is what you feel. This is where Helen loves to help – in a straight forward, easy manner, with a dash of sparkle thrown in to make the whole process much easier than you could have imagined. She takes into consideration your personality and habits, and encourages new ways about being organised.

Moving house speaks of change and a brand new start – what an ideal time to leave the old, unused, unwanted items behind, and take only what you desire for your new life ahead. There will be less packing to do and unpacking and getting organised in your new home will be a more exciting experience.

Helen is naturally passionate about helping people de-clutter. Simply call her on 0410 649 481 and allow her to take the overwhelming stress of clutter out of your life. You will be absolutely delighted with the results.