If you can’t think of a home for a certain item; maybe you don’t need to keep it.

If you wouldn’t know where to look for something; you probably wouldn’t remember you own it.

It’s tempting to keep things ‘just in case’. But, if you want to live with less clutter and less chaos; things need to have specific homes. You need to be able to easily access the things you want, need and use. You don’t have enough space to store everything-just in case.

Live with less and trust that when you need something you’ll be able to find it in your home. Or that you’ll have a reasonable substitute. Or you will have the means to acquire it.

Try living with less to have more of a life.

Your space is limited.

Let Costco or Fred Meyer or Target keep things until you actually need them.

Sure, it’s good idea to have things on hand.

Back ups of frequently used or edible items.

It’s not such a good idea to have so many of an item that your closets, pantry, or cupboards are overflowing with multiples.

Purchasing in bulk or multiples is only a good idea if you use the items in a timely manner and you have adequate space to store things.

Three three packs of pasta sauce taking up room on the shelf doesn’t make sense if you only have pasta once a month. Twelve rolls of paper towels take up a lot of storage.

Giant economy boxes of things that get stale before you eat them aren’t a bargain.

Try coming from a place of abundance and trust that you can get what you need when you need it.

You don’t live in a warehouse, or a store. You live in a home. Do what you can to make it feel like one.

There really is a limit to the time in your life,

the space in your house, 

and the energy you have to give.

Make conscious choices about how you spend your time.
Looking at a screen, or looking into someone’s face?

Making more money or making stronger connections?

Buying stuff or having experiences?

Ask yourself “How much is enough?”

More is often just that, more.
Five of something isn’t five times better than one,

it’s one, five times over.

The more stuff you have the more you have to store,

maintain, keep track of, keep organized, 

justify and use.

Use limits to help you buy fewer items of better quality.
Choose activities that you actually enjoy.

Spend time with people you honestly care about.

If you want to get more done, trying saying No more often.

Focus on the tasks that will yield the results you say you want.

Say No to the people, situations, offers, the expectations of others, obligations and shoulds that don’t reflect what you need or value.

Do less. And do it with more focus, more interest and a clearer understanding of the results you are hoping to achieve.

Oh. And if you’re worried you might miss out: It’s much easier to take back a No than a Yes.

Stop saving the nice towels, the good wine, the scented candles.

You are worth the lovely things you’ve been given or have been saving for some mythical special occasion.

Not only will you free up space in the closet, on the shelf, or in the drawer, you will be caring for yourself in kind and tender ways.

Stop waiting or postponing: Use what you have in the life you’re living right now.

Wait a minute, before you put that item away ask yourself, “Is it worth keeping?”

Putting things away when you’re finished with them is key to eliminating clutter.
Sometimes though it’s a good idea to stop and consider if you really need or want to keep an item.

Before you toss a dried up pen back in the drawer, 
put a chipped cup back on the shelf, 
hang up a shirt that’s a tiny bit too tight, 
or make room for another book on an already crowded shelf, 
ask yourself:  “Is it worth keeping?” 

Is its value equal to the space it uses?
The care it requires?
Will I ever really use/wear/read/need it again?

If it  isn’t, let it go.  (You know-recycle, donate, toss.)

Oh, and let’s not forget the mental or emotional items we’re keeping. 
Is it helpful to hold onto that grudge or resentment, anger or fear?
Would letting go of those stories and memories make space in your head and heart?

You decide what has worth and value in the life you’re living right now.
Thoughtful decisions  about your home and life reflect what you care about and value.

Save money.  Spend time.

Spend time.  Save money.

Two different ways to deal with a situation.
Some days you’d rather spend the time.
Other days, it’s a better option to spend the money.

Make conscious choices that support your values,
your energy level, and the results you’re hoping to achieve.
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“Organization is about retrieval, not storage.”  Julie Morgenstern

If you needed X, where would you go to find it?
(If you can’t think of a place, perhaps you don’t need to be keeping/storing that item)

Being organized means the things we need and use are easily accessible 
where we need and use them.
It’s things having a logical (to you) place to live.
And it’s easy to return them to their home when you’ve finished using them.

And most importantly:
It isn’t about how the system looks-
it’s about how it functions for you.

(Matchy baskets might look nice, but if it’s out of sight/out of mind
it doesn’t make your life more organized)

May we bring wild blessings and fierce love to all we encounter.  Elizabeth Rainey

I have to go to the gym.
I get to experience my strength and stamina.

I have to go to the Holiday Party.
I get to spend time with people I love and don’t see often enough.

I have to participate in the Secret Santa.
I get to surprise someone with a funny and thoughtful gift.

I have to go to work.
I get paid to do something I’m good at and people appreciate.

Self talk and how we frame our experiences 
effects how we feel, and our attitude towards daily experiences.

If there are too many have tos, rethink why you feel they are necessary.
Is it still true?
If it isn’t; permission granted to let those things go.

Try coming from an attitude of gratitude and creativity about how you spend your time.
Make conscious choices that reflect the life you want to be living.

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