Organized A to Z Blog

Top 10 Steps to Simplicity

June 30, 2011

Excerpted from “The Power of Simplicity” by Patty Kreamer, CPO®, COC® ~ Certified Professional Organizer® Certified Organizer Coach®

1.  Be on the look out for hearing and saying these statements:

• I am so busy.
• I never have any time for myself.
• I am always running late.
• I never make dinner…I make reservations.
• I can’t remember the last time my family ate together…
• I didn’t have a chance to…
• I am always so tired.
• I wish I had time to…
• My house is a disaster area.
• I never stop running all day but I get so little done.

2.  Recognize that simplicity is a journey, not an event.

Simplicity is a choice.  A decision.  The bottom line is that only
you are responsible for what you bring into your life.  Period.

3.  Know that CLUTTER CAN:

• Make you feel tired
• Affect your body weight
• Keep you living in the past
• Make you put your life on hold
• Induce a feeling of shame and guilt
• Be the main cause of procrastination
• Add unnecessary confusion in your life
• Affect how people treat and/or respect you
• Induce or enhance the chances of depression
• Cause disharmony among family, friends, or coworkers

4.  Use the NEED VS. WANT” Filter.

If I NEED this item:

• Where will this live when I get it back to my home or office?
• If there is no room for it, the second question to ask is:
• What will I get rid of in order to make room?

If I WANT this item:

• Can I live without this item?
• Can I wait a week to make the purchase?
• Do I really want to spend my money on this item?

5.  Live by the ONE IN – ONE OUT Rule.

When you buy something new, get rid of something old.

6.  Identify how you make decisions…EMOTIONALLY or LOGICALLY.

Emotion might bring guilt, fear, stress, and several other feelings into play.  Logic, however, dismisses feelings and goes to the thinking side of decision-making.  Looking at your stuff, it’s easier to feel what it means to you than it is to think about what it is doing to you.

7.  Remember what IMPULSE stands for:

I
Must
Purchase
Until
Logic
Surpasses
Emotion

8.  Learn to use THE POWER OF THE PAUSE.

The investment of just a few minutes or seconds in a “pause” BEFORE anything new enters your life can make a monumental difference.  The period of time before you decide to bring something new into your life can be the crucial “make or break point” in attaining simplicity.  You have to make a conscious decision whether or not you have both physical and emotional room for it.

9.  Take Inventory.

Literally taking an inventory of what you have in your life will be a productive step for you.  Since clutter is what you no longer see, many times you don’t even know what you have!

10. Recognize that only you can make the choice to live your life on purpose.

Simplicity is not easy, but you now have the essentials to successfully begin the process and achieve it.  Remember that simplicity is not an event.  It is a lifestyle, a choice, YOUR choice, a journey, and an ongoing path.

© 2009-2011 Patty Kreamer, CPO^®, COC^®

 

Filed under: Organizing Tips,Stress Relief,Time Management

Tags: clutter, organize, organizing, Patty Kreamer, reduce clutter, simplicity, The Power of Simplicity