It is that time of year again. The eating frenzy is starting. So get your appetite ready! The meal prepared for Thanksgiving is quite traditional. Turkey, green beans, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and any other goodies that you can think of. But all that in one sitting can be a bit much for your tummy. So take it easy on the grazing. Leave some things out for the next day. Thanksgiving is also a time for family get togethers. Some you are thankful for and others, well, perhaps not so grateful. Taking the time to reflect on family is a good thing, most of the time. Acting in an unconditional and respectful way, no matter how someone grates on you, is the civilized thing to do. A cordial hello is a good start and ending. You don’t have to ask everyone how they are doing, and engage in a full length convo. Be on your best behavior with everyone you come across. Have compassion in your heart.
Besides eating and sitting next to a relative, many people are triggered to get organized before Christmas. A great way for organizing is to empty all the drawers in your home and categorize every stitch of what you own. Find the items that you will no longer use and donate or toss them in recycling or trash. E-waste items are best brought to E-waste sites. Here in Orange County the free E-waste site is in Irvine. Next empty out all the cabinets, including the kitchen.
Categorize and go through everything you own, asking yourself these 4 questions:
Is this item going to be used?
Does this item serve a purpose?
Is this item sentimental?
Do I love this item?
After that empty all your closets and storage areas, including the attic, basement and garage. Categorize, categorize, categorize!
Once everything from all the areas of your home are categorized, and you have decided what will remain in your house, the next step is to contain the categories. Giving each and every category a proper home is the way you will stay organized long-term. You will become, what I coined, “Perpetually Organized”.
The next step is to find the proper home for your contained items. Well, that is easy. The first thing to realize is that the only items that go in your inner space, such as cabinets, closets, and drawers are the items you use daily, weekly and monthly. Anything that is a once or twice or three times a year object goes further away. The less used items can go in the garage, attic or basement areas of your space. Then with the daily, weekly and monthly items figure out where you will use them and find a shelf, drawer or cabinet to put them in for easy access.
Getting organized is not rocket science, but it takes some might, strength and a good plan. It will also involve buying shelves, cabinets and drawers, clear bins, baskets or bowls to hold all of your stuff that does not fit into existing space.
After you have pondered your objects, purged what doesn’t meet criteria, categorized every single thing, contained and put away all your goodies, kick up your feet and have some left over Turkey and mashed Potatoes!
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