{"id":1318,"date":"2016-11-28T09:00:31","date_gmt":"2016-11-28T13:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/capturedclutter.com\/?p=1318"},"modified":"2017-05-15T14:34:30","modified_gmt":"2017-05-15T18:34:30","slug":"decluttering-letting-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/capturedclutter.com\/decluttering-letting-go\/","title":{"rendered":"Decluttering 101: How to Let Go and Get on With It"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is easy for me to say how simple it is to let things go, but not so easy when YOU are trying to part with memorabilia, favorite shoes, clothing, artwork jewelry and other collections.<\/p>\n

Of course, that is why it sometimes pays to\u00a0have a Professional Organizer on board<\/a>\u00a0as we help to keep it impersonal.<\/p>\n

But if you do not have the budget or desire to hire, here are a few tips to get you started on major clutter areas:<\/p>\n

1. Children\u2019s Art Work\u00a0<\/strong>
\nHow cute are those hand prints or those construction paper collages? And how about those Mother\u2019s Day cards, or the crayon-drawn pics of holiday events? Adorable, right? If you have more than one child, those precious art pieces can start taking over your house.<\/p>\n

One simple suggestion cold be to let your child choose several of their favorites every couple of months and display them on walls, fridge or bulletin boards.<\/p>\n

After these precious works serve their artful purpose, you can say goodbye. If that is too difficult, you can take a picture of the piece. Of course, that just creates another type of clutter \u2013 a discussion for another day.<\/p>\n

2. Books\u00a0<\/strong>
\nOne of the most challenging items to let go of is books. Some questions to ponder, are they taking up valuable real estate in your home? Do you still read the books, will you read them in the future? Are you keeping for sentimental reasons? Is the topic related to your career or a special family situation? Do you just enjoy collecting books?<\/p>\n

I am a sucker for Organizing books. In fact, I have an entire library with industry information. But I do have a home for these gems and they are all contained in a designated cabinet.<\/p>\n

So, if you are going to hang on to your multitudes of books, then you need a specified zone.<\/p>\n

You can start by purging the books you do not read or want to read again every 6 to 12 months. Decide if you really need or want to hold on to that package of words. And, if you start adding new ones, make sure you give some away to the library or a charity.\u00a0Half Priced Books in East Cobb, Marietta Georgia<\/a>\u00a0will pay you money for your treasures (don\u2019t get too excited as it is not enough to quit your day job). I like this idea because your fav books are recirculated for another to enjoy at an affordable price, and you are not throwing it into our already overused landfills. Special Collector sets should be appraised and maintained in an environmentally friendly location.<\/p>\n

3. Clothing\u00a0<\/strong>
\nIt is still football season, so tackle your closets and drawers by going on zone-to-zone defense. You can keep a few items that you are just not prepared to let go. Hang them in a corner of your closet or place in a bin. If you do not wear those stored items within 6 months, have a heart to heart with yourself and determine if you really want to take up valuable Real Estate space with those pieces.<\/p>\n