Help for pack rats

Here's a suggestion:

1) Remove one "Postage Paid" return envelope from the stack.

2) Take all the "junk mail" and remove your name and address from such. Then fold (or shred) all the junk mail and stuff it in the postage paid envelope.

3) Seal the envelope and place it back in your mailbox.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

OMG!!!! Mr. JR does this almost daily!!! He packs those postage paid envelopes with so much junk mail, then proudly shows me before it gets mailed! Now he has all his co-workers doing the same thing!

I thought moving would be my big chance at clearing out. We cleaned out and got rid of soooo much stuff between Goodwill, yard sale, and the garbage. And still the moving truck was a semi-tractor trailer. All full of stuff that is now in the garage and attic.

Here's a suggestion:

1) Remove one "Postage Paid" return envelope from the stack.

2) Take all the "junk mail" and remove your name and address from such. Then fold (or shred) all the junk mail and stuff it in the postage paid envelope.

3) Seal the envelope and place it back in your mailbox.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

I LOVE IT!!!!!!! :clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:

OMG-Mango!! You could start a whole new biz!! You are my hero of the day!!

My thoughts exactly. MANY of us could use that. I have a poster in my office of a kitten with paint spilled all over and on it's face and the poster says "I'm not messy, I'm creative" Yep, where do I sign up for Mango Management?

Jdarg, that's my strategy - just move every year or two

Clutter depresses the spirit. If you can't store it in an organized fashion/ sell it or donate it, yourself, then hire someone to do it for you. Free your mind, renew your spirit and get it done. My spouse never gets rid of anything - my solution is to box it/ label it/ stack it in the attic - someday it will be openned and looked at, like a time capsule. Until then, out of site/ out of mind
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absolutely correct about clutter and things that are just unorganized (I have a little of this in my house but work hard to keep it very minimal). I say free your mind and renew your spirit and get rid of it (unless it is just too precious/sentimental/necessary) - someone else may be able to use it - Goodwill just got a huge truckload of pretty good stuff from this household.

I cannot sing enuff praises about "Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui" by Karen Kingston.
I too was overwhelmed until I got this book a few years ago.

ALSO:
1) Do the opt out thing
2) Have a shredder next to your garbage can. When you bring in the mail,
work on sorting it right there on the spot;
a) Shred what needs to be shredded
b) Trash what needs to be trashed
c) Pay what needs to be paid
d) Reply to what needs to be replied to
e) File what needs to be filed.
3) Do all the above, while standing up, make sure you have your shoes on, and don't do anything to make yourself more comfortable. Make this a habit just like brushing your teeth or taking your vitamins. Make it a second nature routine.

As for any piles, stacks, drawers full, whatever else looks overwhelming, break it down in small bits.
a) by doing everything in step 2, those piles, stacks etc will not grow.
b) set your kitchen timer for 15 minutes, and use that time for nothing
else but working on those past issues. Again, shoes on, don't get comfortable.
c) eventually you'll be caught up. Visualize how grayt you'll feel when it is gone and you are done.

4) Same goes for your SOWAL inbox. Delete emails as soon as you read them. Empty your inbox daily.

5) Also, if you can't get motivated to get started, do three things.
a) It bears repeating, Put your shoes on. This really works. Especially if they lace up. The mere act tells your body/self that you are about to accomplish something.
b) turn off the TV. Upbeat music on radio is good, but not on TV, too tempting to look at the screen and lose focus.
c) turn off the computer

The five days I was locked out of SOWAL, my house was immaculate. :funn:

Good Luck, you can do it! I have faith in ya!:clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:

Kenny, the drunkkentherapist