Getting Started (Part 2)

Once you pick a Project, that is, you have selected an area of attack, you need to avoid setting off a Klutter Krisis, which can further impede your ability to get going. In this situation you have pysched yourself up, actually gotten together the items to be discarded, BUT, suddenly lose steam. The items either end up in the middle of the floor or in some other state of disarray.

All you've really done is shift or rearrange the original pile. To avoid this state of affairs, keep in mind this simple mantra!

Identify

Gather

and Remove

You must have an exit strategy for your stuff, that is, the actual way in which you will "unconsume" your item(s). So, before you shift that pile, empty that draw, or clear that shelf, be sure to have a new home for it in mind.

Advance planning will help you face the clutter head on, rather than giving in and avoiding it. A good exit strategy also creates permanently clear space! Unless you bring more stuff in, newly created space stays clear! This is incredibly self-reinforcing and should encourage you to keep up the good work.

We are now ready to get down to business, and I will begin to talk about some of the specific solutions that I found to do just that.