Know When to Purge Your Possessions

Do you feel like you’ve outgrown your home because of all the #stuff inside it? Do you wonder if leasing a storage unit, buying a new set of shelves or organizers, or putting more things in the garage or basement is the answer?

Do you have trouble finding your wallet, keys or important documents? Do you ever set things down in the kitchen or on the dining room table only to search for them again in five minutes? Have you ever bought anything again when you couldn’t find the original?

Does the thought of others seeing the piles of stuff inside your home make you not want to have people over? Does all of that extra stuff get in the way of routine housecleaning tasks, making your home look dusty, dirty or unhealthy?

Do you have a #closet that’s bursting with stuff or a #junk drawer, or is every closet and drawer in your home like that? Are there parts of the home that are just too crowded to use? Do you find your home to be a relaxing sanctuary, or do you feel anxious, overwhelmed, distracted or depleted?

If you answered yes (or YES!) to any of these questions, you might need to do a complete #purge and #decluttering. All of that stuff is getting in the way of your life.

“There’s a whole body of research that shows how #clutter can actually negatively impact our moods and levels of stress,” says Minimalists Managed. “Clutter can make day-to-day life even harder [and] more difficult to manage when we’re surrounded by too much stuff.”

You can’t go on like this! Pick a single room, closet, drawer or shelf and start #decluttering. Sort goods into #keep, #donate and #trash piles; put the keepers where they belong and the trash into the bin. It isn’t easy to get started, but success in one area can help you move to others.

When you collect enough lightly used items to #donate (it will happen fast), put them in boxes and bags and contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup. Those items will be resold to benefit the nation’s #veterans, while you gain a new, #clutter-free lease on life.

The more you #declutter, the more calm and fulfilled you will feel. Do yourself a favor and get started today!

Does Dad Need a Professional Organizer?

Does #Dad really need another tie or pair of shoes? #Father’s Day gifts don’t have to add to the #clutter. Tickets to experiences such as concerts and sporting events can treat him while adding nothing to the amount of #stuff stored in the home (assuming he resists buying a lot of souvenirs), and his favorite consumables can be good options, too. Or you can give the gift of #organization, says Just Organized. Many of a typical #dad’s favorite spaces — the garage, workshop, mancave and home office — tend to be dumping grounds for all kinds of #junk that could be #decluttered and #organized. Help him yourself or hire a professional; he won’t forget it! #FathersDay

Start Downsizing While Parents Still Have Their Health

The best time to have a conversation about #decluttering and #downsizing with a parent is long before you need to, says Reader’s Digest — when they are still healthy, independent and not in the middle of a move. That way, they can decide where the most meaningful items will go in a more directed, yet theoretical way. Avoid using words that subtly undermine the value of their lives’ possessions such as “#trash” or “#junk,” and instead use words such as “preserve,” “repurpose” and “donate” to help them let go. Start by asking which items matter to them most — it may not be what you think. #FathersDay

Give Dad the Gift of Decluttering

Show dear old #Dad that you care on #Father’s Day by helping with a few household tasks, says SpaceWise. You can help out with his lawn and landscaping, install or troubleshoot software, or paint a room. Or you can #organize a closet, #declutter the garage or basement, or help prep the home for #downsizing. Any help you can lend will be a thoughtful gesture that shows you care. And if you find anything that still might be useful to other families, you can easily give it a second life by #donating it to ClothingDonations.org with a #free #donation #pickup. #FathersDay

Help Dad Increase his Decluttering ‘Toss Rate’

Confronting a lifetime of #possessions isn’t an easy challenge for anyone, so how can you help an aging #father #downsize? It’s more than just asking them to tackle their own #clutter, because like most people, they can get distracted by the #memories engendered in an object and lost track of the task. Getting involved in the process — holding up each item, one at a time, for consideration and a decision — results in better “toss rates,” says The Homes I Have Made.  “It forced him to truly confront the volume of items he owned. As he fatigued with the decisions, they became easier to make.” #FathersDay