I finally finished reading Clutter Clearing Choices, written by Barbara Tako. As I said in a previous post, this book was sent to me to review and keep. I really enjoyed reading this book. I found it to be extremely inspiring. That is why it took me longer to read this book than most books.
I would read a chapter or two and put it down to go tackle a job around the house. Barbara offers practical advice and suggestions in how to not only clear away clutter in your home, but also to clear away clutter in your life. She does this without being preachy or telling you what you have to do to take care of clutter.
The one bit of advice that inspired me the most is to take on small projects. By taking on small projects, I was able to accomplish a lot in a short period of time. Each small task has added up. I organized my closet, dresser, kitchen table, and my kitchen counter.
In the past, I have done this repeatedly. Each time, the clutter would come back. After reading this book, I realized that clearing away the clutter wasn’t enough. I had to have a system in place to prevent it from coming back.
For my kitchen counter, I set up a small organizer for mail, coupons, receipts, and doctor information. I also instructed my husband that junk mail goes in the trash, not on the counter, and not in the organizer. In my bedroom, I took out the laundry basket that I was using to hold my clean clothes next to my dresser. I had plenty of room in my dresser to hold my clean clothes, but it was easier to just place them in the laundry basket.
This of course would lead to me not being able to find a clothing item that I needed several times a week. Now, with the basket out of my room, I take my clean clothes into my bedroom and actually put them away. My kitchen table becomes home to toys, crayons, school papers and other things that I am not sure where to put. Now, I take time every day to clear off the clutter from the table. This is usually done after the kids are asleep, in order to prevent my daughter from seeing what I am throwing away and protesting.
I also make a point of insisting that my daughter take care of any toys or craft projects when she is done with them. I was inspired to do all of these things by reading Clutter Clearing Choices. You can also have the opportunity to be inspired by entering this giveaway to win a copy of Clutter Clearing Choices.
This giveaway is for 1 copy of the book Clutter Clearing Choices, written by Barbara Tako.. You must live in the US to enter. This giveaway begins February 20, 2010 and ends March 6, 2010.
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