Page 67 - Flathead Living // Spring 2015

In an organized home, everything has its place
top-ranked book on The New York Times list of self-help books, if you’re not living up to your potential, clutter is probably the culprit. She promises that once your house is orderly, you can “pour your time and pas- sion into what brings you the most joy, your mission in life.”
Think about it: How nice is it to come home to a clean house? It has to be up there as one of the best feelings ever. If I have less to deal with, put away, etc., I know my home is easier to manage. Not to mention that it drives me absolutely crazy! I’m con- vinced that the messier the house, the more stressed this working mother gets. Tidiness,
What would you grab if your house were on fire?
That’s your baseline for determining an object’s worth. Many people subscribe to the unwritten rule that you’re obligated to keep gifts or things you’ve inherited, even if you don’t like them.
cleanliness and organization all affect our mental state. Just as colors have been proven to evoke certain emotions, I’m convinced that a messy vs. clean house does the same.
Before you go on a full-blown declutter- ing bender, here are some easy rules to guide you:
Everything you own should have value. You must either find it functional, beauti- ful, or it just plain makes you happy. You know the question: What would you grab if your house were on fire? That’s your base- line for determining an object’s worth. Many people subscribe to the unwritten rule that you’re obligated to keep gifts or things you’ve
inherited, even if you don’t like them. Things don’t have to become yours simply because they belonged to a relative, and it doesn’t mean you are ungrateful for giving inher- ited or gifted items away. If the acquired piece is worth money, you may feel bound to it financially. However, if you aren’t in love with it and it serves no purpose, donate it. Document what it’s worth, and take it off your taxes. Or give it to another family mem- ber who would really like it. Sell it on eBay. And if you like something enough to keep it, consider it a replacement, not an addition. Keep it, but donate the one you already have. Mementos from your own life are harder to
SPRING 2015 | FLATHEAD LIVING 65
Organized kids room.