How did you do on your 15-minute areas last month? Are there a few rooms you can point to in which you really made a difference? How much remains to be done for your calendar goals (a holiday gathering, enough space to complete holiday decorating & wrapping/activities, or perhaps a year-end goal)?
Now if it's getting a little more serious when you look at the calendar and you realize you may need to bring out the big guns, go back to basics with Pam Young and Peggy Jones' advice. They suggested the use of
large boxes
to really move fast on decluttering projects. The boxes are labeled for 4 different functions:
"give away",
"throw away",
"put away",
"storage".
Don't sidetrack in sorting the "storage" now - just keep filling more storage boxes as you go, stack, and deal with them later. The "put away" box is an "anti-sidetracking device", too! Toss the put-aways in and, while you're decluttering, put them out of your mind. But when the "give away" and "throw away" boxes are full, go ahead and empty them right away into donation bags and trash bags and start filling again. With large boxes to toss into quickly and carry away, you can go from cluttered to clever FAST.
And last but NOT least, remember P and P's advice to wear an apron with a pocket! The pocket should hold a 3x5 notepad and pen for making notes as you find things you've been looking for for years and as you brainstorm about where to use duplicate supplies, etc.
What are your 4-Box-System success stories from the past?
Where do you find large boxes?
Or do you use laundry baskets or other helpful containers instead?
How can you use ordianary BOXES this month to jumpstart your house to Lovely Home status?