In with the New Year, in with the resolutions.  As in year's past, I have a short list of things I vow to make a priority in the New Year.  Losing some pounds is at the top of my list because like so many people, improving my health is paramount in 2010.  But you may be surprised to learn that a huge part of taking better care of our health can actually be a function of how well we care for our living spaces.  Ask yourself, "Can I truly relax in my home?"   If  your answer is "no",  and the first thing you can think of when enter your home is, "when's my next outing away from this place?",  it's a sure bet that your home has become a bit of a mess.
Bottom line, get rid of the mess, get rid of the stress!

I think the best method to tackle a messy space  is to use a 4-step program in which you complete just one step per weekend:

• Weekend 1:  Pare down any excessive furniture and accessories; donate and/or sell
• Weekend 2:  Eliminate any extra stuff on all vertical and horizontal surfaces; dispose and/or donate
• Weekend 3:  Eliminate all unnecessary paper; dispose
• Weekend 4:  Clean and organize

Perhaps you have a family member or friend who can use that sofa that doesn't quite work in your space because the room is truly too small for the sofa.  If you know of a local shelter that helps the formerly homeless to set-up new homes,  they could certainly make good use of your sofa and you likely would not mind the tax write-off.  No time--or access to a truck--to cart an  unwanted sofa?   In the Washington, D.C. area, call one of the three charitable organization listed below; they collect across the Washington area. This can be helpful for all of your larger items, such as furniture, appliances, computers, and building materials.


              Time to let something go?  Too much, too big, too unsettling!

My favorite metro D.C. area charitable organizations for donating my home furnishings include:

1. Hope's Treasures thrift store, owned and operated by The Good Shepherd Alliance (GSA), Ashburn, VA
2. Christian Fellowship thrift store, owned and operated by Christian Fellowship Church, Ashburn, VA
3. National Children's Center/Value Village, 301-422-1212, 301-422-1313

If you feel that you would rather sell your furnishings than donate them, try advertising them for sale online via Craigslist or eBay; or, try placing an ad in your local newspaper or neighborhood website.  But be aware that in our current economic environment, potential buyers are looking for near give-away prices.  Consider whether or not your precious time is worth haggling with buyers who are unwilling or unable to pay your desired price.  You may decide that giving your furnishings to your local charitable organization will offer the greatest dividends -- to your heart, if not your wallet.

After you've weeded out the unnecessary, energy draining large items, buy lots of garbage bags--the big black ones for stuff that's destined for the dump and the blue see-through ones for items good enough to donate.  A shredder is helpful during the phase, but not absolutely necessary.  With trash bags at the ready,  take the next step and eliminate the smaller clutter:  old magazines, books, business cards, notes, junk mail.

Throw it out!  If you haven't looked at those sale flyers, catalogs, and newspapers, you don't need to

Then  tackle that smaller clutter that you think you need to keep:   wrinkled wrapping paper you thought you would re-use; business cards of people you know you will never contact; a stack of construction paper that's slightly tattered around the edges so that it's really not usable for any projects; the canceled checks from 1998, etc., etc.  During this step, you may need the help of a brutally honest spouse, sister, or friend to help you to stay focused on your goal of organizing your space and freeing yourself from the stress of a messy home.

Remember, your ultimate goal is to revitalize your space so that it can revitalize you.  It should be a haven of peaceful, predictable relaxation.  By decreasing your clutter you can decrease your stress and move closer to a positive place of being energized by your home instead of being dragged down by the stress of  mess.

--Carla