Beyond the Basics - de-cluttering

It's easy to say but difficult to do. If I know I'll have free time, I sometimes make so many plans that it becomes unrealistic to get everything done. Then I feel like a failure because I haven't accomplished as much as I had planned.

When de-cluttering, cleaning, or doing just about anything, it helps to see things written down and have a plan. Here is a method that may help:

1. Make a list of what you want accomplished.
2. Be specific about the tasks (i.e. cleaning out the fridge, emptying/organizing the junk drawer, relining the cabinets--not just "cleaning the kitchen").
3. Realistically estimate how much time it would take to complete each task.
4. Prioritize tasks.
5. Write a timeline based on the amount of free time you have to devote to tasks:
    a. 7:00 - 7:30 - clean out fridge
    b. 7:30 - 7:45 - empty/organize junk drawer
    c. 7:45 - 8:45 - reline cabinets
6. Stop each task at your end time, even if it is not complete, and move on to the next. This is why it will be very important to be realistic about the amount of time you allot to each task.

If you are realistic about your goals, so much can be accomplished!