Would you consider throwing out and giving away things to fulfill your desire to be more organized? It can be fun to get rid of things you no longer use. And people who get things that can still be used will thank you for sharing them. Do you remember when you were the first to go out alone? There were people who helped you when you started. Now you can do the same. This simple plan can help make it easier!
1- To start, choose a place to order or organize. Designate one box as a “disposable” box and one box as a “give away” box. Then a third box or area for the items you keep, if only for now. As you collect each item, decide which ones to throw away and which ones to give away. If you’re feeling stressed trying to decide which is which, take a breath! Relax and say, “I am choosing to declutter and organize to help someone…and that someone is me and someone else too!”
2- As appropriate, imagine who might want to receive your gifts of usable items. Imagine a mother in a homeless shelter with children. If that was you, would you like someone to share it? By imagining being in someone else’s financially strapped shoes, you can more easily see the value in sharing your junk.
3- Give yourself credit for helping someone, especially if you have problems with hoarding. The person who gets the stuff you no longer use could even be a neighbor, or someone who doesn’t have a job or is down on their luck. You never know how you could make a difference in someone’s life.
4- If you feel challenged to let go of things you no longer use, keep in mind that you ARE choosing to help someone else. Remember that your best efforts are good enough for you. If you do something simply because you’d rather do it, it feels good to share.
5- Realize that you make a big difference in your community by sharing things that you no longer need or use. The person who receives the things you give them for free can prosper because of your generosity. Even if you never personally know who your old, but completely hole-free sweater is going to, you might see that sweater on someone on the street one day. If you can use it, share it! Your generous gift could be the reason why they hold up well during the winter season.
6- A free online give and take program called Freecycle can profit from your stuff you no longer use. Check it out today and feel good about sharing. In these challenging economic times, decluttering and organizing will make a world of difference.