Can't Throw it Away,
Then Give it Away!
Sherry Borsheim

The fact is, you just can't keep everything!

Every question I am asked about organizing revolves around handling "stuff". "How long should I keep it?" "Where should I keep it?" "What do I do if I feel obligated to keep it?" "Who else might want it?"

Many of you have asked for suggestions as to where to donate items you no longer find useful or beautiful. To this end, I have begun the task of developing a list of charities that are looking for donated items. This list is a work in progress, and I am asking everyone to contribute to its development. If you have a favorite charity, or know of a worthy organization that should be included, be sure and let me know. I will be happy to add it to the list.

Follow the three steps below to organize your life, and free yourself to make room for your new life in the new year.

Step One - make a plan. Decide where things would go if everything in your world was in the correct place right now. Draw schematics, if necessary. Assign, on paper, a place for everything you want to keep.

Step Two - put everything in the correct place. Using your schematic, begin putting things in the places you have assigned. Use organizing principles - file and place things according to where you will use them, put like things together, set a time goal to work on organizing…But what do you do with the things that have no place? The vase from Aunt Helen? The signed autograph from Michael Jordon? The golf ball that reminds you of your perfect game? The gifts that no longer have meaning? Well, this brings us to step three.

Step Three - let go of things that no longer bring you joy. Maybe it's time to decide that you simply can't keep everything. Should you just throw things away? Maybe not. You know I don't believe in telling people to throw their things away, but you also know that you should not hang onto "stuff" that means nothing, just because you happen to have it right now. So what should you do? How can you decide? Thinks you no longer want are a disguised opportunity for you to help someone in need. You have a great opportunity to bring joy to someone during this holiday season by donating no-longer-loved or needed itmes to charity. Consider giving to the library, your place of worship, a school, hospital, nursing home, homeless shelter, a prison. Your relatives or a neighbor may be thrilled to get special items that no longer have meaning to you.

The attached list should give you a few ideas of places that will be interested in your "overflow".


About the Author

Sherry Borsheim, owner of Simply Productive, has been helping people to work smarter, not harder for years. She specializes in resolving paper, time and information management issues. To learn more about eliminating the paper pile-up and in vastly improving your productively, contact Simply Productive at 604-233-7076.