Clutter Free and Organized

The first step to improving your life is to get clutter free and organized. Any other step is usually a waste of time because in order to do anything of value, whether it be starting to exercise, going back to school, starting a business or anything, what you need to have is plenty of free time. Time to do the thing you want to do is the key.

Without time, it will not get done.

This should be obvious, but so many people seem to miss this simple concept. They start doing what they want to do without clearing away things that get in the way first.

You have to have time, uninterrupted time to do things. You are not going to be able to start a business during the TV commercials. You are not going to be able to go to the gym between carting your kids around every evening. You are not going to be able to set up a home based business of any kind if you spend most of your time rummaging around piles of your stuff. You are not going to be able to go back to work full-time if your life is packed with junk and you struggle daily.

Do you see what I mean?

That is why the most important first step to doing anything is to get clutter free and organized.

My ex-wife is finally, after years of being a total pack rat starting to get rid of some of her excess things.

She is trying to get back to work. That is her thing of value. She has not worked since we were engaged in 1993. Over 17 years of not working.

Now, since the big money that the court required me to pay is going to start to diminish, she is seeing that she will have to work.

It is only right. The kids are 15 and 12, they do not need constant care anymore, they are out of diapers. Another story.

I always was encouraging her to get rid of stuff during our marriage. She always resisted and would get enraged if I threw anything out. The reason I left is explained in my book - How to Leave Your Wife - if you are interested.

But the last few months she has been making strides to get clutter free and organized. It is a little frustrating because this is what I knew she should have been doing all along, but it is better late than never.

She asked me to return to very large cardboard tubes for concrete posts. She had bought them years ago to do some sort of craft project. They have been sitting in the garage for at least 5 years, taking up a lot of space. I returned them to the hardware store and got some in-store credit.

She asked me to throw out some things for her. A huge plastic device for holding makeup or hair supplies, padding, a rug and 4 huge plastic water bottles.

The plastic device she bought 12 years ago when she was planning on having some type of makeup business. I threw it away.

The padding she bought probably 25 years ago to make some type of padded cushioning. I threw it away.

The rug is old. It is nice so I may use it.

The water bottles are for a big water dispenser. They hold 5 gallons of water. I never understood why she bought so many of them, you only need one. I have the water dispenser at my place. I only need the one holder. I just fill it up at the store when it is empty. Now they are in my garage while I think about what to do with them.

It has been obvious to me that it is impossible to be clutter free and organized if you have lots and lots of the same thing that does not provide any value.

I put these things in my car right away, feeling good that I could help her. The apartment where I live has a huge dumpster so it is easy for me to throw things out. This was the day after her garbage pickup so the stuff would sit on the curb for a week and be an eyesore.

Once you are throwing, get rid of it whatever it takes.

I am encouraged about her progress. When I dropped my son off after his football game at their house, the garage is starting to look more open and easier to get into.

The main point is that she is realizing that in order for her life to become better she has to get clutter free and organized first. Trying to make her life better is impossible without taking the right first steps of getting clutter free and organized.

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