How many of us feel that we could accomplish so much more, if we only had enough energy.  Did you ever notice, that when you are not surrounded by clutter, and your belongings are organized, you have more energy?

Here are 6 ideas to get more energy by having less clutter…

1.  Things have a way of piling up around us.  To enable you to organize your clutter, first you need to purge what is not necessary.  Easier said than done. 
a.  Decide what must go – what would you do if you were moving?  Would you take this or not?  If not, out it goes.
b.  What if it’s still good and useful, but not to you?  Donate.  Goodwill is a good starting point, but also think of friends, friends’ kids, schools, organizations holding rummage sales…
c.  What if it’s sentimental – decide whether it’s so important to your soul that you should put it in a safe memento-keeping spot.  If it’s somewhat sentimental, maybe the realization that it will bring true joy to another person will make a parting decision for you.  If you’re not sure, keep it, and see what you think next year.  Don’t forget, once you give away that memento, you can’t get it back.

2.  Everything that is left after your purging needs to have a designated home.  It might be in the same room, or it might need another spot in the house.  Whatever your decisions, get into a habit of always putting things back into their designated spots.

3.  Doing #2 will give you energy in two ways: you will not wear yourself out constantly reorganizing, because you took 10 seconds to put each thing away; and, you will not wear yourself out searching for what you need, because you can always find it in its home.

4.  One of the most marvelous things that you will find, when your house is not bogged down with piles of things, is that there is an energy that flows around you through your rooms.  You will feel the weight lifted off your shoulders that piles of clutter put on them.

5.  Once you are energized by your physical surroundings, you will find your mind increasingly energized, as well.  You’ll find yourself categorizing your thoughts, your projects, and your plans.  You will also have immediate space to work on them.

6.  Once your clutter becomes things that have a home, you might find yourself inspired to use those things more.  I find that my kids will play with toys that have been put away nicely, but when they are piled on the floor in one big lump, they just step right through them, if not on them.  
You might be inspired to pick up that guitar that is sitting so nicely in its niche in the family room – especially since now you might have a neat place to sit down.

Most importantly, once you have brought order to your surroundings, get in the habit of always putting things away, and that order will remain with you.  Although, I must admit, you will exert more effort to get your family to put things away than you will to get yourself to do it.  But, hopefully, when they see the great results, they’ll be right there with you.

More ideas about family organization to come…