Certified Professional Organizer® poses the Ten-Toss Challenge:
What TEN things can you eliminate from your life RIGHT NOW?
Post your answer in the comments below.
Patty Kreamer, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer®
Filed under: Clear the Clutter
Organizing Tip: Take the Ten-Toss Challenge!
Posted on April 27, 2009 by Patty Kreamer - Certified Professional Organizer
Elimination Items
1. Extra tote bags
2. Computer print outs
3. Read paper back books
4. Extra phone books
5. Extra car cups
6. Make up
7. Magazines
8. Jewelry
9. Shoes
10. Business Cards
Yea! I did it.
Nice job, Jan! Letting go of this stuff feels so good – you can do it!
Elimination items
1. t-shirts I don’t wear
2. socks I don’t wear
3. shoes I don’t wear
4. hats I don’t wear
5. raggedy anns
6. albums
7. cassette tapes
8. kitchen gadgets
9. old receipts
10. jewelry (costume)
Yea! I did it, too!
Hi Carol,
The key words above are “I don’t wear”. If you don’t wear them, give them to someone who will! Nice job
Ten Items I Can Toss (or donate) Right Now (and should because I’m moving)
1. old binders filled with things that will never be needed again
2. winter mittens, gloves, scarves I don’t wear and won’t ever wear again
3. my old digital camera
4. the jewelry I don’t wear
5. some old T shirts I’m attached to, but don’t wear
6. the tons of bags I’m saving for that “day I’ll need them”
7. the knick knacks that no longer serve ANY purpose
8. over-the-counter medicines that have expired
9. the folders of handouts from conferences I’ve attended and will never look at again
10. the Christmas presents I have kept because I felt bad doing anything else with them
Way to go, Lauren! When you are done, you’ll feel like you just succeeded on a diet! Give yourself permission to let those Christmas presents go – that’s why it’s so cool to ask for consumable gift cards! (restaurants, movie passes, gas cards, etc.)
1. Old To Do lists (um…does it count if I consolidate them all to one?)
2. old lipsticks
3. old hotel lotions, shampoos, hair caps, etc. (I think this might count as 3, 4 ,5)
6. rotting vegetables from my fridge (ok this is kind of cheating because I don’t want to face the other stuff)
7. music that i have already scanned to pdf
Is seven good enough for today? baby steps? I might have an anxiety attack!
Carter, 7 is perfect to start with! Baby steps are important and when you see progress, you may find that it’s contagious to get rid of more. Great job! Patty
Patty- didn’t see this post until today. Just recently signed up for your newsletters & blog. I’ve made it a habit to toss/donate/sell on consignment at least 10 things every week.
This week:
1. donated 4 winter jackets that I no longer wear
2. dropped off several framed prints to a consignment shop
3. went through old files and shredded paperwork that I no longer needed
4. went through my bathroom vanity & medicine cabinet and tossed old makeup, medicines, and toiletries that I no longer use
5. went through linen closet and found several worn towels & sheets which will either be made into rags or donated to local animal shelter for bedding for pups & kittens
6. went through my bookshelves and found about 50 books which I’m either donating to the local library or selling on Amazon.com
7. went through a pile of magazines, tore out articles of interest & filed; then either donated or recycled what was left
8. deleted about 100 “not so great” or unnecessary photos from my computer’s picture files
9. donated several old T shirts & shirts that I no longer wear
10. organized a bunch of fabrics & trims which will be used to make throw pillows, totes, bulletin boards, and other home decor items and sold through one of my businesses
Ceil, you are amazing! Thanks for sharing your list. I’ll bet you feel a whole lot better now – keep up the great work!
Thanks, Patty. I find that I have to keep working at it and usually keep a running list so I can cross things off and feel like I’ve accomplished something “good.” I offer home organizing services through The House Therapist division of my interior design & decorating business. Have found your tips, products, and information invaluable and will be featuring you in an upcoming newsletter. Thanks!
Ceil
Wow! Thanks Ceil! Please be sure I am signed up for your newsletter!