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Conquering Drag-and-drop Syndrome
I’ve suffered from Drag-and-Drop Syndrome most of my life–I bet most of you have, too. If not for this disease, my house would not have a clutter problem. Over the years, I’ve learned that there is no easy cure for this problem, but there are ways to lessen its symptoms. Fight Back Be conscious of the clutter as you create it. Try to eliminate it before it gets to be a problem. Anticipate that you’ll take your shoes off while you watch TV. Then, before you sit down, take off your shoes in your room and put them in your closet. If you know that you won’t have time to put all of the clean clothes away; leave the full basket on top of the washing machine. You won’t have to walk around something in the middle of your living space and your family will know where to look when they need more underwear. Work with the Problem Some clutter accumulates simply because it has no other place to reside. In these cases, it’s better to work with the problem instead of fighting it. Notice where the clutter always accumulates in your home. Instead of insisting that everyone put these items away (some place else in the house), it might just be easier to create storage spaces right where the clutter happens. You will always drop your keys on the table as you come in. Solution: hang a key rack by the door. The keys will have a place to go and you’ll always know where to find your keys. Same goes for coats and bags. Hang a coat rack near the door with one or two hooks for each family member. If you make it convenient to put things away, they might just get put away. Keep a basket or bin by the steps for things that need to go up or down. Keep a box or folder to hold your checkbook, stamps, envelopes, and incoming bills near where you open the mail. Any papers that need your response should also be put in this box until you’re ready to pay the bills. Better yet, reserve a pocket for this stuff in your “Household Command Central” notebook. We keep a lightweight toy box (actually it’s a large Rubbermaid® tub) in the living room. About once a week, or whenever it gets full, we carry it into my son’s room and dump it into his toy box in there. Reserve a cabinet or shelf near the door for all the things that need to leave the house (library books, things to be returned to the store, items for charity, etc.). Make a habit of checking it every time you leave the house (in case you could drop one of those things off on your way to wherever). Take it a step further by sorting items with the same destination into bags (with labels, of course). For example, every time I visit my mother, I always have a lot of stuff to give her (articles I’ve clipped for her, books she might like to read, bowls she loaned me with leftovers). When I go to Mom’s house, I only have to remember to bring the bag with me. Have Patience–Then Show No Mercy If, despite these measures, you still find that clutter piles are winning the space war, sit back and plan your strategy. While you wait, make note of how long your husband’s coat has been hanging on the back of the chair. When was the last time your son actually played with the train that is set up in the corner of your living room? Is your daughter in the process of converting your bathroom into her personal closet with all of the clothes hanging on the door and draped on the towel bars? Inform your family, days in advance, of your plans to throw away all clutter remaining after a certain time period. Tell them specifically what clutter you want removed from your sight and exactly where you want them to put it: “Hang your coat in the closet, “ “Put all of the pieces of the train into its box and put the box on the shelf in your room,” and “Do not leave any of your clothes in the bathroom–put the dirty ones in the laundry hamper and fold the clean ones neatly and put them in your dresser drawer.” Leave no chance for misunderstanding or confusion. Don’t lose your temper. Just calmly remind them everyday of the deadline and remind them that the clutter in question is headed for the trash on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. (or whatever deadline your establish). Be Firm The first few times you try this tactic, no one will take you seriously, but don’t back down. Let your family know that you mean business. Yes, you might have to throw away a nice toy or a new pair of shoes. But, trust me, if you remain true to your word and don’t back down the first time, the next time you issue the clutter warning, the clutter will disappear before the deadline. Don’t Give Up Drag-and-Drop Syndrome is a hard habit to break for everyone–just like smoking, biting your nails, or too much TV viewing. Living clutter-free won’t happen overnight. If they ever come up with a vaccine to prevent Drag-and-Drop, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, continue with these steps (dropping things where they belong instead of wherever you are at the time; creating storage where you naturally drop things; and throwing away what still gets dropped in the wrong place). Becoming clutter-free is a gradual process for you and the members of your family. Keep working and it will happen eventually. ∆ Article by Heather Hemingway Harvey, editor of Simplify! News online. If you’d like to learn more ways to simplify your life, please visit http://www.simplifynews.com. Or send your declluttering questions to simplifynews@gmail.com. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com |
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