Top Tips for De-Cluttering

Your To – Do List: 

1.  Re-write each task in specific terms, (i.e.  bring sack of clothing to charity shop).
2. 2. Forget the “should”s and “ought-to”s and strike off anything you don’t need to do, or that doesn’t give you any pleasure.
3. 3. Estimate how much time each task requires. (25 min. on Sat. a.m.)
4. 4. Specify any absolute deadlines as necessary. (by e.g. Mon., 14/04/08)
5. 5. Establish your priorities. This may be based upon your needs, values or   responsibilities. Rate each task from 1 to 10.
6. 6. If completing one task will make another one easier, do that one first. (e.g.  Finding a baby crèche will give you time to study, or that appointment with the chiropodist will get you out walking again.)
7. 7. Ask for help to speed things up. Can someone else help, exchange services with you or can you hire someone to do what you cannot?  Can you delegate a task?
8. 8. Now start fresh.  It doesn’t matter whether you re-write it in list form, calendar form or graph form as long as you can see specifically what needs doing, its priority order, timeframe, resources needed and support needed.
9. 9. Mark each item as completed (Yeah!!!), and find small ways to reward yourself for your achievements.
10. 10.   Add new tasks, in relation to the others already in place, by repeating processes from Step 2 on.

When you are more efficient, you have more time and a more relaxed state of mind to appreciate your great life. Replacing negativity with joy is reward enough for some, but why not go further and reach for a new hobby or recapture an old one?