Harold Taylor, our expert time management columnist, discusses how
to make your home a home--not a storage depot for your possessions.
Dear Harold:
I am fairly recently remarried, with the four
of us (me and my two children and my new husband) living in an approximately
1500 sq. ft. bungalow that was built for two!
To make matters even more interesting, both
my husband and I are professional pack rats, and are having to figure out
how to combine two households into one!
It's proving to be very interesting, to say
the least. We are considering renting an apartment nearby for the kids to
go live in!
It's so bad there are times I just don't even
know where to start! Currently, the basement is probably the worst location
in the house, followed by my daughter's room, the attic, and our porches.
We simply have too much stuff, and neither one of us seems likely to give
anything up anytime soon!
I need so much help it's not even funny...any
suggestions would be appreciated!
Harold's answer: Don't let your possessions possess
you. If you can't bear to part with them, rent some storage space. It's cheaper
than an apartment for the kids!
If you haven't missed anything after one year, get rid of it permanently.
Everything you have may be useful, but is it used?
A house is a home, not a storage depot.
If you have trouble organizing what's left, get help. To contact
a professional organizer in your area, visit the National Association of
Professional Organizers web site at
www.napo.net or Professional Organizers
in Canada at
http://organizerscan.hypermart.net.
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About the Author: Harold Taylor, Time Consultants Inc.,Time
management products, training and services since 1981, 2175 Sheppard Ave.
E. Suite 310, North York, ON M2J 1W8. Telephone: 1-800-361-8463; Fax:
416-491-8233; E-mail: HalTime@aol.com.
Web Site:
www.TaylorOnTime.com. |
