“One of the core organizing principles of my life is that success comes through a delicate balance between making things happen and letting things happen.”
— Robin Sharma
Today we will discuss clutter! I love the quote I used today as I feel it fits into today’s theme perfectly. What is clutter? Is one person’s clutter another person’s happiness? Well, I think there is a reasonable balance we can have in our homes.
Are you a minimalist, a collector, or somewhere in between? I admit, I am a collector.
In today’s post I’ll be discussing the 27 Fling Boogie, a term and system created by author Marla Cilley in her book Sink Reflections.
I have utilized this tool for years!!! I found this book over ten years ago, and still live by so many of its principles. I developed my P.M.S. program from it. You are wondering what it is??? Well it is a book called “Sink Reflections, by Marla Cilley”, A.K.A. The Flylady!
My entire organizational series is based on what I learned from this great book.
Marla talks a lot about clutter and how to avoid it. I have jokingly said in the past that I don’t really dislike what I categorize as ‘organized clutter’! The Flylady says there is no such thing but I disagree!
It’s all in the details…
I like dust collectors! Apothecary bottles, decorative bowls & pitchers, bowls with crystals & rocks I’ve collected all adorn my home. I like a homey look…
I believe there is exceptional beauty in the details. My friends often tell me they saw something at a shop and thought of me. They say, “It looked just like you Jean!”
My friends & family know what I like because my home & gardens are a reflection of me.
Now onto today’s topic Clutter- how to conquer it and organize it!
Clutter can become overwhelming and seem almost out of control. When did it happen? How did it happen? Well, as we live our lives and purchase this and that… well, it all adds up eventually. Then throw in the rest of the crew living under the same roof, and WHAM! You have clutter.
So the question is, how do you get rid of it, or at least organize it. Let’s figure this out together utilizing a few tips & tricks from The Flylady!
The Following excerpts were taken & adapted from notes given at a class on organization I attended focusing on this book:
De-clutter 15 Minutes a Day for just one month…
Here are 4 great tools that make it super easy for anyone- they have been adapted from “Sink Reflections’ ‘, by Marla Cilley.
The 27 Fling Boogie~
*We do this assignment as fast as we can. Take a garbage bag and walk through your home and throw away 27 items. Do not stop until you have collected 27 items. Then close the bag and pitch it! DO NOT LOOK IN IT! Just do it!
*Next, take an empty box and go through your home collecting 27 items to give away. As soon as you finish filling the box, take it to the car. You are less tempted to rescue the items. You will donate these items to a local thrift store.
*Rule of thumb: if you have two of any item and you only need one, get rid of the least desirable item.
The Hot Spot Fire Drill~
*A Hot Spot is an area, when left unattended, will gradually take over. Like a hot spot in a forest fire, if left alone, will eventually get out of hand and burn up the whole forest. This is what happens in our homes. If left unattended, the hot spot will grow and take over the whole room as well as making the house look awful. When you walk into a room, this is the first thing you see.
CLUTTER ATTRACTS CLUTTER! Do you have areas like this that continue to grow if left alone? Does the rest of the family see this as a place to put things when they do not want to put them where they belong? It is our job to nip this in the bud. Get rid of the pile, find the surface underneath and stop this hot spot from becoming a raging clutter inferno.
*Do a few of these a day. Take five minutes per ‘drill’ and see if it doesn’t help immensely.
The 5 Minute Room Rescue~
This is a reminder to spend just 5 minutes clearing a path in your worst room. You know this area of your home; the place you would never allow anyone to see. Just 5 minutes a day for the next 27 days and you will have a place that you can be proud to take anyone!
Work In Your Zones~
Each week we will be in a different Zone. After a full month, you will have worked your way around the majority of living areas of your home. Do not worry if you don’t get to every room in your house the first month. As one area gets cleaned, it will become easier to do and you will have more time to face those areas that don’t seem to fit in any zone.
This may seem like a lot of information, but once you get into the habit of doing it, you will be amazed at how quickly your home becomes organized. The first month you do this will be the yield the biggest haul. In the long run, you won’t need to do all of these as regularly. You will end up doing it during your spring & fall cleanings. Be sure to add these to your schedules!
In my next post I’ll be discussing room by room organization. If you missed the last post, click this LINK to read it!
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Happy Day,
Jean
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I like your 27 fling strategy. I have decluttered my house but the basement is another story. I’ll see how this strategy helps. We are older and have grown up children. We like to play “toss, take or inherit” game with my children.
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That’s awesome!!! Let me know how it comes along?
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The excerpts from the book brought it all back to me when I used to get her daily email reminders (way back in the early 2000s!). I still do the 15 minute pick-up each day. There isn’t as much clutter anymore, but attacking the hot spots and tidying up makes by stress level much better!
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For sure!!!
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Such a fun read and great advice. We decluttered during covid and got rid of car loads of stuff.
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Decluttering feel so good! We just moved into our new home and while packing up our old house it was a good feeling to purge some things. Thanks for stopping bye hope your regular.
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I did a big dethugging before my move as well – I am between my old house and my Granny Flat which is in process. It’s a process, for sure!
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Moving can for sure to a decluttering opportunity! Good luck with the move, I just did it in December!!!
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I’ve used some of her tricks but they didn’t stick with me. Maybe give it a try again. Watched/listened to her on FB today whilst doing dishes.
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I get it! Honestly, though, I think you take her stuff and adopt it to your lifestyle. Some of it like the walk-through is pretty basic. But like most things, I take the information and adjust it to myself. Thanks for stopping by.
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Lovely post – I also really appreciate Fly Lady for paving the way on clutter clearing! And those 27 Fling Boogies are the bomb!
This time before the Lunar New Year is an a great time for Clearing and Resetting our spaces.
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Good to know!!! Thanks for the visit!
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