"Stand shoulder to shoulder to solve, together, this mutual problem"

A Salon reader writes to Cary Tennis, Salon's advice columnist ("How can I make my husband get organized?"):

I’m fearful about the future. Not the future in general. But a specific future.

I’m worried that my husband is — for want of a better phrase — a pre-hoarder. I’ve seen the TV show with the maze-like houses of trash and the shrines to junk. And we are certainly not at that point. But what concerns me it that so many stories begin, “Well, they were always messy, but then at a point it just spiraled out of control.”

My headline gives his answer away, but Cary's column is worth reading in its entirety, whether you're someone who struggles with clutter or lives with someone who does.

Personal Power

After years of false starts, I've finally committed to doing Anthony Robbins' 30-Day Personal Power course,

"the foundation of everything that personal coach and leading results psychology specialist Anthony Robbins does every day. It is the key to his personal success, as well as the underlying mindset behind the transformational success he has triggered in countless professional athletes, world leaders, successful business entrepreneurs and millions of people around the world."

I've enlisted my friend and co-conspirator Sloan to do the program with me.

I realize that a self-improvement course isn't necessarily what this site is about, but I'm hoping that I'll be able to apply some of the tools and techniques of Personal Power to my clutter issues.

Incidentally, I found a great daily diary of another person's experience with Personal Power. I look forward to reading about their journey as Sloan and I travel on ours.

Organization at the Checkout Stand

At the grocery store today, two magazines caught my eye: Ladies' Home Journal and Family Circle. Both featured stories on organizing. Of the two, I found the Home Journal article to be much more valuable. Here are some highlights.

From Ladies' Home Journal ("Declutter Your Life"):

• When you bring home a (new item), throw away an old one.


• Devoting 10 or 15 minutes every day to tidying up will save you untold hours down the road.


• Cherish memories, not objects


• If you haven't worn or used something in two years, toss it.


• To avoid letting a chore drag out over several weekends, clear your schedule and double the number of hours you think it will take.

From Family Circle ("55 Ways to Clear Clutter"):

• Keep a portable file tote for catalogs, thank-you notes, shopping lists, and a menu planner.


• Leave an empty storage ottoman or basket out for quick cleanups -- make sure it's big enough to stash toys, magazines, and throws.


• Multitask while watching your favorite TV show by sorting and organizing a messy drawer.