When my kids were little, I would have a SERIOUS housekeeping marathon. I would move furniture, sweep in places that haven’t seen daylight since the last time I had company. Things would go into places my company would for sure not look. My kids would always say “Who’s coming over?” I laugh about it now, kinda.
As I have gotten older I like to think that I am a better housekeeper, but that isn’t the truth. I am better picker upper.
In my mind I have always wanted to be organized, it was something that I longed for. I wanted to be able to get right to the pair of scissors, tape, needle, and thread. I just couldn’t implement such greatness. It only existed in my dreams, only in my mind.
One day I looked at my house the reality of organization was absolutely impossible. I had to figure out how in the world was I going to overcome the chaos I had created. I narrowed it down to one room, even that didn’t work.
So this is where the 4×4 came into play. It can actually be a little bigger but starting off on the 4×4 is safe and I needed safe. If you have this same feeling then these steps will help.
This is how it begins…
Step 1 – Pick your area. Mine was a closet they always seem to have been my cave of sins that I didn’t want anyone to see. I picked my closet, in my mind, I thought hmmm this is where I would actually store things in an organized manner. Closet was for me 
Step 2 – REMEMBER this is a four-foot by four-foot area. The size of a coffee table. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and say to yourself, “I can do this!” Now go get’em!
Step 3 – Gather two bags and a corner of the room. One bag is trash, throw it away. you do not need every piece of scratch paper that you have. If you pick up that pen that doesn’t have ink Throw it away! Those soggy socks that always fall down, Throw them away!
Bag number two is for the giveaway. Beware you will have thoughts of “Hey I will have a yard sale!” Wrong answer! If you aren’t strong enough to walk away from it now you won’t be to at a sale and you will end up being your best customer. So get rid of it! Put it in a bag and put it out of your sight. You do not need to open that bag, fill it up and put it out of sight.
Your corner will house the things that you can’t live without. Be good to yourself keep the items that make you happy, that bring you joy. If you pick something up out of your 4×4 and you smile inside because it makes you look hot as heck when you wear it KEEP IT! If you pick it up and your heart floods with memories of your childhood and it brings warm fuzzies KEEP IT!
Step 4 – By this point, you should have Bag #1 in the dumpster. Bag #2 should be in your garage or in your car ready for the thrift store. Your corner should be full of happiness!
Don’t move things out of your corner. You will have more to add to it tomorrow with your next 4×4. The corner is an accomplishment, they are your treasures, you chose each and every one of them.
CONGRATULATIONS AND WOO HOO FOR YOU!!! You have achieved a lot by taking that first step!
I bet you are wondering what will happen with the corner of treasures? Next time we will sit down for a cup of java and discuss that!
Do any of you have other methods for this overwhelming issue? Please lay it on me! How did you conquer your 4×4?
This is some of the best advice I’ve ever been given! So smart! We all need manageable goals that we can achieve. Thank you, Clara!