I have two suggestions regarding containers:

1: RESIST the urge to buy containers

2: CREATE a personal container store

Below are examples of containers in my own home, but first...

1 RESIST

I encourage you to resist the urge to buy anything but absolute necessities while doing this program, including containers.

I know retail therapy first-hand! It often leads clutter and discontent, which are NOT the goals for this program.

We might think, "Those are nice containers! They'll help me get organized!"

The containers won't organize your clutter - we organize with containers AFTER clearing clutter. Then we know exactly what and how much we want to contain.

Let these become mantras if they resonate with you...

***

We clear clutter first.

We organize only things we love-want-need-use.

We only buy containers when we know how much of each category we're containing.

***

If you feel the urge to shop:

• Check in with the feeling underneath the urge
• See if you can turn that emotional energy into clearing energy
  
  

Yes, I'm serious.

Less shopping = less stuff to organize.

2 CREATE

We'll likely find boxes and containers as we clear clutter...

From these, create your personal container store!

• Watch for sturdy boxes and containers
• Collect them in one area
• Stack them inside each other if you can (to save space)
• Throw away broken, torn containers
• Donate containers you don't like

Keep only sturdy and/or pretty containers...

Apple products make nice boxes and many things come in nice containers.

We'll come back to containers AFTER clearing...then you can get some delightful ones if you want!

Examples of containers in my home:

Notice that most are square or rectangle

Notice how each space contains a simple category

Remember, I've been doing this for years!

Just start noticing containers you have, like, use, don't like...

And notice where categories are that you might want to contain...

But don't go buy new containers yet!

Lesson Summary

When it comes to containers, here are two important suggestions:

1. RESIST:

   I urge you to resist buying unnecessary items such as containers while participating in this program. Avoid the temptation of retail therapy as it can lead to clutter and discontent, which are counterproductive to the program's goals. Remember, containers do not organize clutter; we should clear clutter first and organize using containers afterward.

   • We clear clutter before organizing.
   • We only organize items we love, want, need, or use.
   • Buy containers only after knowing how much of each category needs containment.

   If you feel the urge to shop, try to understand the underlying emotion and redirect that energy into clearing clutter. Less shopping means less to organize.

2. CREATE:

   As you clear clutter, you will likely find various boxes and containers around your home. Create your personal container store with them by:

   • Looking for sturdy boxes and containers.
   • Collecting them in one area.
   • Stacking them when possible to save space.
   • Discarding broken containers and donating ones you dislike.
   • Keeping only sturdy and aesthetically pleasing containers

   Remember, focus on clearing first, and then you can invest in new containers for specific needs.

Examples of containers in the author's home showcase simple organization by category, emphasizing the importance of noticing existing containers, their usability, and where additional containers may be needed in the future. However, the key is not to rush into buying new containers before the clutter is cleared.