What if I told you that if you banished one four-word phrase from your vocabulary, you could live a clutter-free life?

Those four words are: "I'll do it later."

Think about the piles of paper surrounding you in your home or office. Every single one of them is there because you said "I'll do it later". The "it" could mean reading, replying, paying, filing, shredding, recycling. Because you put off the next action, that piece of paper is still there.

Every item that hasn't been put away is there because you said, "I'll do it later". Whether it's a frequently-used item that never gets put back, or a new item that hasn't been assigned a home yet, it's still clutter.

All of the e-mails in your inbox are still there because you postponed taking action. Whether they are read or unread, they are still clutter.

Clothing that doesn't get hung up or folded, shoes that gather at the front door, coats that get dumped on the nearest chair - you get the picture.

So what can you do?

If a task is only going to take a few minutes, do it right away. Pay that bill, put away that laundry, delete that e-mail.

If it's going to take more than a few minutes, add it to your to-do list. That way, it won't get forgotten.

And be honest with yourself. If you are never going to do it, throw it away now. Don't keep thinking you'll get around to it.

Nike had it right all along!

Sharon Lowenheim, MBA, MSE, is a Professional Organizer and owner of Organizing Goddess, Inc., in New York City. Since 2006, she has taught organizing skills to individuals and groups in their homes and their offices. She can be contacted by e-mail at sharon@organizinggoddess.net or by phone at (212) 249-3537. Visit Sharon on the web at http://www.organizinggoddess.net

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