Springing into Action

7 Tips to Help Organize Your Home

By I.J. Schecter

With the rebirth of spring often comes a less admirable stirring: our urge to ignore the overwhelming list of house projects. But take heart, tackling your space one area at a time can make the overall challenge more manageable. Here are some particular spots you can target:

First, remove everything. Second, after sprinkling some cleaner over the floor, give it a thorough sweep. (You'll be surprised at just how much dust can accumulate.) Finally, instead of cramming everything back in, devise a plan, resolving not to fill the space until you've figured out a way to make it at least 10 percent more organized than last year, even if this means simply putting some of your tools on a pegboard or hanging the bicycles. "Try to use the garage walls for storage more than the floor," says professional organizing consultant Christy Best. "The floor is meant to be clear."

There's only one reason men fear gardening: They haven't tried it. Turning soil, raking seed, cultivating new grass, even planting pretty flowers – anyone who has done these things can tell you they make you feel just as masculine as walloping a 5-iron. So go buy a few perennials, grab a spade and a watering can, and get your fingernails dirty. And if you think gardening doesn't burn some calories, wait.

We all hold on to too much random stuff, but knowing this doesn't make us any better at getting rid of it. To avoid the pain of a complete purge, take the advice of Katherine Gibson, author of Unclutter Your Life: Transforming Your Physical, Mental and Emotional Space

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