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" Instead of eyeing that overflowing closet with disdain, make 2011 the year you finally get organized. Justin Klosky of The O.C.D. Experience shares his best tips for keeping your clutter \u2014 and life \u2014 under control, effortlessly.  Create a Schedule The first thing to do to start the year right is to make sure your calendar is clear for all of the new possibilities coming your way. Having an effective way to manage your time and keep track of obligations is essential for staying organized. If you haven&amp;#039;t gone digital for your appointment-keeping yet, DO IT NOW! It&amp;#039;s faster and easier to maintain your schedule from year to year, and you&amp;#039;ll even get reminders of birthdays and appointments. Most phones and computers have a calendar feature, so take advantage of it.  If you have kids, you know that their schedules require a lot of time-budgeting as well. If you find it hard to coordinate with other members of the family, use a digital calendar with an overlap function, like this one. You&amp;#039;ll be able to cross-reference your appointments with your husband&amp;#039;s and kids&amp;#039; to resolve conflicts before they happen. Purge Some Clutter Now&amp;#039;s the time to clear out things that are just taking up space. Did you or your family get too many holiday gifts? If so, set aside a few hours for each room in your home and get some heavy-duty trash bags to assist you. Start with everything around you \u2014 not your closet. Ask yourself: Did I use these items this year? Are they items I am actually going to use this coming year? Do I really need this? If you answer NO, drop it in the bag. Once the bags are full, bring them to a donation center of your choice. You&amp;#039;ll feel great once you remove all of the excess in your life. The things that you surround yourself with should be things that inspire you, make you want to create, or allow you to access a better part of yourself. Finally, pay special attention to the kitchen. You should do a kitchen purge yearly and take EVERYTHING out of the cabinets to see what is really hiding in there. Get rid of the stale food, the items you didn&amp;#039;t use last year which can be donated, and the duplicate items.(Who needs 3 can openers, anyway?) Clean Out Your Closet We all want to start the New Year off looking and feeling great, and that begins with the clothes in our closets. Think about functionality: Can you close your closet, or are your clothes busting out of the doors? Think about practicality: Are you really going to wear that again? Simply go from item to item and ask yourself these questions:  When was the last time I wore this? When is the next time I am going to wear this? Will I ever wear this again? Does this fit me anymore?  Be realistic with yourself \u2014 do this with a friend or partner if you find it hard to let go of certain things. And beware the &amp;quot;I&amp;#039;m gonna lose weight&amp;quot; excuse: If things don&amp;#039;t fit you anymore, they most likely won&amp;#039;t fit you again. If you seriously think you are going to lose some weight, and are holding onto specific pieces of clothing, then give yourself a deadline. If your slimmer physique isn&amp;#039;t back by midyear, it&amp;#039;s time to donate those clothes. Once you&amp;#039;ve made your way through your own closet, do the same with your kids. Purge the obvious clothes on your own, and then involve your kids. Make a game out of it! Have them try on clothes as fast as they can, like a race. Once they have each item on, you can decide if it&amp;#039;s going to stay or go.  Remember the New Year is for starting NEW! Clear out things in your life that are just taking up space. If you want new things in your life to affect you positively, then you must have room for them. Free up space in your home and discipline yourself to keep that space free. Only add new things to your space when you know that they are going to make your new year better. For more information on Justin Klosky and the O.C.D. Experience, visit his website or Facebook page. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.redbookmag.com/home/advice/a11434/organizing-tips-for-your-life-and-home/>