Peace of Mind Organizing

Finding the best place to donate

20 April 2012

I send out a newsletter on the 15th of every month. This month, I liked the feature story I wrote for it so much that I thought I’d share it here as well.

It can be easier to let go of items if you think they’re going to just the right charity. If you feel like the item wlll used, even loved, you can release it with fewer twinges of regret.

I get that. I’ve experienced it in my own decluttering and I see it in my clients all the time.

But I think looking for the best charity is actually a bad idea. That search can keep you from actually getting the stuff out of your house. You hang on to it while you do your research. That research can take awhile, since you’re looking for the very best place. Soon, the boxes or bags become part of the landscape and the urgency to make the donation recedes.

You know what’s better? Getting the stuff out of your house in one fell swoop. Preferably the day you make the decision to let it go. Call a charity to pick it all up. Or take it all to a place like Goodwill that will make sure that nothing ends up in the landfill. If you hire me to bring in an organizing team, the team members will take away your donations.

The best charity for your donations is the one that makes it easy to donate. Once you’ve made the decision, the best thing you can do for yourself is to act on your decision to let something go and actually make the donation.

If you’re not already receiving my monthly newsletter in your email inbox, you can sign up on the newsletter page of my website. When you sign up, you’ll automatically receive my guide, “Top Ten Organizing Mistakes.”

Tagged with: decluttering, disposal, donations, perfectionism

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