Do the piles of clutter in your home overwhelm you? Do you
want to have a clean home but you honestly do not know where to start the
clean-up process? It is time to create a declutter strategy.
Walk through your home with new eyes. In fact, some
organizers recommend that you enter your house, going room by room, and making
a list of everything you want to change. Before you start doing anything, take
a close look at the list. Which room or space irritates you the most?
Prioritize each area you want clean based on this list.
Rather than trying to tackle an entire room, start with one
small area. Focus on that one area - whether it is a counter, a dresser drawer
or a bookshelf. Completely clear everything from the area and then go through
each item, choosing whether to save it, donate or give it away, or throw it
away. As you find items you want to keep, put them back until everything is
back in its place. When you step back and see the cleared space, you will feel
a sense of satisfaction and may feel new energy to move forward.
You may be tempted to start on the next item on the list,
but it would be better to wait. Give yourself a couple of days to a week to get
used to having the area clean and see how you do keeping the area clutter free.
Your goal is to develop the new habit of keeping this one area cleared. When
you feel secure in keeping this one area clear, it is time to move to the next
priority item on your list.
The next step is to work on another small area. You may want
to have a decluttering spree, but bear in mind that doing too much too soon can
wear you out. Instead, plan to spend a minimum of 15 minutes a day cleaning. If
you can schedule more time, an hour or two each week would be fantastic. Follow
the list of prioritized items and mark the time on your calendar. Guard the
time like you would a doctor’s appointment to be sure you declutter each week.
Once you have gotten your own clutter under control, it is
time to enlist the help of your family. Develop a chore chart for everyone in
the family so you are not the only one cleaning. You may be the only one
decluttering but it only makes sense for everyone in the family to be involved
in general housekeeping. It also helps to develop a routine.
As you go through clutter, whether on your own or with your
family’s help, remember the importance of not only cleaning but also getting
rid of items that you no longer need. You may want to put a “give away” box in
each room. When you find an unwanted or unneeded item, place it into the box.
Once the box is full, immediately take it to the car and donate it to a charity
like Salvation Army or Goodwill. Perhaps someone else will need it.
You may feel like it is taking forever to clear the clutter,
but it took more than a day or two to amass it. It will take time to get your
home back in order, but once you do, you will be more likely to use the new
skills you have learned and keep the clutter from coming back.
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your
business and your life
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