De-cluttering your home and beyond
It’s here!
We all welcome the first day of spring, but we don’t welcome the spring cleaning… or should we say spring cleaRing?
There is loads of information out there about how to de-clutter your life, from the international bestseller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo to websites like The Minimalists who generally encourage a life with less ‘stuff’ in the first place.
We’re not suggesting you throw out everything but the cat, but with spring and the new warmer seasons, it feels like a good time for change, and to clear out the old.
What is clutter?
A good place to start is how we think. Clutter is something that gets in the way of your life, not enhances it. We have sentimental clutter like old children’s toys or visual clutter like old books, but are they adding anything to your life? If you like looking at them, then great – but if not, move on.
The ‘KonMarie’ method
She doesn’t have a bestseller for nothing, her method is clear. If it doesn’t bring you joy, get rid of it. Send it somewhere else, where somebody else can love it. Your life will change, as everything that surrounds you is positive and has an important reason to be there. Think not of what to throw out, but focus on what to keep.
She even says that once you’ve read her book, pass it on to a new owner to discover the meaning of a clutter free life.
Plan ahead
Before you tackle anything, think ahead of what would make your life easier moving forward. For example, if the under the sink cupboard resembles a little bomb site, then getting some storage boxes ahead of time might make things more organized moving forward. Aim for large storage boxes rather than small ones, as you don’t want to end up having to de-clutter your storage boxes.
Other than items that will help you de-clutter, make sure you don’t buy anything else and ensure you’ve measured all the areas before you buy anything storage related.
Buy clear bin bags
These are great for stuff you want to send to the charity shop. Not only can you see clearly what’s in there in case you have second thoughts, but there won’t be any mistaking the charity shop bags for rubbish bags. So black bags for rubbish and clear ones for charity shop or ebay items.
Start small
If the real problem is the spare room is full of so much stuff you can’t fit through the door, then think room by room and start with the easiest. By the time you get to the nightmare room, you’ll be so well practiced in making decisions, you’ll find it easier to decide on what to keep. Feng shui consultant Andrea Gerasimo says a good place to start is the bedroom, as it’s your sanctuary.
Create rules
When clearing out your wardrobe, give yourself a rule. So if you haven’t worn a pair of black trousers for two years, because you have three other pairs you like more, then it’s likely you won’t wear them again. If you’re still unsure then put all your ‘unsure’ items in a clear bag and go through them with someone else, asking ‘will I ever wear this again?’. We can bet 9/10 times the answer will be NO! This can apply to kitchen gadgets too, if the pasta maker hasn’t been used for three years and is a little rusty – then will you really make fresh pasta again?
Task to task
Avoid moving onto something else before you finish the job in hand, as this will cause chaos. The enjoyment will be in completing something, so before you move on to the next room, make sure you are finished. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just needs to work for you and your family.
Choose your time
Trying to fit this all in between picking the kids up from school and bedtime, is not going to work. Choose a day when you can dedicate some proper time to it and complete the tasks calmly. If you feel pressured, you’ll make bad decisions and will find the whole process stressful rather than cleansing.
Good luck!
Yep, that’s where the cat goes…
