Clutter. What is clutter?
Make a List.
Write down every single space in your home you think needs to be organized. If there are not entire rooms, then get specific and write “bathroom closet.” The actual act of composing this list is a stress reliever in itself! By putting your thoughts on paper, you are creating order and you are more likely to hold yourself accountable and take action.
Just Start!
Many of my clients have thought about getting organized a long time before they did something about it. They overanalyze where to start. While you should visualize how you want your space to look in the end, you won’t truly know every detail until you dive in.
Chain Reaction.
Did you ever have a project coming up and you found yourself cleaning your room instead of preparing? If decluttering is one of those things you are avoiding, you may find it motivating to hear organizing leads to more organizing. Perhaps you start by clearing shelves in a cupboard. You can relocate items that were out of place to that newly decluttered spot, thus creating an organizing chain reaction.
What bothers you most?
Being Busy.
Sometimes our busyness is a choice. Prioritize organization and schedule it in your calendar. Decide to make time for it. Do a little bit each day or dedicate certain time slots each week and be proud of all progress made.
Donation Spot.
Pick a designated spot in your home and keep trash bags there. Make this the giveaway spot and make sure each member of the family knows where this spot is. Similarly, if you have kids and plan to sell any of their outgrown clothes, shoes or toys, have a designated spot for those items to be sold. (Click here to see if your items can be donated to Habitat ReStore.)
Focus on Yourself.
If there are other people, living in your home, don’t worry about organizing their stuff. Focus on your stuff first. Once they see the joy that comes from an organized space, they may want to start too!
Start Small.
Grab a Trash Bag.
Take 20 minutes and go through your house and find items to throw out/recycle. This may include: expired food, magazines, empty boxes, old receipts, junk mail, fast food condiments, plastic dry cleaner bags, expired makeup or hair products, etc.
New Items.
Watch what you buy while you are decluttering. Start being more mindful and stop clutter before it starts. Do you really love what you are buying or are you just buying it because it’s on sale?
Whether you need to take your first step in organizing your home or continue the process, just remember, you can do it! You will find there are many benefits in decluttering your home. You will find more joy, experience less stress and feel peace in your home.
I can help you get started on your decluttering process! Please visit my website at www.getorganizedomaha.com to learn more.
by Kacie Ferrazzo | Professional Organizer
Got Clutter? 10 helpful tips to get organized!
