It’s a New Year and a new YOU!
It’s an exciting time because you can reflect on your last year and if needed you can hit RESET. Reset your mind, your body, and your surroundings. One way to do this is by decluttering your life and getting organized.
I’d like to present you with a declutter challenge. Having an organized and clutter free home helps improve focus, happiness, and productivity. Mess equals stress, so the goal of this challenge is to reduce the number of items in your home. Visualize simple and clean spaces.
RULES OF THUMB
*If you have not used it in 6 months you probably won’t.
*If you don’t love it, then someone else will.
*When organizing touch everything ONE time.
*Everything in your home must have it’s own home.
*Keep the best donate the rest.
*When in doubt – get it out!
STEP 1.
Make a list of the spaces in your home that feel overwhelming, look cluttered, or you haven’t organized in over a year.
Example ~ Pantry, Bedroom Closet, Office, Refrigerator, Kitchen Cabinets, Basement Storage, Garage, Linen Closet, Kids Rooms, Play Room, Laundry Room, Cosmetic Drawer, Storage Unit, etc.
STEP 2.
Prioritize the spaces that need to be decluttered.
Example ~ 1.Pantry, 2.Office 3.Bedroom Closet, 4. Basement, etc. If everything feels cluttered and disorganized than they should all be on the list in the order in which they most need help.
STEP 3.
Set an appointment on your weekly calendar to declutter a Space on your List. This is important because other things will come up and the organizing will get pushed aside and before you know it 2024 will be here. So set this appointment with yourself, and make it a priority. If something comes up after you set this appointment you will have to hold firm.
STEP 4.
Gather 4 large tubs (containers, cardboard boxes, or garbage bags).
Label them DONATE, TRASH, SELL, and LOVE.
Throw away anything that is expired, damaged, broken, chipped, or mismatched. Sell or donate any item you have multiples of, do not use, or have sets that are mismatched. Keep only items you use often and love. Sell high value items only.
STEP 5.
Take everything out of the space. Putting items in the tubs that they belong in. If it’s your kitchen, do one cabinet at a time. Clean, dust, and wipe out the area. Then in an organized fashion put the items you use and love neatly back. Move to the next space.
STEP 6.
As you complete a room or space move the bins that are now filled quickly to the final destination. So trash goes into the trash, donations get taken immediately to the donation drop off, and your sell items get put in an area labeled for your next garage sale or posted on a FB resale site. Don’t stack things in your garage until you clean the next area and stick with your initial choice on where you put the item. Remember touch every item only one time.
DECLUTTER LIST
Chipped dishes and china
Out dated place mats and napkins
Torn seat cushions
Mismatched dishes
Broken peeling pans and appliances
Expired food
Mismatched tupperware
Old cookbooks
Any item not used in 6 months / Clothing 1 year
Clothes and shoes with holes
Stained or stretched out sheets and blankets
Out dated decor
Socks with holes or mismatched
Old or duplicate candles
Broken, tore, or stained furniture
Old make-up
Towels with stains or holes
Cosmetic Products that are expired
Broken appliances
Old razors and bath products
Broken toys
Out aged toys
Games with missing parts and pieces
Broken crayons, dried up markers
Used crafts (filled up coloring books)
Old Batteries
This challenge can and will change your life. If you stick to your schedule, manage the task at hand and follow through you will have a clutter free home in no time.
Your mind will feel clear and you will feel a huge sense of accomplishment!
XO
EVE