It’s the beginning of a new school year, parents rejoice, students ... maybe not so much. It doesn’t matter who starts what as long as there is a simple organized routine to get about your day, your week, your month and year in the best organized way possible, for your sanity and that of others. Some people choose the beginning of the official year to declutter and plan along their lives, others choose the beginning or end of summer, it doesn’t really matter when or where to start, as long as there is a plan, that’s where it counts.
The first step to organizing is to simply take a look around your space, whether it is the living room, bedroom, personal office, closet, make up vanity, bathroom shelves, you name it! Taking mental notes doesn’t really do much if you’re too engrossed in organizing your area, take actual notes, stick them on the areas you’d like to tidy up and just start. There’s a sort of calm when you mentally organize your space to your liking. Why is it important to choose a time frame and go from there? It’s not so you could become the next Martha Stewart (I wish), but it’s more about decluttering your mindset and clearing your space of material possessions to prioritize the things that matter such as family, friends, work, education and whatever fits your personal lifestyle choices.
The second step to organizing is to check which items are necessary and others that you can get rid of. Why is this step important? I’ve got two words for you: stress relief. Yes, you are able to de-stress with little stuff, fewer clothes, less shoes, how about one or two mascara wands instead of 10, fewer desk top items, even computer and phone applications and icons. Oh please as if the 10,000 steps app is gonna help you lose weight (yes, I’m rolling my eyes at you)! The trick is to ask yourself the ultimate question: do I need it? Once you’ve gotten your answer to each item, start pilling them up on the side away from your decluttering zone. This is so you don’t look back and think that you do need it (even though you secretly know you just want it). It is a challenge, it’s one that seems easy but nope, it’s really tough letting go of that 15 year old raggedy chlorine stained t-shirt, I see where you’re going there, yes I’m being sarcastic so drop that t-shirt.
The third step would be organizing the things you put to the side, meaning you must define exactly what goes where. Create four piles: keep, trash, charity/donate and relocate. Keep in mind the question you asked yourself earlier, do I need it? The answer would place the item in the correct pile. Sentimentality is not an option here unless you’d like to be called a hoarder and that’s not even the worst of it. Each item placed in the right pile will help not only lighten the load on your drawers, hangers of your closet, desk cabinets, it’ll help lower your stress level. Because face it, we love our things and no way will we throw away our empty 25 year-old Disney World autograph notebook in hopes to go back again and fill it up (unless it is full of autographs then definitely keep it and add more when you go for another Disney visit). It doesn’t matter what time frame you choose for your decluttering project, it could take a few minutes, hours, days or weeks, the principal is the same, to breathe easier with less chaos around you.
With these three steps in place, decluttering your space is the right activity for decluttering your mind, your inner tranquil self and creates a semi minimalistic approach to your space. Getting rid of your unwanted possessions helps organize your time tremendously, there’ll be more room to relax and enjoy your surroundings, sleep patterns will normalize, working or studying will be easier and more effective. After organizing the spaces you planned for your project, the time you spend organizing the little clutter you leave behind at the end of the day will be quicker and less than what you’re usually used to. It’s great to do this type of cleaning every 4-6 months, or whenever you feel like it’s time to change it up and reorganize or relocate, you’re bound to find something else you wouldn’t want to keep. Another tip to stay on top of your decluttering game is to keep a checklist if you’d like but this is no excuse for you to head down to IKEA to get more storage boxes and lessen the load of the charity or trash piles, keep the boxes for the items you’d like to save for later or donations. For the sake of your sanity and peace of mind, leave IKEA alone and hey maybe you could strive to be the next Martha Stewart, one can dream, can’t they?
— [email protected]
The first step to organizing is to simply take a look around your space, whether it is the living room, bedroom, personal office, closet, make up vanity, bathroom shelves, you name it! Taking mental notes doesn’t really do much if you’re too engrossed in organizing your area, take actual notes, stick them on the areas you’d like to tidy up and just start. There’s a sort of calm when you mentally organize your space to your liking. Why is it important to choose a time frame and go from there? It’s not so you could become the next Martha Stewart (I wish), but it’s more about decluttering your mindset and clearing your space of material possessions to prioritize the things that matter such as family, friends, work, education and whatever fits your personal lifestyle choices.
The second step to organizing is to check which items are necessary and others that you can get rid of. Why is this step important? I’ve got two words for you: stress relief. Yes, you are able to de-stress with little stuff, fewer clothes, less shoes, how about one or two mascara wands instead of 10, fewer desk top items, even computer and phone applications and icons. Oh please as if the 10,000 steps app is gonna help you lose weight (yes, I’m rolling my eyes at you)! The trick is to ask yourself the ultimate question: do I need it? Once you’ve gotten your answer to each item, start pilling them up on the side away from your decluttering zone. This is so you don’t look back and think that you do need it (even though you secretly know you just want it). It is a challenge, it’s one that seems easy but nope, it’s really tough letting go of that 15 year old raggedy chlorine stained t-shirt, I see where you’re going there, yes I’m being sarcastic so drop that t-shirt.
The third step would be organizing the things you put to the side, meaning you must define exactly what goes where. Create four piles: keep, trash, charity/donate and relocate. Keep in mind the question you asked yourself earlier, do I need it? The answer would place the item in the correct pile. Sentimentality is not an option here unless you’d like to be called a hoarder and that’s not even the worst of it. Each item placed in the right pile will help not only lighten the load on your drawers, hangers of your closet, desk cabinets, it’ll help lower your stress level. Because face it, we love our things and no way will we throw away our empty 25 year-old Disney World autograph notebook in hopes to go back again and fill it up (unless it is full of autographs then definitely keep it and add more when you go for another Disney visit). It doesn’t matter what time frame you choose for your decluttering project, it could take a few minutes, hours, days or weeks, the principal is the same, to breathe easier with less chaos around you.
With these three steps in place, decluttering your space is the right activity for decluttering your mind, your inner tranquil self and creates a semi minimalistic approach to your space. Getting rid of your unwanted possessions helps organize your time tremendously, there’ll be more room to relax and enjoy your surroundings, sleep patterns will normalize, working or studying will be easier and more effective. After organizing the spaces you planned for your project, the time you spend organizing the little clutter you leave behind at the end of the day will be quicker and less than what you’re usually used to. It’s great to do this type of cleaning every 4-6 months, or whenever you feel like it’s time to change it up and reorganize or relocate, you’re bound to find something else you wouldn’t want to keep. Another tip to stay on top of your decluttering game is to keep a checklist if you’d like but this is no excuse for you to head down to IKEA to get more storage boxes and lessen the load of the charity or trash piles, keep the boxes for the items you’d like to save for later or donations. For the sake of your sanity and peace of mind, leave IKEA alone and hey maybe you could strive to be the next Martha Stewart, one can dream, can’t they?
— [email protected]
