Monday Motivation: Declutter

WHAT IS THIS LIFE

WHAT IS THIS LIFE

For a positive start to the week, I have decluttered. It has been a long time coming and I know Lee will laugh at me when he reads this, because there has been a pile of boxes behind our sofa that I haven't moved for approximately a thousand (five) weeks.

However, today I am converted. I am back to being a big believer in the power of decluttering your home. Physical clutter in the house is unhelpful. I know I feel on edge and anxious when things aren't in their rightful place. A decluttered home gives us a greater chance at a more peaceful life.

For all those looking to declutter, here is short guide to help you realise how simple and achievable it actually is. 

One place at a time. Be it a room, shelf, suitcase or wardrobe. Targeting one area is far less overwhelming than decluttering your entire home. Sorting is much more doable and here's how. 

1. Clear everything out of that space and decide to put back what you really need

2. Give the area a good old clean

3. Put the things that you need to keep back neatly

4. Get rid of what you don't need - give it away to friends, sell it on ebay, donate it, recycle it

This should take about 15 minutes. Doesn't seem so daunting now, does it?

Set out the time (but not too much). It only has to be 15 minutes. Schedule it into your day. Such a small segment of time may actually roll into more when you find yourself  enjoying the process, but don't let it go on too long. You can easily fall into the trap of deliberating over what stays and what goes forever. You need to be quick with your decisions. If know that if I think about things too much, I'll never throw them away.

Entertain yourself. Pop the radio on or listen to a podcast. Perfect if you have a playlist that last around 15 minutes. Then you know when your allotted time is up and you can move on with the rest of the day having just achieved something positive.

Do I use this? Be honest with yourself. If the answer is no, then why do you have it? If the answer is yes, find a place for it. We can put a lot of emotional attachment into objects, but these items don't actually contain the memories or love or achievement that we feel when we hold them. It can be a little heart-breaking, but if you still haven't found a place for that old photo/juicer/medal/hat/vase, then you probably never will. If you've survived without it actively in your life so far, you can live the rest of your life without it.

Categorise. Find a place for everything you need to keep. If you really love something or use it regularly it deserves to have a home. Plus, it saves you hassle of looking for that dastardly sellotape and ribbon every Christmas and birthday. The things that you don't want to keep also need to find a short term home until you get rid of them. If they're not going in the bin, put them in a box by your front door and schedule a time to take them to the charity shop or to upload them to ebay. Choose what you're going to do with them and actually do it.

Enjoy it. We all know the feeling of achievement and freedom when you've complete the thing you've put off time and time again. A clean and tidy home is important for a happy mind. All the stress-free time is you will spend at home is your delicious reward. Enjoy it.

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