It is quite interesting how we manage to make a mess in our own home. It’s as if we are hoarding. There are numerous studies that show that people tend to keep things for their sentimental value, or any other for that matter, and refuse to throw them away. An attempt is made with causes like salvation army, but even with tax cuts you get by donating your old stuff, people tend to stick to it.
Well, it’s all over now. Let’s declutter your home, and see it as a challenge. Declutter 10 things in 10 weeks.
First, you need to put all of the cutlery back to its place, as well as other utensils. Kitchen appliances that are not used very often should be put away. Grab a bin and throw away all the rubbish (papers, damaged cutlery, etc.). Return all other items to their rightful place and then clean. Wash your sink with hot water and some anti-cavity products, and then use some soapy water to wipe the chairs, tables, and even your cupboard doors.
Every year after Christmas, go through your children’s toys to see what they have, clean them, and donate all the unwanted ones to the charity of your choice. You may need to be ruthless and throw away things they don’t want to, but they will cooperate if you tell them that it is for a good cause.
If you’re like me, you tend to buy things on sale or in bulk, thinking that you might use them again, but instead they just stay in your pantry. Create a meal plan, and try to use up those tomato cans, taco shells, etc.
You have, at some time in your life, probably bought fabric you liked in order to use it some day, but never did. Here’s what you should do: create three piles. One pile will be for the fabrics you won’t use, another for the fabrics that you’re not sure you’ll use, and the last is for ones you like but don’t know what to do with them. For the “definitely won’t use pile,” you should donate them or use them as gift wrap. The other two piles can cover a book, be a pin cushion, be cases, or even be wall art. YouTube is a great source of inspiration and instructions.
Go through your cupboards, cabinets, bathroom cabinets, etc. and throw away all the unused cleaners, toiletries, make up, lotions, potions, and other stuff. Swear that you won’t buy another one until you completely use the one you have.
Use a Sunday afternoon to go through your scrapbook supplies and find things you KNOW that you won’t use. Throw them away. For the rest, you can either create the scrapbooks or donate, sell, or swap them.
We all have a bunch of magazines with recipes that take away our storage space. Here’s what you need to do: cut them all from the magazines and glue them in a notebook. Perhaps one with a cloth cover made from your leftover fabric?
This is the most difficult. We women tend to buy handbags and shoes because we never grow out of them. We can gain weight or lose weight, but we’ll still have the same shoe size. Throw one bag away, the one that’s in the worst condition. Throw away a pair of shoes in the same condition. You don’t need to feel guilty. Sort through your clothes and see what’s missing. Buy it! :)
Throw away pens that don’t work and similar. Throw away all the scratched CD’s as well.
Throw away rubber bands, notepads, broken pencils, notes, etc. Then clean and organize it.
These are your 10 week challenges. Feel free to tell me what you did in the comments below.
Here is a blueprint of how to start tackling that clutter and enjoying a less stressful life: How to Declutter Your Life and Reduce Stress
Featured photo credit: Mini zen garden via Shutterstock
Jeff has been a blogger and online entrepreneur since 2009. He mostly writes about business, finance and life. 
No comments:
Post a Comment