Decluttering and organizing things in your home has a way of distressing your life. If your space is cluttered, so is your head. It has a direct correlation. This new year we are not only stepping into a fresh start, but a new decade. It is time to go into all those spaces that you have been avoiding for the last 9 years and start purging. Since the start of the year there have been a few areas that I have been focusing on and I wanted to share them with you. So here is my list of 10 things to declutter in your home!
And for those of you that started out the year with the same commitment to simplify and declutter your lives, let’s keep that momentum going! Don’t let the February slump set in. And if you didn’t start out with those initial intentions, it’s never too late to start the process.
So as much as I like to purge items on the reg to simplify my life and the stuff in my household, I am an emotional being who can be a bit sentimental. I also live with someone who REALLY hates change and likes to hold on to items. Love him BTW, so I welcome his process. But this means that in our 10 years(coming up this year) of marriage, we have accumulated lots of “things” we are hanging on to. This is even with making a move across country 3 months after we got married. We got rid of tons of stuff before the moved, but in that 9 + years we have bought a house and had 2 kids! So that means more stuff. Sounds crazy to type that out BTW (2 kids!!)!
Seasonal Decor
Since you just had all your holiday decor set out in your house, its the perfect time to clean out the things that you left in the attic or basement this year. It will be so much easier to just empty out the bins that didn’t make the cut this past season and you won’t be storing them for another year.
Paper Work
Since the arrival of Sophie, my desk has become a catch-all and been really neglected. Even if you don’t have a desk, you have an area that is for paper work that I’m sure is over flowing. The most important rule when dealing with paper work is the one touch method. Meaning that if you grab your mail, deal with it right then and there. Take it straight to the place where you file all your paperwork. Open it up recycle the envelope, and sort it in the appropriate spot. I have some major plans for our office area that will help me wrap my head around this monster so I will keep you posted on what’s working for us. And, it goes without saying, but go paperless with your bills whenever possible!
Your Pantry
Your pantry and fridge are also areas to clear out every year. Make sure to throw out anything that has expired or has lost it’s smell or color. Smell or color mainly applies to dried herbs and spices. They do have a longer shelf life, but they don’t last forever.
Nightstand
I don’t know about you, but my nightstand always ends up needing a clear AT LEAST every quarter. There are always multiple hand creams, body butters, notepads, pens, books, and multiple essential oil bottles. All of those items are must haves for me before bed, but not all of them in my house! LOL Now if you don’t have a drawer like mine, just make sure that you are keeping the surface as minimal as possible. Nothing is more distracting from a good night’s sleep than a cluttered surface.
Kid’s Toys
This is the perfect time to go through all the toys in the house. You most likely added to their collection over the holidays and they have had some time to play with those new items and decide if they really hold their interest or not. For me, it’s time to donate the noise making, bright light gifts for others. Not only for my sanity, but for their development! LOL! I talk a bit more on my thoughts on minimalism and motherhood in a past blog post.
Electronics
It’s time to be cut-throat here. I have no idea why we feel like we need to hold on to every charger or iPhone we have ever had, but we all have that drawer in the house. Sometimes I feel like it has more to do with the fact that we are unsure what information is really on it or how to properly dispose of them. For cellphones, you basically need to preform a factory reset and make sure that you remove the SIM and SD. I found a bit more information here, but ultimately do not just toss them in the garbage. Every Best Buy location in the US has a kiosk for recycling just inside the door. According to their site, they accept “rechargeable batteries, wires, cords, cables and plastic bags,” as well as a host of electronic devices. Check out their website to see if Best Buy will accept what you want to recycle.
Your Wardrobe
We are clearly still feeling the Winter weather here in the PNW but Spring will be here before we know it! I am already starting to get in the right head space to clear out my cold gear when it arrives. One of my favorite ways to prep for this is to start making Pinterest boards and Instagram collections of looks that inspire me. It creates a virtual vision board that I can reference thriving or shopping for the new season. Minimalist pro tip: ALWAYS shop your closet first!
Craft or Project Supplies
This is another area where I somehow feel like I can keep the scraps and do something else with them in the future. Before I know it, I have been storing scrap-booking paper since HIGH SCHOOL(20 reunion this year)!! I hate throwing things away if I think I can re-purpose it, but I just have to be brutally honest with myself and projucts that I actually have time for. And I am NEVER going to be scrap- booking again! LOL Now for the items that you do keep, schedule out those projects and finish them!
Linen Closet
The perfect number of sheets sets(I have found) are two sets for every bed in the house. Go through all your linens, including pillows and blankets. Anything that is stained or has any sort of wear or tear should be passed on or tossed. If you can repair it and have the skills to do so, go ahead. But now isn’t the time to “think” about learning to sew so that you can keep that 2 year old pillow case.
Junk Drawer
Our junk drawer is in our kitchen and I feel that is true for most households. We keep our’s pretty organized but when something needs to be put away so that a toddler can run away with it never to be seen again, it gets tossed in the junk drawer. Some say that you should have a junk drawer, but I think that is unrealistic. Just make sure that everything in there has a place and that you are tidying it up often enough.
And that’s it for my list of 10 thing to declutter in your home today. It is just a simple list that you could even tackle in one month if you put your mind to it. So many people want to organize their lives and their homes and never make a dent because they just have too much. There are plenty excuses that you can tell yourself on why you can’t start decluttering your space. Whether it’s that you will “use it again someday” or “someone special gave it to me” just simply ask ask yourself this…”am I currently using this or is it serving a purpose?”. Be patient and give yourself some grace because it is a process. Rome wasn’t built in a day folks! And I guarantee that you feel soooooooo much lighter!
XO
Callie