As we all sit at home during our third and hopefully final lockdown, we are constantly face-to-face with our stuff. Most of us are tired of staring at the same wall decor, the same clothing and the same walls. And like most of us, you may be realizing that you have too much stuff. Here are some tips on minimizing some of the clutter during this seemingly endless pandemic.
- Work on one room at a time.
- Choose one room in the house that you want to transform. It can be the one that you use the most (office/family room/school room). It can be one that you use the least (because of clutter or lack of function). Choose one room that will make your life easier or more enjoyable once it is transformed.
- Picture an image of what you want your room to look like. Many rooms these days are having to pull double duty. How do you want your space to function? Does your family room need to function as an entertainment space and a home office? Is your basement now a playroom and a home gym or school?
- Break things down into smaller tasks. Don’t tear apart a high traffic room without allotting the time to put it back together.
- Identify how much time you have to declutter and commit to that time. If you have time to dedicate a whole Saturday to the project then make sure that you don’t schedule anything else during that time. Treat it like a workday and let family and friends know that you are unavailable. Or enlist their help! If you have to fit the project in between work, homeschooling, childrearing, etc. then breaking it down into a 30-60 minute job may be more realistic. Set a timer and commit to that one task. For example, one drawer or one specific item, like books. Once you have completed your time and accomplished a smaller task you will feel motivated to do more.
- A place for everything and everything in its place.
- It is especially important that everything has a home when rooms have more than one function. If your family room is doubling as a home office, then all paperwork needs to be returned to a designated area in the “office” area. All home entertainment/family items need to have a place in the “family room” area. There should be no overlap between spaces. Having containers or bins for similar objects will keep items neat and organized. Then label so everyone can find items.
When it comes to organization the key is to take it one mess at a time. Clutter often comes with a sense of being overwhelmed with “stuff”. But by breaking things down into manageable tasks and feeling good about completing those tasks, you are more likely to succeed. Happy organizing!
