Decluttering

Manage Your Space.

Directions for Caregivers:

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About this Activity

During this Time of Year, I Often Do some Spring Cleaning and Decluttering.

For me, this is usually the start of clearing out things that have accumulated over the winter months.

You know the time when the strong spring sun shines on the window, and suddenly you can see every bit of dirt and rain residue that has built up over the winter? You might realize that it was quite a while since you cleaned those windows...

I think that when you put an order in one area of your home or life, the satisfaction that it gives you is so good that it is not too hard to keep going and find some more areas to tackle.

Deliberately deciding to declutter can be quite an overwhelming prospect. There can be just too much stuff everywhere! Tackling a small area at a time is the best way to start. Focus on a room, a wardrobe, bookshelf, kitchen cupboard, etc., and finish that job before moving on to the next one.  

If there are items that you can’t make your mind up about, put them in a ‘maybe’ pile. Removing them from where they were can help the decision-making.

Ask yourself: “Will I ever wear this again? Do I even like this?”

An old saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

If you can find a home for your unwanted items instead of just throwing them in the trash, that could make someone else very happy.

  • Books that have been read (or will never be read) can go to the charity shop or friends.
  • If you have old newspapers or accumulate magazines, put them into recycling.
  • Clothes that haven’t been used for a long time (I find this one very hard) can make their way to a clothes bank.
  • Cut down on your to-do list.
  • If you have multiples of things, do you really need all of them?
  • Have you enough stuff discarded to hold a garage sale/car boot sale or bring them to a market?

Cutting down on clutter makes items that are important to you a lot easier to find. Both because there is more space and also because in the process of decluttering, you will probably find stuff that you didn’t even remember owning, and now you know where they are!

Somehow having more space around us is liberating. It is easier to focus on the important things in life when there is no distraction around us. Looking at tasks that “need to be done” is not helpful. Out of the way, they will not bother us again (for a while anyway).

And, when you are done and look around you, you get this really good feeling and great satisfaction of a Job Well Done!

I will take my own advice this week and make a little decluttering start! Will you?

Wishing you well,

Maria

Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle.”

- Marie Kondō

Decluttering