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Grapevine Tips...... Decluttering your home.
Cluttered home? too tired or overwhelmed to declutter, here are some good tips.
Decluttering isn’t just about clearing your home of clutter, period, for many of us, decluttering can have a positive impact on mental health but it can be daunting. People can feel held back by their mess. Long-term mess often reflects our past selves, so decluttering can make us feel we have a fresh start, which can be energising. In contrast, living in a cluttered environment can increase stress and anxiety. If you have a problem with organization, confide in a friend or family member, since your friends won’t have the same attachment to items like you do, it might help you detach yourself from those said items which will ultimately speed up the process to a clutter free home. Firstly, write down a list of rooms that are getting you down, starting with the messiest one first. Start off by allocating some time each day that works within your daily schedule, it could be five, 10 or 30 minutes or even at the weekend.
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Tackle one room at a time - have boxes or bags ready and sort. Label boxes or bags1.Keep 2. Donate 3.Throw Away 4. Recycle. Take a photo before you start. It’s going to look worse before it gets better but if you have before and after photos, you will be able to see the progress. Doing one room at a time is more manageable and you can tackle it bit by bit. (Don’t be tempted to move to another room half way through the sorting, or until that room is finished). Switch off your phone and by avoiding distractions you will sail through the task. Start with one cupboard or drawer at a time, take out items that are broken, not used, gone out of date, or just not wanted anymore. Anything not used for 6 months is probably not going to be used anyway.
Invest in some excellent storage boxes to place things in that needs to be saved.
Arrange in subject groups – ie: all out-of-season clothes in one place, and is easily identifiable: labelled or see-through for quick identification. Space-saving options are a must – stackable boxes, vacuum-pack bags, furniture that doubles up as storage, such as an ottoman with lift-up lid. Bear in mind that lids or covers offer better protection from dust, dirt and bugs than open storage, too.
Move your decluttered items out of the area and place them in a car (if possible) or at least by the front door. You should aim to donate/recycle/tip your decluttered items as soon as possible, otherwise just left is defeating the task in hand. Selling unwanted items can be difficult, but remember it is unwanted so it’s not used, get something for it - better the money in your pocket, and a clutter free home. To prevent cluttering in the future, only buy something that is needed and will be used.
The biggest reason why people fall back to clutter is because the items that are used aren’t put back in their proper place. Think about the bathroom, declutter can be done every day. Do you need 5 or 6 shampoo bottles in the shower, or at the side of the bath? The same with shower gels? Get in to the habit of only using one until the bottle is empty. Store the rest in a cupboard, or a basket. Try to keep the bathroom as streamlined and functional as possible. After you’ve decluttered, you’ll be amazed at how much less you will buy as you’ll be aware that you really don’t need lots of things to make you happy. Clutter often blinds us to what we really own. Sorting everything out and giving your home a good declutter can help prevent you from making frivolous purchases in the future. With less junk in your home, there will be fewer things to dust and less stuff to manoeuvre the hoover around. Cleaning and tidying a decluttered home is a breeze
Iron Giant’ celebrated in new exhibition.
A new exhibition will give a fascinating insight into Bennerley Viaduct, one of the most iconic structures in Nottinghamshire, when it opens in June at the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum.‘Bennerley Viaduct, the Iron Giant of the Erewash Valley’ is a pop up exhibition from the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct and charts its incredible history, from the Victorian railway boom, through dereliction, to walking and cycling destination. Learn more about the people and society that created it and the lasting impact it has on the communities Lawrence would have known well. Alongside the exhibition, there will be a programme of workshops and guided walks, bringing together Lawrence, creative writing, and visits to the viaduct as it is today.
Bennerley Viaduct - Rebecca Morris-Buck, Project Manager for the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct said: "We are so thrilled that our support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund is enabling us to work in partnership with the D. H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum for this exhibition. Bennerley Viaduct is a landmark in Lawrence Country: when you stand on the viaduct, you have a clear view of Eastwood in its landscape. As we develop our site as a visitor attraction, and walking and cycling destination, we're delighted to celebrate its connections to a world-famous writer, and to reflect on what life in the local area was like when the viaduct was in use. We hope Lawrence would've approved of our planned walks and creative writing activities."
Carolyn Melbourne, Museum and Collections Officer at the museum said:
“Bennerley Viaduct is a monument of Victorian engineering and this exhibition really brings to life the times in which Lawrence was living. Improvement works at the site are one of a number of projects being undertaken as part of Kimberley’s successful £16.5m levelling up bid so it’s also a great time to learn more about the history of this iconic landmark as we look ahead to its future.”
The exhibition is open at the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum, on Victoria Street, Eastwood from 8th June to 22nd July. Visit www.broxtowe.gov.uk/dhlawrencemuseum for more details and opening times. You can also find out more about the work of the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct at: www.bennerleyviaduct.org.uk The D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum is where this literary legend was born on 11 September 1885. Only 30 minutes from Nottingham city centre, the Museum is a must see for fans of literature, and for those wanting to delve deeper into Nottingham’s literary heritage.Step back in time to experience the traditional Victorian wash house, see the parlour; a room only for special guests, feel the warmth of the fire in the kitchen and have a wander around the parental and other bedrooms. The museum’s permanent exhibition features items from Lawrence’s family and even paintings created by the author himself. Find out more at www.broxtowe.gov.uk/dhlawrencemuseum
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