the clutter!

Written by Elizabeth May

Clutter is a thief we have invited into our home. It robs us of peace, joy, money and time. It has a detrimental effect on our mental wellbeing, our creativity, productivity and causes brain fog and fatigue. Research shows that clutter increases stress, anxiety, and depression. It is impossible to relax when there is clutter because your brain must process everything continually. However, conquering clutter is possible!

Decluttering doesn’t have to be a giant project in which everything in the house is pulled out, every item touched and decided on in a single weekend. Decluttering is not just getting rid of unwanted items. It is about developing new habits and systems and sticking to them to prevent clutter from taking over again.

First things first. Have a plan. What area causes you the most stress? Start there. How much time can you spend decluttering in that area? Be realistic. If you can do ten minutes a day, great! Do not make goals you cannot achieve. You will end up discouraged. Little bits of time each day or each week does make a difference.

Secondly, you will need three boxes, one for trash, one for donations, one for relocation. If you have ten minutes, choose one drawer or one small section of the room. Set your timer for the time you have predetermined. Trash, toss it. Be brutal.Only donate things that are usable and in good shape. Don’t make Goodwill take your junk to the dump. Anything that you are keeping that doesn’t belong in that area goes in the relocate box. Don’t take those things somewhere else until you are done. That is how you end up bouncing all over the house and never donate your clutter today! getting anything done. Never pull out more than you can put back in your allotted time.

Look at your now decluttered area. Think about what you need to do daily or weekly to keep it that way? If we do not change our habits, then it will go back to the way it was in no time.

Habits of an uncluttered home:

• Everything needs a home, and everything needs to live in its home.

• Don’t put it down, put it away.

• Do it now. NOT later.

• Make decluttering a daily habit.

• Never leave a room empty handed.

• Only touch it once.

• Take the trash out, relocate things to their proper homes and take the donate box to the car. Do NOT leave it in your car for three months. It would be better to throw it all away than have mobile clutter!

Elizabeth is the author of the blog, A Self Cleaning House. www.theselfcleaninghouse.com

Here are some of my favorite donation centers. Your clutter could be someone else’s blessing. Get the clutter out, calm the chaos with new habits, welcome in the peace and bless others in need at the same time.

St Vincent de Paul Thrift Store

108 E Walnut Ave, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814

Humane Society Thrift Shop

916 N 3rd St, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814

Good Samaritan Thrift Store 501 E Lakeside Ave, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814

UGM Thrift Store

7761 N Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815

UGM Thrift Stores can schedule pick-ups of larger donations such as multiple boxes, furniture or equipment! Call 509.532. 3815 for details or to schedule a pick-up!