Conquer the Mess at Home with These 5 Declutter Tips
Most of us wish to lead simplified, clean and organised lives but unfortunately this is easier said than done. Our busy schedules are filled with appointments, business meetings and tasks to complete. So naturally, the last thing you have on your mind after a hectic day at work is dealing with the mess at home. Sometimes all you want to do is snuggle in your bed with a good book in hand and take a break from everything and everyone. But if there is no place for you to lay on because your bed is overflowing with clothes that need washing, you may be facing a serious problem. Here are a few helpful de-clutter tips on how to conquer the mess in your home. Learn to Let Go You will never be able to say goodbye to clutter is you don't learn to let go of things. Various studies have suggested hoarding (the inability to throw away one's useless possessions) does not only have a negative impact on people's quality of life, but furthers depression and anxiety. Some items like old newspapers (who reads yesterday's news anyway?), magazines and shabby pieces of clothing belong in the garbage bin, not on your coffee table or bed. Establish a rule for yourself – for every item (magazine, book, accessory etc.) you bring into your home, another one needs to go away. Which is not to say you should throw away perfectly good items. Make a List of Your Possessions If you, like us, are a huge fan of making lists, this idea will greatly appeal to you. Begin by making a short inventory of all pieces of clothing you have in your wardrobe. You can do the same with your accessories, magazines and books. You can also enter the date when you last used the item or wore a given dress of skirt. If you can't remember when was the last time you put on a specific piece of clothing, maybe you should consider disposing of it. The list will help you decide which of your possessions to throw away and which to keep. Take it Easy You are not expected to de-clutter your entire home in a single day. Let's be realistic here – this is impossible, to say the least. It would be best if you de-clutter one room at a time, following the checklist you have drawn up. This will render the entire process less stressful, it will allow you to take it easy and thus, increase your productivity. In about a week, your living space will be clutterfree and neat. Remember don't bite off more than you can chew – spending ten hours cleaning and de-cluttering your home will leave you exhausted, not to mention the results are less likely to be satisfying.
Place Everything where It Belongs Hoarding might the number one cause for clutter building up around your place, yet in many cases disorder results from people displacing their possessions. This is how you end up with a plate of half-eaten cheesecake on your night table. And the worst part is the plate is to remain there for God knows how long. Once you have collected items like clothes, accessories, books and magazines, make sure you put them back in their rightful places. Jeans belong in your closet, not on the floor, you know. Why not put them there, then? Renovation Mates says it might take a while for you to turn this rule into a habit, but it is far from impossible. Be Consistent in Your Habits Once you have tasted the benefits of living in a neat, well-organised and clutter-free home, it would be easier to stick to your cleaning routine and stay on task. Speaking of routines, half an hour a day will suffice for you to tackle all urgent cleaning tasks around your home, like for example doing the laundry, dusting, washing the dishes, and putting your living room in order. Cleaning once a week for hours on end is less likely to produce any satisfactory results than tidying up a bit every day. Dealing with clutter is never easy and pleasant, but then again it is not supposed to be. It is up to you to decide whether you want a clean, tidy and calming living space for yourself, or will go on occupying a cluttered home, where disorder is king. Give these tips a try, they are guaranteed to help you on your journey towards a clutter-free home!