We all thought about it and want to do it, but sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to start!
Okay, so you've got it in your mind that you definitely need to start organizing your space and the realization that you will HAVE to get rid of things has finally become clear! Owning my own decorating and organizing business has taught me two very important things: 1) It cannot all be done in one day and 2) a little goes a looooong way.
“It cannot all be done in one day and a little goes a looooong way."
Try these tips to keep you motivated and not disappointed when it seems like the never-ending clutter is too much to tackle.
1) Create 2 Tasks/ Day
This is a simple way to get started. Your two tasks can be something like go through 1)shoes and 2)jewelry seldom worn. Then the next day can be collect 1)old mail and 2)old paper work. Now this next fact is very important: you may not completely go through your paperwork or old shoes in one day and that is okay. The idea that you don't get burned out on decluttering is highly important. Keeping it down to 2 tasks/day ensures that you are doing a enough to make a difference in the long run.
2) Don't Undo By Cluttering
Since getting most of your things in order is going to be completed over a period of time, don't get comfortable by undoing all the work you've put in! You may not be able to see right away how your efforts to declutter are working, but if you stick with it, it will pay off. For example, when you move from the shoe and jewelry area and start working on the paperwork, it is NOT a good idea to, now ,go shoe shopping. Don't undo!
3) Designate an Area for Mail
You will be surprised how much of your clutter is simply from mail. The best practice I've seen to work (if you haven't gone #paperless) is to have a box, shelf, or hanging holder right by the door of your entry way. This way your mail won't make it to your table, bedroom, or sofa. When your box or holder is full, EMPTY it. This will also force you to actually look at your mail instead of laying it to the side. Worried you might forget to pay a bill? Put your hanging holder directly behind your door. You'll look at it each time you enter and leave.
Here are some of my favorite mail organizers from Amazon and Target:
4) Keep Your Shoe Boxes
For those of you like me who LOVE shoes (#shoelover), you often try to find space for your beloved ones. Keeping your shoe boxes makes it so much easier to install a shelf above your hanging clothes and just stack away. It would be hard to stack one pair on top of the other if they weren't in a box. This tip has saved me soooo much space.
Check out this link for stackable shoe organizers if you don't have your boxes anymore! I love them!
5) Realize That Simplifying is Never Ending
Don't get simplifying confused with decluttering. If you keep motivated and knock task after task, then you will complete your decluttering journey. This misunderstanding is often made when you've achieved your organizing task to your satisfaction, you don't think about maintaining it. Every day, get rid of something. Yes, everyday! Think about it, when our trash bin is full, what do we do? Take it out! Only once? No, each time it's full. Well, you don't want to declutter every time your home is full. To avoid that, get rid of something everyday.
Do you have the motivation yet to get started? Need some extra support? I offer organization services to help get you moving in the right direction! Check it out below!
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