Clearing Clutter=Home Improvement=Personal Improvement

Jan. 12, 2018 | Written by: Lori

Did you know that about 1 in 11 people in our country need a storage unit to contain all their belongings? Why do we hold on to so much stuff when most of the time we don’t even use it or even look at it for years?  Clutter can be costly financially and is also unhealthy for our physical bodies and psyches. It will also hinder the sale of your home should you choose to put it on the market.

One great way to start clearing is to handle one form of clutter at a time. Take on a new project each month and before you know it your house will feel refreshed and you will even feel yourself breathing easier. For example:

Month 1:  Clear clothing clutter. Tackle your closets and dressers and either donate or throw away clothes that you don’t love or wear anymore. If you have time you could even have a garage sale, but you run the risk of just moving your stuff from the garage and back into the house again. Sometimes donating is the best way to deal with clutter in the quickest way possible.

Month 2:  Tackle your kitchen. Go through your pantry and examine what’s in there. Throw old/expired food away and organize the shelves so you can see what you have. Do the same with the food in your refrigerator and freezer. Organize your cupboards and donate or discard extra cups, mugs, plastic containers and pots and pans that may be overcrowding the shelves and drawers. Donate or sell any extra appliances or gadgets that are just taking up space and never get used.

Month 3:  Clear the paperwork. Go through your office or space where you keep your important paperwork and mail. Recycle old newspapers, magazines and junk mail. If you find paperwork that you no longer need but it has personal information on it, shred and recycle it.  Create a filing system for important paperwork that you need to have on hand.

Month 4:  Organize your garage. This area tends to be a catch all if it’s used more for storage and less for your cars. The same method applies here – go through your belongings and decide what you want to keep, donate or sell. Once again, break up the project into smaller piece. For example, if you don’t already have one, buy a tool chest to organize your tools and smaller items like nails, screws, etc. Next, devise a way to hang or store rakes, brooms and shovels.

You get the idea. Breaking up the task of de-cluttering your home makes it less overwhelming and more manageable. Getting rid of all that extra stuff you don’t use, or need is like bringing a burst of fresh air and new energy into your home. You will notice the difference right away, both physically and mentally! 

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