Spring is almost here! Although it's usually the popular season to clear out and throw out stuff you don't need, it's always good practice to consistently declutter items on a regular basis. By not waiting until Spring to do some "spring cleaning" the task won't seem so daunting and overwhelming! Here are 6 new creative ways from real estate agent Shirley Ann Hill to declutter your home and your life.
1. Give yourself 5 solid minutes. Put at least 25 items away in 5 minutes. If the item does not have a home, or is no longer needed, place it in a donation box.
2. Give away one item each day. This is manageable de-cluttering, simply done one item at a time.
3. Fill one trash bag. This is an easy way to process excess papers and packaging that is no longer necessary. When the bag is full, you are done with the task.
4. Try the "Closet Hanger Experiment". To identify wardrobe pieces to clear out, hang all your clothes with the hanger in the reverse direction. After you wear an item, return it to the closet with the hanger facing the correct direction. After six months, you will have a clear picture of which clothes you can easily discard.
5. Take the "12-12-12 Challenge." A simple task of locating 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to be returned to their proper home can be a really fun and exciting way to quickly organize 36 things in your house. You can select a smaller number for children to process.
6. The "Four-Box Method". As you set out to de-clutter an area, set up four boxes: trash, donate, keep or relocate. Each item in every room was placed into one of the four categories. No item was passed over. Each was considered individually. Some projects make take an hour and others may take days or weeks. But the technique and principles remain the same.
No matter what you choose to help you get started - whether it be one of these six or one of countless others - the goal is to take your first step with excitement behind it. There is a beautiful world of freedom hiding behind that clutter.
Related article: 13 Ways to Simplify Your Life
1. Give yourself 5 solid minutes. Put at least 25 items away in 5 minutes. If the item does not have a home, or is no longer needed, place it in a donation box.
2. Give away one item each day. This is manageable de-cluttering, simply done one item at a time.
3. Fill one trash bag. This is an easy way to process excess papers and packaging that is no longer necessary. When the bag is full, you are done with the task.
4. Try the "Closet Hanger Experiment". To identify wardrobe pieces to clear out, hang all your clothes with the hanger in the reverse direction. After you wear an item, return it to the closet with the hanger facing the correct direction. After six months, you will have a clear picture of which clothes you can easily discard.
5. Take the "12-12-12 Challenge." A simple task of locating 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to be returned to their proper home can be a really fun and exciting way to quickly organize 36 things in your house. You can select a smaller number for children to process.
6. The "Four-Box Method". As you set out to de-clutter an area, set up four boxes: trash, donate, keep or relocate. Each item in every room was placed into one of the four categories. No item was passed over. Each was considered individually. Some projects make take an hour and others may take days or weeks. But the technique and principles remain the same.
No matter what you choose to help you get started - whether it be one of these six or one of countless others - the goal is to take your first step with excitement behind it. There is a beautiful world of freedom hiding behind that clutter.
Related article: 13 Ways to Simplify Your Life
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