While there's no magic formula for decluttering success, these practical tips will help you get more done and get rid of more stuff.
START TODAY! It is a holiday, after all!
Excuse the pun, but the timing has never been riper to celebrate National Clean Out Your Fridge Day on November 15! This is the perfect opportunity to tackle that science experiment growing there. Of course, ideally, we’d all clean out our fridges far more often than once a year, but let’s be real: Making it an annual occasion provides everyone with the reassurance that at least the horrendous situation with your roommate’s long-forgotten “homemade kombucha” will be rectified eventually, and marking it as a day on the national calendar gives you plenty of scope for getting passive aggressive in the preceding weeks. Learn more about this holiday here.
Stop waiting for someone else to take care of the abundance of clutter in your home. Here's how you can start strong and get it done.
Schedule time. Clutter cleanses don't spontaneously happen, so commit to the process by blocking out 30 minutes on your schedule for three consecutive days. Friday-Saturday-Sunday works for most people, but your ideal time might be the first thing in the morning or late at night. Tell your family you'll be organizing (working) in your home ahead of time, and they will avoid you all weekend, so you don't ask them to assist. Which will give you total peace to get the job done.
Get Your Supplies Together-
Have the following items on hand.
• Markers, index cards, sticky
notes, and clear packing tape
to make quick labels
Cardboard boxes and plastic bags
to sort and store items to donate
• Trash bags for items you
want to throw out
Scissors or a utility knife
Dress the part. Wear comfy
clothes and shoes. If you'll need to
try on clothing as part of your
decluttering project, wear a tank or
fitted T-shirt so you can change
garments quickly.
Put on a podcast or some music you enjoy. Have a
favorite beverage, a box of wine, and a pre-order dinner, so you have no excuses to work hard and fast. Set a timer (or create a playlist with a specific number of songs) to complete areas. keep sessions focused. Complete as much as possible in the allotted time and finish the task you're working on. Take a 5-minute break to clear your head. Do another timed session if you have more to go and feel up to it. If you're tired, wrap it up. Nothing succeeds like success. Here's how to avoid getting bogged down and keep your decluttering sessions moving. Touch once; decide once; the main decision in purging is to keep or to let go.
Simply picking up or touching an item and asking, "Should I keep this?" will often yield
your answer. In most cases, you know instantly if something needs to go or stay. Once it is in the go pile, there are no takebacks. While purging, don't fret about what to do with stuff you are not keeping. You can either sell it, give it away, donate it, or recycle/dispose of it. That's it. Work like a machine.
Feeling Overwhelmed? Hire A Professional Organizer
⭐️MONEY MATTERS
Some professional
organizers will propose a
project fee, others an hourly
rate. The most important
the thing is that you know your
assigned tasks, a range of
hours potentially required
from the pro, and the best
fee structure.
⭐️THE YOU FACTOR
Realize that any estimate of
a project's length depends
on you-how quickly you
make decisions, how much
stuff you have to physically
sort through what options
you have to get rid of
items efficiently.
⭐️ON A BUDGET?
Most pros will work with
your stated budget, but
they're unlikely to adjust
their fees. Expect a smaller
budget to mean less face-
to-face time and more
homework assignments.
⭐️IN WRITING
Review and sign a service
agreement before starting
any work. Look for details
about confidentiality,
payment terms,
descriptions of the type
of work to be done, and
cancellation policies.
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