Ten Tips for getting your home in order

Do you really need everything you’ve got? Probably not. Spring cleaning can happen anytime and clearing out the clutter will make your house and mind more organized. Here are some simple ideas to jumpstart the process:
Declutter briefly and Often
A 15-minute stint, performed regularly, delivers surprising results sooner than you might expect. Set a timer and get to work. You’ll be thrilled by how much you get done in such a short amount of time!
Add Decluttering to Your Calendar
Make it easier to remember to declutter briefly and often by adding it to your calendar. Daily, weekly, three times a week, or whatever works best for you.
The No-More-Stuff-Rule
It’s simple: Just don’t allow any more things in the house in the first place. Not only will this declutter your space, but it will also help your finances, too
The One-In-Two-Out-Rule
If you can’t follow the No-More-Stuff Rule, try this one: Whenever you bring a new thing in, get rid of two others. Start by throwing away two pieces of paper for one piece of mail you read.
Repurpose Stuff for Charity
Show your generosity as you give away what you don’t need to family and friends — or donate it to charity. Check your local listings for charities in your area.
The Clothing Rule
If you haven’t worn an item in the past year, you’ve proven you don’t need it. If parting with your precious garments proves too difficult to bear, start small with cheap, easy-to-replace clothing like socks. Many charities accept lightly worn clothing, and you can even use the donation as a write-off on your taxes.
The One-Year-and-Gone Rule
It’s like the Clothing Rule, except it applies to other belongings. If you haven’t put a thing to use during the past year– a kitchen appliance, a craft project, sets of linens, etc.– that thing is subject to extra scrutiny. Because chances are, you don’t really need it.
The One-Room-at-a-Time Rule
When you focus on one room and finish it completely, you’ll get that marvelous feeling of success, which is a terrific motivator for moving on to declutter the next room. Put on some music and have fun!
Get Help
Call on a trusted friend or relative to help you sort. He or she won’t have the same emotional attachment you have to those weirdly large spoons in the back of your silverware drawer and they can render an unbiased opinion about whether you should keep or toss them.
Take Advice from the Pros
There are several well-written books on the subject of organizing and decluttering. Here are a few of my recommendations: The Home Edit Life: The No-Guilt Guide to Owning What You Want and Organizing Everything by Clea Shearer, Joanna Teplin; The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo, and Simply Living Well: A Guide to Creating a Natural, Low-Waste Home by Julia Watkins. These Books can all be found on Amazon.
The Ultimate Decluttering Tip – Downsizing!
Not only would downsizing force you to follow the steps above, but it could also make your home easier to manage and free up more time for exciting new adventures. If you are looking to downsize and simplify your life, I can give you some great strategies to accomplish your goal. Check out my FREE guide: “Step by Step to Right-Sizing Your Home”
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