FIVE TIPS TO DEAL WITH CLUTTER
Ok, I will be the first to admit that I can be a very messy person. I have a love-hate relationship with clutter, meaning it may look like I love it, but I actually hate it and tend to get too overwhelmed to deal with it. I finally have an understanding of why I am dealing with this, after my recent ADHD diagnosis. But I refuse to use that as an excuse, and this is not what this blog is about. I just wanted to give a quick idea of where I am coming from, because as much as I cannot stand clutter, I tend to get too stressed out dealing with it. It is a vicious cycle. So, I found a few ways to help myself feel less overwhelmed, and make the decluttering process a lot easier.
1. BASKETS
I keep a nice basket in every room so I can put any misplaced items I find in the room in them. This way it is hidden, and it doesn’t make the room look cluttered. I know I will forget a few times to put it away, so when I do find time, I can take the basket and empty each item into the room where it belongs.
Photo by Julia Kuzenkov on Unsplash
2. COUNTERTOP TRAYS
I have started using trays on my countertops for items that I use daily. For example, my coffee ingredients, like on this tray pictured here. Then, whatever doesn’t belong on the trays needs to be put away. This helps me to declutter my countertops quicker, and grouping items together on a tray is much more visually appealing.
Photo: @JESSCOMFYCOZY
3. DONATION BAGS
I always have a donation bag on the go on every house floor. Whenever I see something I don’t want or need anymore, it goes in the nearest bag. This goes for old textiles too. They either get put in an old pillowcase or a recycling bag and taken to the local Salvation Army for their textile recycling program.
Photo: The Spruce/Meg MacDonald
4. TIMERS
This may seem like a silly hack, but timers have been so helpful for me when it comes to decluttering and cleaning. Basically, I set a timer for the amount of time I need to stay in a room and organize. I usually set it for anywhere from 20-45 minutes, and that has been perfect. I actually find myself staying in the room past the time the alarm goes off.
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
5. QUICK LISTS
I make lists. A to-do list of sorts, but I make it on the go. If I think of an activity that I need to do and it is not the best time to do it, I write it down. Then I keep the list where I will always see it. When I do get to it, it feels so satisfying to physically cross it off. I also break down the tasks. Instead of “clean the bathroom”, I put “wash the bathroom floor”, or “scrub the toilet”.
Photo by Paico Oficial on Unsplash
As I have been slowly trying to adopt a more minimalistic life and live more sustainably, I have been finding it easier to notice how much clutter and unnecessary things I have. It has been a slow process of decluttering and organizing, but since I have been using the above strategies it has become a lot easier.
I hope these tips can help you too! Let me know in the comments if you use any of these!
Much love,
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