Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by the clutter around you? Do you feel like you’re surrounded by piles of useless stuff? It happens to all of us and yes, the idea of cleaning it all up can be just as daunting.
The best way to tackle the mess is by simply attacking one 5-minute mini-declutter session at a time. Here are some ideas for each session:
- Pick things up and put them away. Do NOT use this time to re-organize. That’s a project for another day.
- Tackle a pile of old paperwork and file it away. Don’t re-read it all. Don’t look at it and put it down again. If you’re finished with it, put it in its proper file – or the shred pile -and be done with it.
- Spend 5 minutes shredding old documents that need to be discarded.
- Grab a garbage bag and clean out your car.
- Choose one counter or shelf to declutter. Either throw the items away or put them away, even if it means putting an item in a place that has not yet been decluttered yet. At least it will be in its proper home.
- Set a schedule for your declutter sessions. You certainly don’t have to do them all in one day. You can easily spend 5-minutes decluttering each day – or even every other day.
- Do not put anything in an area that has already been decluttered unless it belongs there and you are properly putting it away. The more you avoid throwing things into empty spaces, the easier it will be to keep them clean.
- Create spaces for the things that belong to your children (bins for colorings books/crayons, etc). Have your children help you sort their own items and make it their responsibility to continue putting them back where they belong.
- Focus on one task at a time. Multi-tasking isn’t as efficient as people think. Stick with one room until you’re finished with it, over time. Then move on to the next.
Master your own clutter and then focus on the clutter created by other members of your family. You’ll be living in a brighter, lighter home in no time.
