Our homes are a reflection of our lives. When our home feels cluttered and disorganized our world seems to be as well. Whether it means simply visually freeing up space or making room for that home office that you've been putting off, organizing your home can be a therapeutic activity, with the right mindset.
Here are some tips to dive right in:
Divide and Conquer
Work your way around your home room by room. If that means that this weekend you only get to declutter one space, that is a victory! Cleaning by room allows you to stay focused and tackle the job at hand, without losing your motivation.
Reduce your Belongings
A big reason why spaces are cluttered is that there is just too much stuff in one space. Remove everything that doesn't belong to a central location to be sorted. At that point, you can ask yourself two questions, "Have you used this item in the past two years?" and "Does this add value to my life?" If the answer to both these is no, it may be time to say goodbye.
Include Loved ones
Encourage your kids to help with organizing. Not only does this help empower them to take on responsibilities, but it also helps speed up the process. If child labor is out of the question order a pizza and call some friends over for reinforcement. Turn a chore into an excuse to socialize!
Set up a System
One thing to remember when organizing is to find a system that works for you. You not only want your home to look less cluttered, but be functional as well. For example, if you find yourself throwing clothes on the floor of your bathroom, it may be helpful to have a hamper in the bathroom. The key here is to prevent future clutter from taking its course and consuming your home once again.
Life can be hectic, organizing your home can easily become the last thing on your to-do list. It’s important to remember why you're doing it. Have a clear goal on what you’re trying to achieve and let that be your motivation. Like with any large task, the hardest part is getting started.
Happy spring cleaning!