The new year is a time when a lot of us feel the ‘urge to purge’ and take control of our homes. We know that by letting go of the tangible clutter in our physical space we gain clarity and energy to tackle our busy lives. Yet, if you try to tackle your whole house at once, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and not do anything at all. With the best of intentions, we can end up with several ½ done decluttering projects, leaving us feeling defeated and discouraged.
Instead of giving up, try focusing on just one or two “hotspots” in your home; small areas you can get done in one hour or less that will give you a big return on your investment. The calm and energy released will provide the energy and motivation to tackle other areas.
Front Entry
Our front entrance sends us off into the world every single day and greets us when we come home. In less than an hour, you can make this critical hotspot an oasis of calm and order. Declutter this hotspot by removing all of the excess bags, shoes, backpacks, coats and totes that have accumulated over time and leave only those that you (and the people you live with) use every single day. Alternates can be stored elsewhere in nearby closets or in each person’s bedroom. Then add something beautiful–a nice ceramic bowl or vase, an artsy container or some fragrant candles on a small table and voila...a warm and welcoming entrance that greets you and sends you into the world with a hug every single day.
Plastic Containers
We spend every day in our kitchens–cooking, prepping meals and cleaning up. Even if your entire kitchen is in need of a serious organizing overhaul, there is one small area you can tackle in no time that provides a profound sense of victory. Declutter your plastic (or glass) containers and lids. Somehow, we start with a nice tidy set of graduating sizes and lids. Then over time, like single socks mysteriously gone missing, we end up with a gazillion containers and a bajillion tops, but none fit each other. Declutter by sorting by size, locate matching lids, and call bankruptcy on the rest, by recycling any lid and any container that cannot find it’s mate. You may end up with only a half dozen or so containers–which may suffice. If you need more, buy all the same size so it’s easier to keep track of.
Comfort Corner
When your house feels cluttered and disorganized, it can be very hard to sit down and relax. Because wherever you go, there is something to clean up or move out of the way before you can quiet your mind to decompress. Even in the midst of lots of chaos, it is possible to create a little comfort corner –one spot that you can go to recharge whenever you need to. Pick a location in your house with the most appealing light and sound qualities—it could be a chair in your living room, a breakfast nook, a window seat or a corner of the guest room. Declutter the area completely by removing everything except what you use to relax; a candle, a good book, or a speaker and headphones to play relaxing music. Keep objects to a minimum to make it inviting and easy to maintain. No matter what the day, work or life has thrown at you, you will have a place to rest, relax and recharge.
There’s a saying that small hinges can swing big doors. These three very small decluttering projects have a remarkable way of delivering a powerful sense of calm, control, and progress to your big goal of taking control of your space (and peace of mind) in 2023.