The arrival of spring symbolizes renewal in every aspect of our lives. When we declutter our surroundings, we are letting go of things that no longer have meaningful purpose in our lives. By doing so, we also declutter the chaos in our mind, which can result in a more calm state of being.
Although spring is usually the most popular season to clear out and throw out stuff you don't need, it's always good practice to consistently declutter items on a regular basis so that this task won’t seem so daunting and overwhelming.
Here are 6 new creative “spring cleaning” tips and ideas from my realtor neighbor Shirley to declutter your home and your life.
1. Give away one item each day. This is manageable decluttering, simply done one item at a time.
2. Fill one trash bag. This is an easy way to process excess papers and packaging that is no longer necessary. When the bag is full, you are done with the task.
3. Give yourself 5 solid minutes. Put at least 15 items away in 5 minutes. If the item does not have a home, or is no longer needed, place it in a donation box.
4. Try the "Closet Hanger Experiment". To identify wardrobe pieces to clear out, hang all your clothes with the hanger in the reverse direction. After you wear an item, return it to the closet with the hanger facing the correct direction. After six months, you will have a clear picture of which clothes you can easily discard.
5. Take the "12-12-12 Challenge." A simple task of locating 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to be returned to their proper home can be a really fun and exciting way to quickly organize 36 things in your house.
6. The "Four-Box Method". As you set out to de-clutter an area, set up four boxes: trash, donate, keep or relocate. Each item in every room was placed into one of the four categories. No item was passed over. Each was considered individually. Some projects make take an hour and others may take days or weeks. But the technique and principles remain the same.
No matter what you choose to help you get started - whether it be one of these six or one of countless others - the goal is to take your first step with excitement behind it. There is a beautiful world of freedom hiding behind all that clutter.
Reward yourself afterwards by knowing that your home and your life is a lot more organized and calm. Go ahead… relax in your cozy chair, grab a book while sipping your favorite beverage and enjoy the beginning of the spring season!
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