It’s incredibly easy to accumulate stuff. A new pair of shoes here, a Shiatsu back massager there, can all seem like innocuous purchases on the surface, but they pile up quickly and it all turns into clutter. Even though you might not be hoarders-level of overwhelmed, you might have a couple of problem nooks in your home that just won’t stop nagging at you. Fret not! We’re here to give you 3 easy tips to clean up your home and get your frivolities in order. Some steps might be easier said than done, but each one will get you on the path of
organizational Zen.
1. GET OUT THE TRASH BAGS
Look,
sentimental value is a thing. But sometimes, it can also be a big elephant in the room. Literally. A friend of mine kept a stuffed Bama mascot in the corner of his bedroom until he was 23 years old. And this was no small elephant either. It was about 3 feet tall and had a giant houndstooth fedora on. My point is that sometimes you have to know when to let go. I’m sure you think that your Russian nesting doll collection is cool, but is it really? Get out the trash bags and make three piles. Essentials, Wants, and Don’t Needs; throw out all of the don’t needs and half of the wants. Your goal should be to make each pile equal, so that you can’t cheat and put everything in the essentials pile. Blog the whole thing under #minimalism and replace the stuff you like with the likes that you crave.
2. INVEST IN ORGANIZATIONAL TOOLS
If you’ve followed step one and you’re finding that your knick knacks and clutter are still ruling your life, it might be time to invest in some tools. Giant Rubbermaid tubs are a lifesaver for larger items that you don’t use often. Stash them under your bed to get them out of the way. If your desk is covered in loose paper and pens, get a desktop organizer. Do you have shelves full of old
VHS tapes? You should store them in the closet, although you should probably refer back to step 1 for those. If they’re
home movies, get them
digitized! There’s almost no reason to keep all of those old, bulky cassettes lying around. Besides, binge watching your favorite films is all the rage these days.
3. DEVELOP A SYSTEM
Getting yourself de-cluttered is a two step process. The first part of de-cluttering is the cleaning, and the second part is keeping things clean. Develop a system of
organization so that all of your hard, de-cluttering work isn’t wasted on your future binge purchases. Color code your books, and buy a rack for your scarf collection. Always put away your pens and pencils when you’re done with them, and don’t just throw your socks behind your dresser. Keeping your knick knacks in order is about getting things in order and keeping them that way. Whether your system is alphabetical, numerical, size, or anything in between, find out what works for you and stick with it. Getting your knick knacks and clutter in order might seem like a daunting task, but it’s easy as 1, 2, 3. Throw away the stuff you don’t need, get storage containers, racks, and hangers, then stick to your system. Staying truly organized doesn’t happen overnight, but with a little bit of persistence, you can join the clean crew and transform your living or work space into a sleek and functional area. Just don’t get too carried away and sell all of your stuff to live in the middle of the woods in Alaska. It didn’t work so well for
this guy.
