MY MEDALLION
If one of your goals this year is to keep your home tidier and well-organized, you’re not alone. There’s a reason so many professional organizing services have sprung up and why there are so many decluttering books on the market. Many of us are hoping to streamline our possessions and live in a tidier, more serene environment. The good news is you don’t have to hire a professional in order to take control; just follow these 4 helpful tips to declutter your apartment.
Aim To Keep Surfaces Clear And Clean
As best you can, try not to let too many objects accumulate on the surfaces throughout your home. This doesn’t include decorative items that are meant to add a bit of style to showcase your personality, but rather those things that can easily pile up and create an unsightly mess if not dealt with right away (mail, flyers, medications or vitamins, kitchen gadgets, gloves and hats, etc.). The easiest way to stay on top of surface clutter is to deal with the things that accumulate daily; every night, do a brief walkthrough of each room and put away those stray items that aren’t in their proper place.
Develop An Organizational System
Develop a system that will make the goal of “everything in its place” possible. There are many home organizing principles that can help you achieve this; for example, items should only be kept in the place where they are used and like items should always be stored together. These lists from Good Housekeeping and The Spruce include detailed instructions for how to declutter every room in your home. Some may find investing in a few organizing products helpful: clear containers, lazy Susans, drawer dividers, labelled boxes, or basketscan make it a little easier to stay organized.
Only Keep Items You Are Actually Using
It can be tempting to hold onto the stuff we already have because we worry, “What if I need this one day?” or rationalize, “I’ve already spent money buying this.” Many professional organizers go by the 20/20 rule: if an item costs less than $20 and would take you under 20 minutes to replace, then you can go ahead and get rid of it. Of course, it’s important to be responsible about how you get rid of unwanted items, because no one wants to contribute to the local landfill and create more waste. Try to repurpose as much as you can to give the items a second life.Give still-useful items to a friend or family member, or try selling your things on an online marketplace. If you have an emotional attachment to something and are struggling to part with it, take a photo to keep as a memento. For more tips on how to declutter responsibly, read an environmentalist’s perspective on decluttering from CBC.ca.
Take Photos Of Your Space
The best way to get an objective view of your space is to take a photo of it. It’s amazing what you can see instantly in a photograph that your eyes can gloss over in person—suddenly imperfections stand out and you can clearly see deficiencies or areas for improvement. The process allows you to stand back a little and depersonalize your space, which can help with your tidying efforts. We recommend this as the final step in your decluttering journey.
Many report enjoying improved mental health and a sense of peacefulness and order after decluttering their homes.
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