Well that’s Christmas over for another year! This weekend I have been putting away the Christmas decorations. I know that they are supposed to stay up until 12th Night (6th January) but for me there is something sad about decorations remaining up after New Year, I feel like I need a fresh start. Now it may sound surprising given what I do but I am one of the least tidy people I know – I only have to walk into a room for it miraculously to become untidy.
One of the things I would like to achieve this year is to be more tidy and that’s for a number of reasons. I have a lovely home and if there’s loads of clutter I can’t see it. Being tidy enables me to find things quickly and more easily. Finally, but no means least, it affects the way I feel. Somehow I can’t settle and I feel frustrated, it deters me from getting down to whatever I want to do whether that is work or leisure. So how do I intend to achieve my goal?
- I am not going minimalist. Although I want my house to be tidy I want it to feel like a home. I think that sometimes when you visit houses that are uncluttered they can feel cold and uninviting. So there will be a limit.
- I am going to put things away. This might sound obvious but often if I get something out or buy something new, I won’t put it away immediately. I am not quite sure exactly why this is but there is probably an element of thinking I’ll be using it again very soon so there’s no point. You might well intend to use an item again in the near future but perhaps you get sidetracked and you don’t. If you put the item away having used it the first time you always get it out again.
- One In, One Out. This is a concept that you may have heard of before. Basically what it means that if you buy something new you should aim to get rid of a corresponding item i.e. an item of clothing, a pair of shoes, towels etc. This is sound advice so think about it when you are about to make a purchase, is there a similar item that the item can replace? It might be a completely new category but if not and if you can’t decide what to get rid of then ask yourself if you really need it. A useful tip here is to consider when you last used the item. If you haven’t used it for a long time and it isn’t something that is only used infrequently then maybe it is time to get rid. Don’t forget charity shops always welcome donations and you can sell or give away online.
- Deal with it. This really applies to mail but equally could apply to tasks. When an item of post arrives or you know you have a task to complete then action it. Often the reason I leave something out is because I intend to deal with it at some point but not immediately. If you can deal with there and then that’s so much easier or if you can’t then at least schedule time to do it.
- One step at a time. It is easy to feel overwhelmed when you first start so take your time. Allocate a period of time or a particular space to tackle each day and stick to it.
From this …
…. to this!
These are simple tips but I hope you will find them useful. If you need more help then contact me via e mail at info@homestyle4u.com call me on 07745 876182 or complete the contact form below. I cover Cheshire and the North West.
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