SIMPLIFY HOME BY DECLUTTERING!
Simplify home! I know I can’t be alone here when it’s the start of a new year with the desire to simplify home, can I? From about September to December, my house, covered in pumpkins, furry pillows, red throws, skeletons, leaves, and orange anything, takes over the home. Then there’s a quick transition to red and greens. Stockings hung with care; trees lit, Christmas books scattered, sticking half way out of couches and painted villages lining the surfaces. When January and February hits, there is a desire to simplify home.
Let’s back it up for a minute though. In all honesty, the anxiety about “stuff” starts in November. I start thinking about my kid’s gifts from grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, Santa, mom and dad and the body starts to melt into a toy heap. Get the kids to help in the process and purge any old toys and items they are no longer using or that they have outgrown. It’s a good lesson for them. I hope! The fear of needing a counselor in the future as a result of my decluttering demands is a concern. Time will tell.
But let’s talk about a new year. Now is the perfect time to analyze your space and decide what it is you don’t need. After watching parents or friends “keep extra items just in case of a future need,” it is easy to fall victim to the same mentality! However, this year, make a choice to let those items go. Simplify home!
Why Simplify Home?
It is important to get your home back! You need to get your closet back, and you need to be able to find things. The psychology behind why we hoard and keep so much “stuff” is very complicated and very real. To some extent, most people have a desire to accumulate, even just a little bit. You can also admit that deep down; you really would like to reclaim your space back. But how do you get started? Here are some ideas!
Make the Decision to Let Things Go!
You must be all in! Don’t go into simplifying thinking, “I’ll just find a new spot….”. No! You must decide that what hasn’t been used or boxed in the dark space for months or years, must go.
Determine What IS Important; Keep and Create a Contained Space for It
Keeping letters, journals, pictures are all essential items to keep. Do your best to condense them into one container. Toss duplicates or notes from people you don’t even remember. Containing them in one space will allow for easier access, as well. For example, I was keeping bins and bins of baby clothes. Each item held a memory from those baby days I cherish. I limited myself to one container per kid. I only kept what would fit in the box. It may be a full box, but I stuck to the deal.
Be Prepared to Feel Emotional, and That’s Ok
It is hard to let some things go! Don’t mistake that for “this means I must keep this because it means so much to me.” It’s the memories attached to the item that means so much to you, not the actual item. Those cherished memories of a happy time or even memories of sadness. It’s ok to feel those connections; it means your human. But it’s also healthy to focus on the memories and not store “stuff” attached to those memories. Take a picture of the items that cause those memories to flood back or better yet, journal those memories.
Value of Commitment
Once you commit to simplifying your home, you will notice that your life will feel simplified too! You hang on to so much clutter and do nothing with it. You find yourself dreaming of bigger homes and larger mortgages, just because you need more space for your stuff. All this clutter causes un-needed stress. But you also know the power of smelling that baby blanket and holding it close. It’s ok to keep 1 or 2, but 15 is excessive. Take back your home and enjoy your home again by making the decision to simplify your home.
About Balance & Harmony 360², Inc.
Owned and operated by Melinda Smith, CPO®, we offer Business Training & Consulting with a Twist! Our sweet spot is working with Entrepreneur’s and their companies to create a productive work environment, happy home, and prosperous you! Our passion is listening to clients goals, thinking through solutions and coming up with creative 360² action plans that address work, home, and you! Learn to Love Going to Work Again! Increase Time with Your Family! Get Things Done! Our process is simple and geared toward the professional. You CAN get your LIFE back in BALANCE!
Audrey Whiteley, CSE®
Audrey works for Balance & Harmony 360², as a Certified Staging Expert in the HOME Division. The home environment affects your health, productivity, and happiness. She works with individuals who need to freshen-up outdated décor, “show” a room’s potential or help homeowners create a lifestyle. Audrey makes the most of your surroundings whether you are staging for a quick sale, building a home, or want to elicit a more vibrant and peaceful setting in which to live.
Audrey Can Help Create
- Ideas or Design Boards
- Room Layouts and Arrangements
- Organization Solutions
- Home Staging DIY Reports
- Pre-Move Prep Strategies and Moving Plans
- Purchasing and Hands-On Staging and Decorating
- Project Management from Start to Finish
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