Clearing The Clutter: Part 1 - Motivation
Over the past year or so, I've been making a very concerted effort to declutter my house. It's not big by any means (not that I don't love it, because I do!) and I have found that in the past 4 years of us living here, we have accumulated SO MUCH CRAP.
Yes, there are a lot of things that we legitimately need. Dishes, pots and pans, underwear, bath towels.
But you know what is not needed?
10 different patterns of cocktail napkins.
Drawers full of random wires and cords.
A whole mess of different kinds of Tupperware.
Tchotchkes covering every possible surface.
I have found that it's a very delicate balance to keep your home looking clean and lived in, but not stark and impersonal.
Since 2014 is the year of organization, here's some ways that I keep myself motivated.
(via)
- I always pick a TV show on either Netflix or something I have downloaded on iTunes (Real Housewives/Bravo TV junkie right here) so I have some entertaining background noise while I'm going through stuff.
- When I know that I'm going to be at a decluttering project for awhile, I make sure to have something to drink (usually a water bottle and either a tea or a cup of coffee).
- For big projects, I schedule breaks. I will set a timer for a half hour, take five minutes to go to the bathroom or play with the dog, then get back at it.
- Have garbage bags or a recycling container at the ready. I find this especially important since if I have to go find a bag or a box, I get distracted and end up doing something completely unrelated to the project I set out to do.
- Know what the goal of the cleaning project is. Getting rid of clothes that don't fit? Sifting through that giant stack of papers that have piled up? Making room on the bookshelves? I find that if I don't know exactly what I'm going for, I tend to just mindlessly shuffle things from one room to another.
And the best way that I motivate myself to clean? By giving myself a reward, whether it's a bubble bath with a LUSH bath bomb, a glass of wine or Skinnygirl margarita, or some cheese curds from Culver's. :)
Some great decluttering/simplifying resources: