Dishes in the sink, dirty clothes in the laundry, toys on the living room floor or shoes scattered all through the garage…does this sound familiar? We all take pride in our home, but at times it can all get too much. Perhaps you have a baby and struggling to create a new routine, you’re working full time, you’re wanting to spend time with family rather than cleaning, you’re not feeling yourself, lacking energy, you’re a hoarder… or maybe you are just overwhelmed with everyday life.
The clutter around us can have a negative impact on our ability to focus. However, by clearing the clutter from your home, it can help you feel clearer, mentally as well.
CREATE SOME GOALS
I want to ask you a few questions. Write down your answers as this will help you to create goals for yourself and determine what’s most important to you, where to start and what you want to achieve in your home.
- When at home I want to feel…
- I want to spend more time doing…
- I want an area of my home I can…
- The most disorganised cupboard in my home is…
- The first thing I want to organise is…
- I don’t need anymore, but can’t part with…
- I always lose…
- I want to be organised by…
CREATE SORT BUCKETS
During the next 4 weeks we will be organising, purging excess items and throwing away rubbish. In order to do this have on hand a number of buckets, bins, bags or storage containers. Create your own labels with marker and paper, or download and print the labels available in the downloads below, you will need to label them as follows:
Keep: something you find in one room that belongs in another. You could put it away once you find it, but if you are time poor put it in the keep bin to put away later
Donate: an item that you no longer want or need but is still in working order for somebody else to use
Sell: items that you can sell if you are going to have a garage sale or sell online
Rubbish: items that are broken, can’t be mended, doesn’t work or is rubbish
[wlchecklist name=’PreTask5′]
DOWNLOAD
Print the goals printable below to help you determine what areas you really want to concentrate and make a start on in your home.
- MY GOALS PRINTABLE –place in your folder in front of the first divider so you always have your goals at first glance – click to download.
- SORTING LABELS – put onto some storage containers to help you sort – click to download.
295 comments
So many goals. Have made a list and already started. I have at least 30 years of detritus, as family members move on leaving much behind. Ahh kids….
This will be a great chance for you to get ahead of that all! 🙂
Goals done, tubs sorted – ready to start! Its a bit odd for me to be excited about cleaning and tidying up, but I am looking forward to the challenge and getting my life in order
Complete and ready to go!
great job Andrea!
Where do you hide the sorting tubs until they are full? Our house is running out of easily accessible hiding spaces – thanks 🙂
Hi Michelle, I would put them in a place you can constantly see them to encourage you to keep working and fill them up. Each day you have a cleaning task and a decluttering task so they will constantly be in use. Otherwise you could pop them in the garage 🙂
Goals done…. yes!!
well done Rochelle!! keep it up 🙂
I have no problems with the “sell, rubbish, donate” concept, I find it very therapeutic. I seasonally do this working a room or area at a time in my home. I am struggling to commit to answering the questions…I have printed the sheet, just need to give it some thought.
take some time out to sit down and really think about your goals.. these will help you stay motivated throughout the program as you work toward them
i have just moved so its hard to follow this bit to the letter, but i will just do these donate/rubish/ keep idea for each box i open… before we moved here we got rid of 12… yes 12 trailer loads of stuff!!! and there is still more to get rid of even though we have moved to a bigger house!
thats a great idea Beck, that will help your home to be nice, fresh and decluttered from the get-go 🙂
Love the tubs, I can see how it will make the decluttering process easier. Better than moving it from room to room! I plan to empty/deal with each one as it is full 🙂
My whole house needs organizing had new addition in the family 5 months now. I have three kids ages 10,8 and 5 mths old. third was unplanned. I always wanted to be on top of things but always something comes in way or plain lazy. Hopefully by following your steps i get my life / house organize….?
ooh wow so many little ones! let me know how you go with the tasks 🙂
ok…….goals done, wish I could limit to just one cupboard…/room too. however that’s why I am here. goals done, a few bits and bob to pick up to finish this step and the other challenges. on my way now…..
good on you Rochelle 🙂