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
Wow! I’m set and ready to go. Feels like I’m finally in for a clean and tidy home with routines again. Can’t wait to see what is to come next.
This is awesome Tracy, love the sound of your entusiasm!!
This is my biggest challenge.
I am currently trying to declutter and get rid of things on ebay as items have cost me a lot of money and am now not working so can do this. A little slow but getting there.
I have sorted out the toys that aren’t ok for ebay and clothes have gone to the op shop when I can.
I have seriously gotten over twenty car boot fulls so far of things which has taken me over two years since my first serious declutter when I got rid of my daughters pram and baby items. She is ten now.
I have lots of pumpkin patch items that are resellable.
When and how long should this take before you just have to say give it all away?
Jodie, I’m not sure where you live, but have you tried Facebook Buy and Sell pages, I find these so much quicker to get rid of stuff. I have listed and had items picked up within hours.
Just off to get my cleaning items, have looked at Day 1 and am focused and ready to go!
Wonderful, hope you enjoy the challenge Janey 🙂
This was a harder task for me to do, but a good one, as it is being actually specific about the challenge and what I specifically want to achieve. Thank you Kat 🙂
Love that you did it that way Catherin, hopefullly this sets you up for success, hope you enjoy the challenge 🙂
Done. Temporary boxes for my sorting, but will get BIG plastic laundry hampers next shopping trip (I need something big – I got BIG cleaning to do!)
Your all ready Rae, hope you were able to find the laundry hampers you were after 😉
Goals done. Going to move onto Day 1 as I have to work 2 days this week so want to get a little bit ahead. Looking forward to it.
Hope you had fun starting day 1 Christine
I’ve not labelled sorting baskets, but I have an empty 25-cube Ikea cabinet that I had already labelled with those categories – and more. ‘Send to Sydney’ is my favourite – baby and toddler things for my niece and nephew <3
And there are two cardboard boxes under my sorting table – for rubbish and recycling.
I think I'm ready… YESSS!
ooh yay, that’s a lovely idea to share it with your niece and nephew.
All good
New goals done and dusted.not much has changed but a few things on my last have now moved off ( yay means i have kept that area reasnsble) 🙂 im ready for monday
it’s good to review them and adjust as needed 🙂
I’ve just finished my pre tasks Kat ready when you are
🙂
Well done Anna, your all ready!!! Have you had a look at Day 1 yet?
yes I’ve printed the first week off so that I can get right into it first thing and my husband asked me what I was doing and is quite excited about it