Happy Friday, MARtians!
I feel lighter than air and ready for the holiday happenings. Want to know why? I’ve purged baby, purged.
Right after Thanksgiving, I got a bee in my bonnet to get the clutter under control in my house. The thought of the holiday decorations going up on top of a mess was too much for me. I don’t have tons of storage, so I knew it was time. Plus, my aMARzing new kitchen is in such order and is so easy to function within, so I wanted my whole house to feel like that.
There are a few really great cleaning organization tips I have picked up from my mother and grandmother, and there are a few more I’ve learned along the way. So, everyone get ready to tear through your home and get your house, heart, and mind in order.
- Get inspired. Read my post. Check out this photo. Peruse Pinterest. You’ll need the emotional energy to fuel your kinetic energy as you move through the house.
- Get prepared. Grab a big garbage bag for things you need to toss. Get another for things you wish to donate and finally one more for anything you’d like to sell.
- Plan your attack. Make a mental or physical map of the storage spaces and clutter hotspots. Start in a logical spot. I started in the kitchen, moved to the closets and swept through my downstairs storage (closets, basement, crawlspace, junk drawers, etc.) and made my way upstairs finishing in the attic.
- Don’t overthink it, and nary to tarry. As you pull things out of your closet, drawers, and other storage, make your judgments quickly.
- Use it or lose it. If you haven’t used it in a year, get rid of it. If it doesn’t bring you joy, get rid of it. If it’s broken, dirty or unusable, get rid of it.
In the end, logic must prevail. Aim to keep fewer items than your ability to store allows. This leaves room for new purchases and holiday gifts. My grandmother always said, “Every time you bring something into the house, you have to get rid of something at the same time, or you’ll soon be overrun.” I think it’s a brilliant point. Will your things own you, or will you own your things?
Now that I’m all shipshape and right, I feel mentally lighter. I feel physically more agile and a lot more peaceful in the house, as I happily prepare for the magic of the holidays to come. No “thing” is worth more than that!
As always,
Keep it Casual!
