Spring cleaning is deeply rooted into the traditions of our culture. The hibernation from the cold winter months comes to an end, the sun starts shining (with a little warmth) and beautiful flowers start to open their delicate petals – activity returns, as does our motivation to vacuum under the settee and finally attack the piles of clutter on the dining room table!
But what if this doesn’t feel natural?
Where is the motivation meant to come from, I hear you say…
Well, here are my top tips for getting on the Spring cleaning (or should I say clearing) train, it is possible, I promise you!
- Breathe! No really… just breathe in deeply several times, it really helps. Giving yourself a quiet moment each day, can reduce your heart rate, calm your nerves and bring back focus. Try it now, in through the nose, a big deep breath, out through the mouth, and again. Repeat several times. This will hopefully realign your thinking and give you a small boost to get started on a declutter.
- Take small steps at a time. One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting to sort their house out, is to see the house as one BIG task. This immediately makes it feel unmanageable and brings on the overwhelm. Break it down to lots of small 15-30 minute tasks, doesn’t this feel better? Did you know that just 5 minutes of decluttering per day is equal to over 30 hours of decluttering a year…imagine what 30 hours’ worth of decluttering could achieve!
- Choose an area. Choose a visible one, one that when decluttered and tidy, will have a really positive impact on your day. Once you feel how good it is to declutter an area, how much lighter it makes you feel, it will give you the motivation to carry on.
- Before you start, take a ‘before’ photo. This way when you finish, you will have something to compare it with and see the results, see the impact and again, make you feel so proud of yourself.
- Prepare yourself – by this I mean make sure you are going to be comfortable, put on your favourite joggers, play some great music, have a cup of tea ready and only then, get started.
- Remember not to take on a task that is too large. Maybe start with one drawer, cupboard, shelf or basket. The point at which most people give up is when all the cupboards have been emptied at once, a mountainous pile of items lays in front, the overwhelm kicks in, as does the need to run for the hills! Small steps, even set a timer on your phone or watch and see what you can get done in just 30 minutes. By all means, if you have the energy then keep going, but just one more small step at a time.
- When decluttering, question yourself about each item (this is usually my task when I am helping others). Here are some key questions to ask yourself:
- Do you love it?
- This could be as you wear it, as you use it or when you look at it. It should give you that warm glow inside and may even bring out a smile.
- Does it fit?
- So many people keep clothes for ‘when they fit back into it’. I get it, you loved it once, but times change, styles change, YOU change. Also having something that you look at regularly that doesn’t fit you anymore, can only make you long for something you are not. Live for now, make the most of the present and love you for who you are now.
- Do you need it?
- Some things unfortunately are just needed. This doesn’t include Auntie May’s antique dresser which you have to climb over to get in bed!
- Is it someone else’s?
- My next question is, when can you see them to pass it back?
- Even if someone passed it down to you, you shouldn’t feel the need to hold on to it to keep them happy. They have given it to you, it is now yours to do what you want with it. I’m sure they wouldn’t have wanted you to feel pressured in to keeping it even though it is in the way and REALLY not your style.
- Do NOT buy storage solutions before you have decluttered. How on earth do you know what you have to store when you don’t know what is going to be left? Declutter, then place things back (temporarily) that you are keeping, then work out what storage solutions are needed. Pop to the nearest shop, or browse Amazon and find the perfect solutions, ones that match can transform an area and add a beauty you never thought possible!
- Organise for ease. Think about how you use each area and organise to make life easier! For instance, when you prepare or cook food, keep what you need in arms reach, when you make a cup of tea, organise spaces so everything is in the nearest cupboards, when you sit in your lounge, what is needed near your chair?
- Containerise! If you have a specific dedicated space for each item, then that is the available space. With a bit of will power, you can keep to that space, this is your allowance and your limit. This can apply to anything and anything can be the container, from a box, to a basket, a shelf to a cupboard – but that’s the space. If the container becomes full, you need to use or declutter the items in it before you buy more.
- Reward yourself. Everyone loves a reward, right? Well, that applies to you as well. When you have achieved something, such as a declutter and a newly organised space, reward yourself. Now, I don’t mean go to the shops and treat yourself to a trolley full of new items, but it could be some time for yourself, such as a peaceful bubble bath, a bit of self-care, a walk or a sit down to watch your favourite show….anything, as long as you have something that you enjoy at the end of it, such as those before and after photo’s!
Good luck with your decluttering, I hope these top tips set you up for success and help you along the way. If you would like to know more or need 1:1 help in your home, then you can visit my website www.fortheloveoftidying.co.uk and book a call and we can discuss how I can help you further.
You can also join my Facebook group called ‘Decluttering and Organising for Busy People’. I created this group, which now has over 1,000 members, to offer a supportive and caring environment for each member to share their successes and struggles and gain advice and ideas for their decluttering journey. It is a really supportive and encouraging space and something I am very proud of!
