This was a question I was asked recently. For many of us, when we start decluttering, we are wading through years of stuff. How do we get through all of it and get to the “maintenance” part?
Consistency. Consistency. Consistency.
Every time you bring something into the house, you need to get rid of 1 to 2 items.
Every month, I work in the same Zones as you do. I still declutter.
Why do I still have to declutter?
In my house, we have 6 people. That is 6 times the opportunity to bring stuff into the house. That is 6 times the opportunity for the clutter to accumulate.
By systematically decluttering, I do not let the clutter take over my home. I only spend a few minutes a day decluttering. When I first started, I would spend the entire 15 minutes decluttering. Now, it goes much faster.
Today, I will declutter something from my closet. I will open the door, and I will quickly scan through my hanging clothes. If I see something that I don’t wear anymore, I will pull it out and put it in my donate box. If I see something that does not fit me, I give it away. I want to feel good in the clothes I wear, and I do not want to hang onto clothes that do not make me feel good.
Clothing is a big source of clutter in many homes. Work in small steps to reduce the amount of clothes you have for yourself and for your children. Do not empty closets and drawers and make a big mess. Just do it in small steps and be consistent. You can even declutter clothing when you are folding laundry.
Remember, decluttering is just for a few minutes each day.
Please email me if you have questions.
Zone Mission: Declutter in your closet.
Weekly Home Blessings of the Day: Quick Dust and Vacuum
Menu Plan for Tuesday: Taco Tuesday and a side salad
- Make Your Bed (Do this as soon as you get up.)
- Get Dressed Down to Your Shoes
- Swish and Swipe
- Start Your Laundry
- Decide on Dinner
- Check Your Calendar
- Start the Day off with a Shiny Sink. Don’t leave the breakfast dishes sitting.
- Clean out your refrigerator. Toss the science experiments.
- Spend 15 minutes loving movement.
School: Ask your children what interests them. Pick up some library books on the topic.
- Eat Lunch
- Clear off One Hot Spot
- Reboot the Laundry
- Declutter for 15 Minutes (Be sure to have your children declutter, too.)
- Drink Your Water
- Write up a menu plan for the next 7 days. Check your pantry and freezer and make a grocery list. This habit will save you time and money. Try out some new recipes with the slow cooker. It will save you time once you start back to your school schedule.
- Check the Calendar for Tomorrow
- Lay out Your Clothes for Tomorrow (Have your children lay their clothes out, too.)
- Put things at the Launch Pad that you will need first thing in the morning
- Shine Your Sink
- Clean Off a Hot Spot
- Go to Bed at Decent Hour