Tips and Resources to Help you Get Organized and Clear Clutter
It’s the time of year when the flowers are beginning to bloom and the temperature is getting warmer. During this season, you may also embark on a traditional ritual of “spring cleaning” to help get yourself organized and create a spotless home before summer starts.
While the end product of having a clean home with everything in its place is something we all want, sometimes it can be hard to find the time and motivation to tame the beast that is spring cleaning. It’s certainly a lot of hard work and time-consuming, but worth the effort!
To help get you started, here are some tips and resources to get your spring cleaning swagger on:
Create an Attack Plan
When you have a lot of work ahead of you, the hardest place can be figuring out where to begin. Try these pointers:
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- Start with a small, manageable project. Get something easy done so that sense of accomplishment provides you with the energy to keep going.
- For bigger tasks, create an attack plan – i.e. if you feel overwhelmed by all the work you have to do, break it up over days and weeks.
- Only have a little bit of time one day? Tackle something small.
- On days where you have more time, take on a larger project.
- Putting any and all of these plans down on paper can help keep you motivated and on track to get yourself to your end goal.
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Keep and Donate Boxes
This is something you’ve probably done before, but having these set out before you begin to go through your closets can be extremely valuable. Label one box “keep” and the other box “donate.” If you feel torn on whether or not to keep something, throw it in the donate pile. Donate your clothes or other items to your neighborhood Goodwill, a consignment store, or your favorite charity to help others in need.
Don’t Forget Your Pantry
It’s easy for items to get pushed to the back of your pantry. So take a thorough look at this area and check all the expiration dates. Get rid of anything that has a past due date. If you have particular items that you don’t eat anymore but aren’t expired, donate them to your nearest food pantry.
Workspace Cleanup
As part of your annual spring cleaning, take some time to look at your desk space. Sort through your emails and documents and get rid of anything you don’t need. Straighten up your workspace and maybe even add some new decorations to your area to help keep it fresh. Having your office space organized can help increase your productivity.
Other Resources for Your Spring Cleaning Needs
Use these tools for additional spring cleaning inspiration:
- The Spring Cleaning Checklist from Martha Stewart. This inventory offers helpful info on cleansers, stain removal, fabric care and storage.
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. Take some of her tips and tricks and incorporate them into your attack plan.
- Check out this Declutter Your Home Printable Checklist by Krista Wolf for some additional ideas of how to get rid of the clutter in your home.
- Need yet more help getting organized? Let Real Simple’s checklists assist you. You can find everything from how to get your garage clutter-free, to how to ensure your pantry is well organized, to making sure your kitchen allows you to cook and clean up more efficiently.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “begin with the end in mind.” Although cleaning and organizing your home and life is a big task and can feel like a chore while you are doing it, remember how great it will feel to have it completed. Hopefully, these resources and tips will help you slay the spring cleaning beast and get you on your way to a clean and organized home and life!
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