A lot of times, we don’t know where to start on our journey towards organization. When the whole house is in disarray (especially after the holidays) it can seem like even the smallest steps won’t make a dent in the disaster- so we don’t even bother starting!
That’s why I created a list of the EASIEST places to start. All it takes is a little momentum, and once you see the progress being made, you can use that as fuel to tackle the harder spaces.
Where to begin…
Duplicates-
These are easy because we generally already know the items we reach for and prefer to use, even if we have multiples of them. We may have 7 different spatulas, but only use one two of them regularly. Or say you’ve updated or replaced your old blender- don’t keep the old one “just in case the new one breaks.” If you were already looking to replace it before, chances are if it breaks in the future, the company will replace it or you will want the even newer model. Take an assessment of your home and make note of areas where you have multiples of items. Determine which ones you actually use, and allow yourself to donate or toss the ones that are cluttering up your space without fear.
Clothing haven’t worn in over a year-
If you haven’t felt the urge to wear something out of your house in over a year- that’s a pretty safe sign that you’ve either moved on to a different style, or it is not working for you in some way. Sometimes we have clothes that we try on and send to the rejection pile over and over again. This probably means that there is something about that item that is not flattering or comfortable to you- so don’t let it take up your precious space! The next time you try on an item and it doesn’t light you up the way it used to- practice setting it aside rather than stuffing it in amongst the rest of your items. In a world where we all have such limited time, having clothes that don’t suit us clutter up our closets isn’t worth the extra headache.
Unfinished projects-
We all get waves of ambition now and again to take on a small DIY, refurbishing project, or new hobby. Sometimes it turns into something wonderful that you can share and be proud of. Sometimes, it becomes a pile of unfinished ideas in the corner of your room. To me, there is nothing worse about the later than the former. If anything, you taught yourself that you’re not as interested in the topic or idea as you thought you were, and can give yourself permission to move on from it. If seeing the piles of unfinished projects makes you feel negative emotions or get down on yourself- like you didn’t have what it takes to finish it- give yourself the grace to let go and move on to something that is worth your time.
Things that don’t work-
If something breaks and you don’t have the sense of urgency to fix or mend it right away, then it’s probably not worth your time, energy and money to fix it in the first place. I’ve seen homes with boxes and boxes of broken electronics, watches, toys, ripped clothes and tarnished shoes- all labeled “to fix or mend” appropriately, but in the 10 years since they were placed in those boxes, the owners never felt the motivation to take the items out and do something about it. The truth is, no one likes to be wasteful. If there is any hope in salvaging something I think we all have the best intentions in thinking we should try to fix it. But we have to be honest with ourselves. Having a box of broken items, or any broken items in your home for that matter, is like having a constant “to-do” item sitting on your list. You may not write it down each week, but subconsciously you know it is there- leading to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. You can donate items, sell them for parts, or toss them and give yourself the grace to live in your space without this constant drain on your energy.
Things you rarely use-
Just because you have something and it works, doesn’t mean it is something you should keep. There’s something truly magical about walking into your space and seeing only the things you love and use the most- nothing more and nothing less. Sometimes we gloss over things we’ve had in our home for years without ever taking a second look and questioning if we actually need those things. That’s why when working in a space I find it important to remove everything from it’s original home and re-assess it in a new light. Just moving things from where they’ve always been can help you realize what you want to keep and what you could easily part with.
Mismatched sheets, towels, socks, dishes etc-
You know that feeling you get when walking into a beautifully stocked home decor store or hotel? There’s a reason we are attracted to symmetry and consistency, and it’s because it requires less sensory processing for our brains and allows us to feel more at ease. I don’t see any reason why we have to limit these moments of peace to when we’re traveling or outside of our home. If you are able to make a complete set of sheets, dishes, or towels to have enough to get by for a week- then I say you are safe to part with the rest. Having uniform cabinets for your dishes and linens not only looks nice, but will keep things more simple and streamlined. There’s always the argument of needing more of these items for when guests are in town- but is it really worth cluttering up your space 365 days of the year for the 14-20 of them when you have guests?
Electronics that are out of date-
Some of us could have a small museum with the progression of cell phones, laptops and TV’s we’ve accumulated over the years. While it’s sometimes amusing to look at, these items can add up to a lot of bulk. When you’re limited on storage, it doesn’t make sense to use it on items that will never be of use or have value again. Luckily, you can safely donate old electronics to places like Staples or Apple (if it’s an apple product), and they will often give you a discount or gift card to the store in return.
Decorative objects you no longer like or display-
When you’re taking down your decorations this year- make note of the ones you didn’t put up that are left in the boxes. Is it worth holding onto then if you decide not to put them out each year? in the end it’s just extra weight to carry as you load and unload your holiday boxes from storage, so weeding out your decor now will only make your holiday’s easier in the future.
Gifts you don’t like-
Still have gifts from last year with the tags on them? Remember, the point of giving gifts is for the sender to express their love and appreciation for you. The message is in the gesture of giving the gift; not the gift itself. You don’t have to burden yourself with things you don’t like or won’t use. I don’t think any gift giver would feel good knowing you are keeping something out of guilt. Plus, there are hundreds of people who may LOVE whatever that item is, so letting it collect dust in your closet or under the bed isn’t doing anyone a service. Let it go and make room for what you do love.
Expired items-
Expiration dates are there for a reason! And while I can be lenient on certain items and use them as more of a “suggestion date,” the truth is if you haven’t used it or finished it by the expiration date, it probably means you don’t like it that much. If you have a jar of preserves in your pantry that expired in 2018- sure, they might not make you sick to eat them, but it probably means you received them in 2014, and if you haven’t wanted to open them since then, you probably never will.
Boxes/containers you haven’t looked in for over a year-
Now I’ll admit, this might not be the easiest place to start, but that’s why I saved it for the end of the list. If you have boxes you haven’t looked at in a year or longer, it can be scary to even think about opening them and tackling what’s inside. This is often the place where people freeze and shut down and say “I just don’t want to deal with it!” So the boxes sit as eyesores for years and years to come. I’m here to tell you that it is never as scary as it seems!! In fact, I’ve gone through a room full over boxes that the homeowner had been dreading to go through for years- only to find out that half of them were nearly empty and the rest could easily be consolidated or tossed. Something that weighed on her mind for years was easily taken care of in an afternoon. All it takes is opening that first box. Give yourself permission to feel the feelings that some items might arouse. Action is always the antitode of fear, and you well be proud of tackling it rather than letting it weigh you down!