Christmas is looming fast and, whilst we are still in lockdown uncertainty – will they, won’t they – your plans are probably well under way already.
Whether you’re hosting a party ‘cheese and wine work meeting’ or meet-up this week in your home, the clock is ticking and the todo list isn’t getting any smaller.
The house is a mess, everyone else has gone AWOL and you’re left with a stack of presents still to wrap, food to buy and cards to write.
Is this really the time to declutter?
Really?
Don’t worry, it is possible.
Here are a few tips to declutter in a hurry…
Lists are your friend
‘But it’s so unnecessary!’ you might cry, as you have so much else do to.
Trust me, by writing a list of all the tasks that need to be accomplished, you’ll feel calmer and will be able to put everything you need to declutter into perspective.
Listing all the rooms that need to be tidied and the main jobs to be done within them will helpt to give you something to visualise and prevent you from becoming overwhelmed.
Get the worst room out of the way first
If you have one particular room that is in dire need of organising, this is where you start. Get this out of the way and you will instantly feel relief when it is no longer hanging over you.
Follow the Rule of Three
Get three bags or boxes; one box labelled as ‘Rubbish,’ the second as ‘Donate,’ and the third as ‘Storage.’
Anything that is no good or broken or with missing parts, throw away.
Anything that is in decent condition but of no use to you, donate to charity.
And anything that you simply cannot bear to part with, put into the storage box. You can then find a place for it as you go, or put it in the attic or cellar when the tidying is complete. If you don’t have space within the home, storage facilities such as Now Storage self storage in Basingstoke can provide you with the extra space you need, with quick and easy access whenever you need it.
Focus on one area at a time
Rather than doing an entire room and rushing around it, split it into sections and tackle them one by one.
Tackle each part one section at a time, be it a single drawer, shelf or cupboard.
Set a time limit
Set a time limit and decide in advance just how much time you have available to dedicate to this chore. Between a ticking clock and prioritising jobs, you will release the pressure of feeling you have to do absolutely everything.
Reward Yourself
Make a deal with yourself that you will list, prioritise and set your alarm, and once that bell rings your job is done! Then it’s time to pour a well deserved glass of something or have a long, hot soak in the bath.
Or maybe both!
If you keep your goal in mind you’ll find that decluttering can be done relatively quickly and easily and is not as painful as you originally thought it was going to be.
So there you go! Take a deep breath, grab some rubbish bags, and begin.
