It’s no secret that 2020 was an unusual year. For some, this past year has been a time of boredom and restlessness. For others, it’s been a time of overwhelming loss and grief. For all of us, it has been a time of uncertainty, and with quarantine giving us so much time at home to ponder all of that uncertainty, we’ve all found our own ways to cope.
As a professional organizer, I’ve noticed that people have typically reacted to the stress of 2020 in one of two ways:
1. They took the opportunity (quarantine) to declutter and get organized. OR…
2. They went on a shopping/spending spree and now have lots of excess stuff cluttering their spaces.
If you fall into the latter category, then this article is definitely for you!
Don’t beat yourself up if you fall into the category of having collected clutter over the past year. We all cope with stress in different ways, and the good news is, it’s never too late to start fresh. Now with spring finally on our doorstep, what better time to start?
Each spring, many of us get the “spring cleaning” bug. This year, maybe even more so. After a year of spending so much time in our homes, we’re feeling our spaces could use a cleaning and decluttering overhaul. We all want to start a new season off with a fresh slate, but you may be wondering where to begin.
You’re not alone. In fact, the #1 question I get asked is, “where do I start?” There’s no right or wrong answer to this, but maybe after asking yourself these questions, the answer for you will become clear.
1. What area of my house causes me the most stress?
2. What area of my house will my family benefit most from a decluttered, practical, well-functioning space?
3. I want to see positive results and a feeling of accomplishment quickly – what space can I achieve this in?
Whichever area you choose to begin with, my first piece of advice is to start small. And I mean small. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so don’t set the intention of organizing your entire kitchen in day. Instead, chose a small section of your kitchen, such as the drawers and/or cabinets in your island, and focus on tackling just that section.
Another method is to start at one end of the room and work your way around the space until you are done. Do this in 2- to 3-hour sessions to avoid being overwhelmed. This is a manageable way of getting organized without getting exhausted, and you’ll find yourself getting super motivated once you start to see your spaces coming together!
Okay, so you’ve decided where you want to start; you may now be wondering how to start. Decluttering your life and getting organized can be a daunting process, but I have a few steps you can follow to help you succeed.
Steps for success:
1. Declutter – I know how exciting it can be to head to The Container Store and start shopping for storage items befitting your favorite Pinterest boards, but don’t buy any products just yet! You don’t know yet what you’ll be left to containerize after purging. Deciding what items to keep and what to let go of can be challenging, but I recommend asking yourself these questions (and be honest) during the declutter process:
a. Do I love this item?
b. Do I use this item?
c. Do I need this item?
d. Would I buy this item again?
If you answered no to any of the above, the item in question is probably a good one to donate.
2. Sort – Once you’ve decided what you want to keep (and what to get rid of) it’s time to sort. Keep categories together; like with like. For example, you probably wouldn’t keep post it notes in the same drawer as your cooking utensils, right? Sorting through and categorizing makes it easier to find the item you’re looking for, which makes the next step easier too!
3. Organize – It’s time to put items back into your spaces. Now is also the time you can add storage products, to make the space more efficient.
4. Enjoy your new orderly areas! You did it!
5. Maintain your newly organized spaces! Life can be stressful (even before Covid), so we’re all bound to slip and get a bit disorganized from time to time. It’s important to remember that getting organized isn’t something you do once, it’s a lifestyle that takes time and effort to maintain. But it’s also important to remember that it’s worth it!
You’re ready now to start your spring declutter! I’m excited for you—decluttering and getting organized is a positive step towards a happier, healthier, clutter-free life!
Lisa Harris
Organize With Lisa LLC
201 214 0052