12 Tips to Clear Out Clutter

Hello Beautiful!
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How’s it going? I’ve been thinking about you all! 

Is your world still feeling Topsy-Turvy?

Campbell (grandbaby #5) -- in her "new perspective" mode

As I scroll through Social Media, it seems as if those of us with more time on our hands these days are still putting cleaning, decluttering, organizing near the top of our to-do list. I’ve been cooking more--not my favorite thing, but, all of a sudden, it seems interesting--so you never know!

So, here are some fun ways to get started!

12 Tips to Clear Out Clutter--
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Challenge-based Tasks:   
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1. Take the 10-10-10 Challenge--10 items to throw away, 10 items to donate, 10 items to return to their “home”. That’s it--repeat as necessary :)

2. Take a Large Trash Bag--fill it as fast as you can with items to donate.
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3. Sort Through a Pile of Junk Mail or Paper--has it piled up on the kitchen counter, coffee table, dining table? Go through one pile at a time--touch each piece of paper ONCE--recycle, shred, take action, file or scan/file digitally.

4. Set a Physical Boundary for Toys--I’m not a huge fan of making your kids declutter their stuff unless you’ve set a good example and can teach them how, so don’t start with this challenge. But when the time is right, take a look at the toys in your home and create a physical boundary for them (a shelf, closet, bins, etc.) and then help your child curate their toys to fit.

Time-Based Tasks:
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5. 15 Minute Family Challenge--If you’re all getting tired of being inside, see if you can talk them into this fun game--Take 15 minutes as a family and see if you can find 100 things to remove from your home. Give them instructions to scatter, declutter only things that belong to them, and see if your total numbers 100 things by the end.

6. 20 Minute Linen Closet Clean out--Set a timer, and clear out all the old towels and linens in your linen closet, you’ve been meaning to, anyway--now’s your chance!

7. Declutter One Room in 45 minutes--Take a look around your home and see if there’s a lived-in room that you can declutter entirely in 45 minutes. Maybe your living room, dining room, family room? Challenge your assumptions about what needs to stay in that room. Remove as much as you can--and then take a break and enjoy the peace and calm of a clutter-free room. Maybe take on another room tomorrow?

Area-Based Tasks:
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8. Clean Out Your Car--So often our cars fill up with unnecessary things: Old CDs, sunglasses, toys, receipts, coins, empty water bottles, trash. Grab two bags, one for trash and one for items to relocate--ready, go! 

9. Clear Out Clothes You Don’t Wear--Open your closet and drawers, notice how you wear less than half of what you have? Now’s the time--get rid of the items that don’t fit, clothes that are old, out of style, need repair or that you just don’t CHOOSE!!!! Studies have shown that we (women) spend at least 1 year of our lives standing in front of the closet asking that age-old question, “What should I wear?” Curate your closet so that everything is possible!
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10. Sort Through Your Pantry--Seems like now is a pretty good time to take a good look at your kitchen essentials--Remove anything old, expired, or unlikely to get used. Note which essentials need replenishing.

11. Food Storage Containers--Get the kids involved, match lids to containers, and then have a good look at what you NEED and what can be donated. Consider containers that stack easily and ditch the rest. If you haven’t heard, glass is better :)

12. Clear Your Desktop--A clutter-free desktop is such a beautiful place to get your work done--whether it’s career-based or home-based work. So find some time and finally clear yours--process piles of papers and remove unneeded supplies to create a space that supports your work. You never know what new opportunities you may be paving the way for…

I hope that something in the above list will light a spark for you--send me an email and let me know -- I would love to cheer you on!
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Lots of Love,
​XOXO