Whether or not March comes in like a lion, this is a great time of year to tackle #decluttering tasks with gusto. If you want to #declutter with intensity, you should dedicate an hour or two at a time to the task as often as possible, says Simple Lionheart Life. But even if your decluttering style is more about consistency (10 minutes per day?) than intensity, you’ll have to be ruthless about those #keep, #trash, #donate decisions to be effective. “The more you get rid of during each decluttering session, the quicker you’ll clear the #clutter now rather than having to go back and do more decluttering later,” the site says.
Tag: decluttering
Marie Kondo’s Bombshell Announcement
It had nothing to do with a Chinese spy balloon or misplaced classified documents. The real bombshell of the last few weeks? That Marie #Kondo — the unrivaled evangelist of the power of #tidying up — has stopped trying to keep up with the #mess.
According to The Washington Post, Kondo’s capacity for #organizing and #cleaning diminished upon the birth of her third child. “My home is messy, but the way I am spending my time is the right way for me at this time at this stage of my life,” she said in a recent webinar.
She went on to admit that a perfectly organized home is not a realistic goal for most people. “I was a professional #tidier, so I did my best to keep my home tidy at all times,” she said. “I have kind of given up on that. Now, I realize what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home.”
Instead of offering new strategies to obsessively #sort out your sock drawer, Kondo’s latest book explores the Japanese concept of #kurashi, or “way of life.” It’s a much broader strategy that focuses on bringing calmness and happiness to everyday existence.
She encourages readers to create a rhythm and routine based on what brings them joy, even if a few closets and countertops remain #cluttered. For Kondo, that routine includes fresh air, quality time with her kids and scrapbooking.
While actual #tidying takes a backseat, the book asks people to figure out which aspects of their lives need the most attention. Whatever needs a sort of macro-level #decluttering and #organizing is what you should concentrate on right now, in other words.
And there’s nothing wrong with that. Life happens, and you can’t spend every waking moment organizing your clothes closet by purpose and color. Take time to focus on whatever it is that brings you joy, be it career, a favorite hobby, or family and friends.
But when you feel the need to #declutter and #organize, remember that you can #donate any lightly used items to ClothingDonations.org. Get them out of the way of your personal kurashi by arranging a free #donation #pickup. Your donation will share joy with veterans nationwide.
So do as Marie Kondo says, and don’t obsess about #decluttering. Instead, make it a natural part of your routine.
Phil Says: Get Ready for Spring (Cleaning)
Apologies for posting this before emerging from my burrow this morning! Today’s my time to shine, but the sun may have other plans — and a cloudy day means that #spring is on the way. I’m not the most accurate predictor of the weather (historically, I get things right just 39% of the time on #Groundhog Day), but even if six more weeks of #winter are on the way, there’s no time like the present to start #cleaning and #decluttering your #nest. Spring cleaning can restore one’s immune system, head off stress, prevent illness and prepare the body for increased physical activity in the warmer months, Healthline says. For me, that means digging a more spacious burrow, foraging for food, hiding from coyotes and um, socializing. Off to Gobbler’s Knob!
Revisiting Hygge’s Warm Minimalism
Now that you’ve put away the #holiday decorations (#decluttering and #organizing along the way, of course), it’s time to settle in for the remainder of winter’s cold, dark nights. But to do so cheerfully in #minimalist comfort and style, you’ll want to revisit the concept of #hygge.
Hygge (pronounced “hoo-guh”) is a Scandinavian concept that celebrates warm and welcoming indoor living — likely a compensating response to the region’s long winter nights. The term appears to derive from an Old Norse word meaning “protected from the outside world.”
While the outside world is less of a concern this year now that the spread of COVID is mostly controlled, hygge reflects values of equality, positivity and well-being. But it is an introverted practice that encourages “practitioners to shelter, cluster and enclose,” says Denmark.dk.
Being a hygge acolyte is easy: You just need to embrace things that signify warmth and comfort. A cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate; a roaring fire or some candles; and cozy slippers, blankets or sweaters are a few essentials.
What you won’t need is a lot of #clutter, because hygge is a practice that embraces simplicity. You’ll want to strip your space down to its simplest furnishings and neutral colors, and avoid the mental clutter brought on by too many screens and a cacophony of loud noises.
Hygge is more than hibernating — it’s making peace with the weather (something you can’t control) and embracing the simple joys of home, family and surroundings. And if you find that your surroundings are too chaotic to support such well-being, now’s the time to make a change.
Make a single hygge space — a nook, seating area or room where clutter and chaos won’t intrude. Strip it down to the bare essentials, getting rid of anything that doesn’t contribute directly to your feelings of warmth and well-being.
You can donate any lightly used items that don’t fit the new style to ClothingDonations.org by arranging a #donation #pickup. You can also find nice blankets, sweaters and other cozy hygge goods at the thrift stores supplied by your donations and help veterans in the process
Embrace the newfound calm and enjoy the winter from your cozy confines!
Declutter the Dingiest Stuff First
As 2023 begins, say “out with the old” to items such as worn pillows, dingy towels, half-burned candles, mismatched hangers and other unloved items, House Beautiful says. When the holidays are over, it’s a great time to clear out the #junk that has accumulated in the last year or years and now creates generalized stress and anxiety. Start by #decluttering easy throwaways such as takeout menus and expired food products, then move on to things that might be useful to others, but you don’t need or want — clothes that don’t fit, extra coffee mugs, etc. #Donate them to ClothingDonations.org, and you’ll help fund veterans programs! #NewYear #NewYou #2023