Tag: organizing

Giving Up Clutter for Lent and Life

Posted on by Jordank

Lent is a Christian observance commemorating the 40 days that Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert before beginning his public ministry. Those who observe the period typically mark it with prayer, fasting and personal sacrifice.

A Lenten sacrifice is a spiritually motivated, voluntary renunciation of a pleasure or luxury. Common modern-day Lenten sacrifices include abstaining from meat-eating, chocolate, sweets and alcohol. Some people attempt to eschew “sinful” behaviors such as profanity.

Not every faith observes Lent, of course, but each of the major religions has a holiday observed through fasting and sacrifice. Regardless of faith or level of observance, the Organizing Blog suggests that there is something you can give up today for the betterment of everyone: #clutter.

#Decluttering can help you lead a more spiritual existence. When you don’t have to tend to all of the #stuff you’ve collected over the years, you’ll have more time and energy to focus on what really matters: health, family and well-being.

Establish a simple Lenten goal: “I’ll spend one hour per day #sorting through my stuff.” “I’ll #declutter one #closet per week.” “I’ll #clean and #organize my kitchen and bathrooms by Easter.” “I’ll fill X number of boxes and bags with stuff I no longer need or want.”

What would Jesus do? Granted, we live in different times, but he almost certainly would not let a bunch of clothing that doesn’t fit, disused household appliances and mass-market tchotchkes pile up and bog him down. He traveled light.

There’s another aspect of Lent and other seasonal observances demand: almsgiving. It’s charitable giving that puts the needs of others ahead of your own — sharing your time, money and material possessions with others, and especially those less fortunate.

ClothingDonations.org can help with this. Once you’ve #decluttered and gathered up the things you don’t want, contact us for a #free #donation #pickup. We’ll take those lightly used goods and resell them to #help the nation’s #veterans.

Once you see the results from your Lenten sacrifice, decluttering could become a lifelong habit. Have a safe and happy Lent!

Bringing Warmth to the Winter Home

Posted on by Jordank

Once all of the #holiday celebrations are complete and the temperatures drop to single digits, you may struggle to create #warmth — real or perceived — in the home. The cold weather and empty social schedules of January may prompt you to enter a protective hibernation.

The cold-weather cultures of Scandinavia tell you to lean into that feeling through #hygge, the concept of warmth, comfort and quiet conviviality practiced when the weather outside is cold, blustery and otherwise inhospitable.

Hygge demands quiet comforts such as cozy sweaters and throws, casual get-togethers with friends and family, and plenty of hot meals and beverages such as coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Candles and a fire in the hearth only add to hygge’s #warm, golden glow.

Creating real warmth in winter may require a few #household fixes, however. The first thing to check is your furnace filter — if it hasn’t been changed recently, dust and dirt may be blocking heated air. Change it so that the heat travels to the vents efficiently and with fewer allergens.

Half the battle of staying warm in #winter is to keep the heat inside and the cold outside. Adding insulation, area rugs and a chimney flue blocker are simple ways to keep the warmth from escaping and save money on heating costs.

Other simple fixes include 10 home heating “hacks” from Better Homes & Gardens. They include insulating drafty windows with bubble wrap and sealing window frames with fresh caulk. To quickly warm the kitchen and create a homey atmosphere, fire up the oven and bake some cookies or braise a roast.

We at The Organizing Blog like to save energy and set our thermostats to 68°F throughout the winter. But we also have plenty of blankets and throws we can use to stay warm, some of which were #thrifted from stores supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org.

You can also generate #heat by staying active — getting on the treadmill, painting a room or thoroughly #decluttering and #organizing a space. After you #schedule a #donation #pickup for all of that extra #stuff, reward yourself by bundling up, pouring a hot beverage and relaxing.

There’s nothing like the warmth of a #clean, cozy and #uncluttered home. Follow a few of these tips to stay warm, whatever winter brings!

Free Yourself From a Lifetime of Clutter

Posted on by Jordank

The latest word in #decluttering advice is “death cleaning,” a no-holds-barred strategy to get rid of unnecessary belongings that can be undertaken long before the ultimate demise forces family members to do it on one’s behalf. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter, artist Margareta Magnusson asks readers to embrace #minimalism to put things in order for good. It can be a difficult but invigorating process, and the book is an entertaining beach read for any aspiring #declutterer with aging family members. When you’re done reading and #decluttering, contact ClothingDonations.org for a free donation pickup!  #SummerReading

Summer Reads to Fit Your Schedule

Posted on by Jordank

Pick an #organizing book that fits into your schedule to avoid getting overwhelmed with the task, says VeryWell Mind. Pick a short book with small projects if you’re time-constrained, or something more detailed from a #decluttering or home guru such as Marie Kondo or Martha Stewart. If you can count on your family to join you in the struggle to #declutter and #organize, try The Real Simple Method to Organizing Every Room: And How to Keep It That Way, which offers checklists and step-by-step instructions for a variety of household organizing projects that can build a new routine and encourage long-term tidiness. #SummerReading

Start a 12-Month Organizing Schedule

Posted on by Jordank

As you enjoy #summer #vacation, make a plan to #organize your home once and for all: Grab a copy of Organize Your Home In A Year Or Less! by Kai M. Jordan as your beach read. The book discusses mistakes when attempting to #orgnanize their homes and three techniques you can use to sort out your life. The calendar-based approach offers 12 exercises to follow in organizing your kitchen, living room, bathroom, garage, attic, bedrooms, closets and more, and discusses the differences to know between #decluttering (a project) and #organizing (a system). Get with the program to clear up the persistent messes and #clutter that add to stress. #SummerReading