The rain has finally subsided and we’re finally out of Covid restrictions, what a great time to lighten the load in your home! Clutter can weigh you down and make you feel stressed. As you open your windows and air out your house why not get rid of a few things in the process. There are some decluttering tasks you can do with little effort but they can make a huge difference in creating a relaxed environment and make it easy to find what you need when you need it. Tackle these spring organizing projects to conquer the clutter and make your home a more pleasant place to be.
Entryway
– This is the first place you and others see when they enter your home. It’s important to have a place for your family to drop their bags, keys, jackets, and shoes if needed. If you don’t have one, then create one. That will curtail much of the clutter that invades your kitchen counter, dining room table, or entry floor.
Paper Clutter
– There is no magic solution for stopping paper clutter. You have to deal with the paper that enters your home in a timely manner or it will mount beyond what you ever want to deal with. “Dealing with the paper” means regular “office hours” to process your paperwork. Creating an inbox for all family members so loose papers (e.g. field trip forms, half finished homework, partially or completed art projects, bills to pay, etc.) have a place to go other than the kitchen counter or dining room table. And, receiving as many bills and statements electronically so they don’t even enter your home.
Kids’ Toys & Stuff
– It helps to occasionally do a reality check of your kids’ stuff. Have they outgrown it? Do they have time to play with it? Are they overwhelmed by the amount of toys, so they only play with what they can easily see, while other toys sit unused? Too much stuff and to much choice is not always a good thing. See if you can commit to reducing your kids’ toys by 30%. Get rid of broken toys or those with missing parts. Designate a container for a particular type of toy (Legos, stuffed animals, dolls) and only allow them to have as many of that item that will fit in the container. Store games and puzzles vertically on their side so kids’ can easily grab what they want without having to unstack a bunch of things.
Kitchen & Pantry
– Is your snack cabinet loaded with half eaten bags of chips or items no one really likes? Is your pantry full of expired food? Clear space in your pantry and cabinets by tossing those items so your family can find things they like more easily and waste less food. Other spring organizing projects include getting rid of mismatched Tupperware, cleaning out your “junk drawer”, or paring down your coffee mugs. Remember less is more and clearing just a few spaces can make your surroundings lighter and less bothersome.
