Fortunately, there are small steps that you can take to help de-clutter that will both improve your own mental health and find room for that huge Paw Patrol Patroller Lorry that your mother thought would make a great present for your four-year old in your postage-stamp sized house. So, if you are in desperate need of space, check out these tips for a January de-clutter.<\/p>\n
1. Don\u2019t Aim Big<\/h2>\n
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Don\u2019t declare this Saturday to be \u201cDe-clutter Day\u201d and plan to do everything at once. It won\u2019t happen. Your baby will keep you awake all night before. Your toddler will fall off the dining table doing a superhero impression and you will have to spend several hours in A&E only to be told \u201che\u2019s fine.\u201d Your mother will phone and ask that you pop over to help her \u201cmove a bit of furniture\u201d as she does her own de-clutter. In short, life will get in the way, even with the best intentions. You will likely become disheartened with the whole task, and find it more preferable to watch Gilmore Girls on Netflix instead, accomplishing very little. A different approach is required, which brings us to\u2026<\/p>\n
2. One Small Task a Day<\/h2>\n
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Instead of seeing your clutter as one mammoth job, break it down into lots of little tasks, and aim to complete one each day. For example, one kitchen cupboard, one toy box, one shelf in your wardrobe. This is much more achievable, especially when time is so limited.<\/p>\n
3. Schedule De-Clutter Sessions<\/h2>\n
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Try and schedule in around 15 minutes to de-clutter each day. It could be during your child\u2019s morning nap, or just after they have gone to bed but before you flake out in front of the TV. You could even create a plan of what to do each day. For example it might look like this:<\/p>\n
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- Monday:<\/strong> Saucepan Cupboard<\/li>\n
- Tuesday:<\/strong> Under the Sink Cupboard<\/li>\n
- Wednesday:<\/strong> White Toy Box in Lounge<\/li>\n
- Thursday:<\/strong> Paperwork on Desk<\/li>\n
- Friday:<\/strong> Top Drawer in Wardrobe<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
After each task, give yourself a reward, such as a soak in the bath. Just avoid the temptation to reward yourself with more stuff.<\/p>\n
4. Divide, Conquer, and Donate<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nApproach each section or task with a \u201cDivide and Conquer\u201d mentality. Split your horde up into piles. One pile to keep, one pile to donate to charity, and one pile to throw away. This simplifies the task and makes it easier to manage.<\/p>\n
Once you have divided your horde, it\u2019s time to conquer it. Take out the rubbish immediately, reducing the likelihood you will pull something out to keep \u201cjust in case.\u201d The same goes for the donate pile \u2013 drop it off at the charity shop as soon as possible. Don\u2019t think about what you are losing \u2013 instead focus on the good you are doing through your donations. Many charity shops allow you to sign up for gift aid, and will provide you with an annual statement of house much your items have earned for the charity at the end of the year.<\/p>\n
5. Use a Time Limit<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nIf you haven\u2019t used an item in a few months, then there is a good chance that you don\u2019t need it. You can set yourself a limit on how long something can remain unused before you get rid of it. It may be six months, it may be a year. If you find it difficult to get rid of things, then try moving it to the loft, setting yourself a reminder in your calendar for another six months\u2019 time. If you still haven\u2019t used it by then, it\u2019s definitely time to get rid of it.<\/p>\n
6. De-Cluttering Toys<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nSome toys absolutely need to be kept, such as favourite teddy bears, etc. However, your child probably doesn\u2019t need 10 diggers or 5 different shape sorters. Children can be very attached to their toys, so getting rid of them isn\u2019t that easy. The best way to approach the task with younger children is to remove one or two each day that you think they no longer play with and put them into storage, out of sight for a month or two.<\/p>\n
If your child doesn\u2019t notice that it\u2019s missing, then it\u2019s very likely that the toy can then be permanently removed. With older children, you can use the process to teach them about children in developing countries and ask your child if they are willing to donate some of their toys to help. Alternatively, you could explain how if you are able to sell some of their toys second hand, you can use the money to fund a trip to a theme park you know they would want to visit.<\/p>\n
7. Let Go of Your Keepsakes<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.mumblog.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/7-white-wedding-dress-hanging.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhen was the last time you looked at your wedding dress? Or at the box of cinema and theatre tickets you kept from before you and your partner had children and actually went on dates? Or at the pile of textbooks from your university degree that has had no bearing on your chosen profession? Sometimes, holding onto the past can keep us from moving forward into the future, and keepsakes, whilst precious, can hold us back from de-cluttering our home. If you haven\u2019t looked at something in years and years, then ask yourself why you are holding onto it, and in the words of Elsa from Frozen, perhaps it\u2019s time to \u201cLet It Go\u201d.<\/p>\n
And as for that wedding dress crumpled up in a ball in an old suitcase, still with a wine stain down the front because you didn\u2019t have the \u00a375 to pay for dry-cleaning, please do consider donating it to charity. You can either donate it to a charity shop who will sell it on to raise money, or check out Gift of a Wedding<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a UK based charity who provide weddings to terminally ill people. They will take your wedding dress and use it to help someone else\u2019s dreams come true.<\/p>\n
8. Create a Capsule Wardrobe<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nBe honest with yourself. The dress that you wore when you were 20 and a size 8 is not going to fit you anytime soon now that you have had two children and are a secret chocolate eater to negate the stress that said two children bring. And, just why do you have six pairs of jeans when you spend most of your time in pyjamas stained with snot? If your wardrobe contains enough items to stock a vintage shop then it\u2019s time to have a clear out.<\/p>\n
If you are feeling particularly brave, or ruthless, then you could try the capsule wardrobe approach. Coined by Susie Roux, a boutique owner in the 1970s, the idea is that your wardrobe consists of a set number of basics (usually less than 50) and that you only purchase a new item when one of those set items needs replacing. Not only will you save yourself money, but you will gain much needed space. You will also never need to worry about what to wear, as your capsule wardrobe has items for each situation.<\/p>\n
- Tuesday:<\/strong> Under the Sink Cupboard<\/li>\n
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