In this BIT: Spring cleaning season is here! Here’s our home organization guide and tips on how to declutter.
A clear space = a clearer mind. When our space is tidy, it’s easier to think and feel happier. In fact, the act of organizing our rooms can actually boost our mood, as we remove stress-inducing clutter — lowering stress levels and feeling a sense of accomplishment! A study has even found that women in cluttered homes experience higher levels of physical stress. Nonetheless, sometimes we simply don’t know where to begin (let’s be honest, we’ve all procrastinated tidying up). These feelings of overwhelm drive us to put off the act of tidying, contributing to more feelings of stress (within cluttered spaces), and the heavy knowledge of the fact that we’ll have to tidy up — eventually. With spring here, below are our top tips on how to declutter and organize your space.
Organize by ONE category at a time. This helps you focus on the task at hand, and creates a simple, attainable goal. Over the stretch of a few days, you’ll have a cleaner space. For instance, start with organizing your closet. Or, your kitchen cabinets. Perhaps, the next day, organize your desk drawers. Feel free to narrow these categories as needed, based on your time and clutter. If means starting with your sweaters, then your t-shirts, and finally your pants — simplify as such!
This is more of an on-going home organization hack — you can start it right away! Keep a permanent give-away box or bag in your closet. Anytime that you’re getting dressed, or looking through your closet, and you spot something that you simply KNOW you aren’t going to wear or to use again, place it into this bag. This way, you won’t have to dedicate just one day to clearing out your closet. Rather, as the box or bag fills up, you can drop it off at a thrift store, or if one of your friends or siblings wants to borrow something, they could also browse these items that you no longer love. Your give-away bag doesn’t need to consist solely of clothing. Use it for accessories, stationary, and beyond.
One of our favourite hacks, which we learned from Marie Kondo, is the BOX METHOD. Use small boxes — from old gifts, chocolate boxes, or pencils — to organize spaces in your desk, drawers, or closet. By utilizing boxes, you can compartmentalize a larger space into smaller spaces. Now you will know where your belongings are, and where to put them away after use. Best of all, by re-using boxes that you already have, you don’t need to go out and invest in boxes for organization. The next time you ask yourself how to declutter, reach for a box!
The key to home organization is simply getting started. Choose a small space, set aside 20 minutes, and get going. Truly, you will feel a Small Bit of Happiness!
For more happiness check out our Mood Boost page.
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