In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, the state of our living spaces often mirrors the chaos or calm within ourselves. A cluttered home can contribute to stress, anxiety, and a sense of overwhelm. In contrast, a well-organized space can become a sanctuary for self-care and healing. Today, we explore the transformative power of decluttering as a form of self-care, and how the simple act of reorganizing our surroundings can pave the way to a more balanced and serene life.
Welcome to my Year Long Thorough Declutter Series. We declutter 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Each day we do a daily task based on the room we are working on. Today, our task is to start decluttering your clutter in your entryway. If you prefer watching videos, check out my youtube channel here. Today, we’ll look at some tips for decluttering broken and unwanted decor’ in your entryway and decluttering as form of self-care.
The best way to develop a new habit is by slowly and daily application. We will begin a new daily declutter habit starting with the 2nd bathroom. In the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series, we will declutter 30 minutes a day, five days a week on weekdays. Sign up to receive daily encouragement and motivation.
Plus, you’ll learn your specific daily task to work toward completing the goal of a Year Long Thorough Declutter where you will declutter every space and learn how to start to purge your house. Are you ready to finally get organized? If so, will you join us? Leave a comment below to subscribe.
If you are new to the blog, welcome! I blog about cleaning, decluttering, and organizing. You can find my free printables to help you get organized in the drop down menu under the Printables category.
Currently we are working on how to unclutter the Entryway, Foyer, & Mudroom. The daily task for today, Nov. 15, 2023, is to begin to declutter broken and unwanted decor’ in your entryway. Remember, we are focusing on just the entryway area, so don’t declutter your whole house. We will cover each room separately.
Decluttering as a Form of Self-Care: Healing Through Home Organization
The Connection Between Clutter and Mental Health
Research has shown that our physical environments have a profound impact on our mental well-being. A cluttered space can lead to feelings of unease, making it challenging to focus and relax. Clutter can also be a visual reminder of unfinished tasks, contributing to a sense of mental fatigue. By addressing the physical clutter in our homes, we can create a foundation for positive change in our emotional well-being.
Decluttering: A Mindful Journey
Embarking on a decluttering journey is not just about tossing out broken or unused items; it’s a mindful practice that encourages us to evaluate our relationship with possessions. Start small, focusing on one room or even one corner at a time. As you sift through your belongings, ask yourself if each item brings you joy, serves a purpose, or contributes positively to your living space.
Letting Go: The Emotional Side of Decluttering
One of the challenges of decluttering is the emotional attachment we form with our belongings, even if they’re broken or no longer useful. Acknowledge the sentimental value, express gratitude for the role these items played in your life, and then release them. Letting go of physical clutter can be a symbolic act of releasing emotional baggage, making room for personal growth and new opportunities.
The Therapeutic Benefits of Home Organization
As you declutter, take note of the therapeutic benefits that accompany the process. The act of cleaning and organizing can be meditative, offering a break from the demands of everyday life. Enjoy the tactile experience of folding clothes, arranging books, and creating a sense of order in your surroundings. The result is not just a tidier home but a calmer mind.
Creating a Sanctuary for Self-Care
Once the decluttering process is complete, take the opportunity to design your living space intentionally. Incorporate elements that bring you joy, such as calming colors, personal mementos, or plants that add a touch of nature. A well-organized home becomes a sanctuary for self-care, providing a peaceful retreat from the outside world.
Sustainable Practices: Mindful Consumption
As you declutter, consider adopting sustainable practices in your consumption habits. Instead of accumulating more possessions, focus on mindful and intentional purchasing. Invest in items that serve a purpose and bring lasting value to your life, reducing the need for future decluttering efforts.
Nurturing Your Space, Nurturing Yourself
Decluttering is more than just a physical activity; it’s a form of self-care that nurtures your mind, body, and spirit. By creating a harmonious and organized living space, you cultivate an environment that supports your well-being. Embrace the journey of decluttering as a powerful step towards healing, and watch as the positive effects ripple through every aspect of your life.
Remember, the path to a clutter-free and tranquil home is a personal one. Take it one step at a time, celebrating the progress along the way. As you declutter, you’re not just transforming your living space; you’re creating a foundation for a more mindful and fulfilling life.
Steps to Take when Decluttering as a Form of Self-Care
1.Only spend time on your specific daily task.
2.Do not get side-tracked or distracted.
3.Work within a time of day that you have the most energy and stamina. This is one of the most useful declutter motivation tips. Listen to your body and work at decluttering when you feel the most alert and energized.
4.Avoid thinking too long about whether to keep or discard an item. This is one specific way for How to Be Ruthless When Decluttering.
5.Avoid cleaning during your declutter. The goal is to purge the dead weight. Getting rid of the clutter is your priority. Cleaning can be accomplished later. Read on for more declutter motivation tips and my room specific deep clean checklist, though, as you will begin cleaning after your declutter.
Decluttering as a Form of Self-Care Tips
Supplies Needed:
1. boxes -preferably ones you can donate (Avoid plastic storage bins because you may be tempted to just store the items and not part with them.)1. boxes -preferably ones you can donate (Avoid plastic storage bins because you may be tempted to just store the items and not part with them.)
2. sturdy trash bags
3. marker/pen to label boxes
Decluttering Tip: Avoid using storage bins to declutter. Storage bins tend to tell your brain to “store” the items for later. That is just delaying decisions. If you aren’t getting rid of items when you declutter, you are not truly decluttering. This is why I recommend a trash bag, also. A trash bag tells your brain to “trash” the item.
Obviously, recycle if you have that option. The boxes you use should be ones you are willing to part with, so I recommend sturdy cardboard boxes. As to donations, there are many charities that will come pick up your items for you at your home.
I use one in particular where you can book an appointment for pick-up online. This is so convenient, as it saves you the hassle of hauling stuff away yourself. Scheduling that pick-up also motivates you to declutter by a certain date.
Decluttering as a Form of Self-Care
1. Start by eliminating trash first- use a sturdy trash bag
2. Sort items by category if needed so you can see what you have
3.Get rid of items that don’t work or that work poorly, expired items, anything you don’t love, anything that you’ll never use again
4. Box up the donations and trash/recycle the rest
5.Select a charity to donate your items and schedule the pick-up if that is an option
How Do You Declutter Your Entire House (and get it deep clean?): Need to deep clean?
First, My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.
Second, My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.
Third, My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.
Fourth, My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.
Fifth, My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.
You can get your printable Daily Housekeeping Routine and Deep Cleaning Your House Schedule here. This 15 page printable kit is delivered digitally to your email for you to print and personalize. What Does a Deep Clean Include? It includes a daily schedule, calendar pages, and deep cleaning checklists for every room and area of your home. Check out the link above to see a sample page of what you’ll get in my printable set designed to help you create your personal Homemaking Checklist.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can find that here.
New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:
Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. If you don’t have a calendar, you can grab my free weekly printable calendar page here. It is in my shopify store, but it is totally free, so you won’t be prompted to put in any payment information. It is a free download and will be delivered straight to your email.
Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you often ask: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Or, if you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.
Step 3: How do you remove clutter? How Do You Declutter Your Home?.…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.”Declutter Your Home” checklists are provided in each email.
Step 4: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer and use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered.
Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.
Check out the most popular posts on deemiddleton.com:
14 Things That Make Your Home Look Cluttered
How to Create a Daily Housekeeping Schedule
How to Clean House When You Are Completely Overwhelmed By Clutter
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