Less Is Best
I love to purge, toss, clean out, exorcise, and eliminate items in my home that don’t serve a purpose. I find it a most cathartic experience to make my home inviting and free of clutter.
Some experts agree that creating tidy surroundings actually generates more positive feelings about being home. Ring in the New Year with some simple housekeeping strategies that will bring you joy and peace in the New Year.
I remember during my flight attendant training class when the instructor advised—“less is best” regarding packing your bag for overnight trips. I have lived by that mantra in pretty much all I do—except when it comes to exercise, of course.
If you are like me, when your house needs a thorough power washing, coming home after work feels much like going to your second job. Oftentimes I find other things to do to avoid the dreaded arrival home, wishing I had hired a housekeeper.
Because I come from a generation of women who knew the benefit of living simply, I have inherited some strategies that will change your perspective and transform that feeling of dread into longing.
First of all, closets in bedrooms are for clothes. If you are shoving items on shelves that serve a purpose in other parts of the house, remove them immediately. Also, if you can’t see certain clothing items because they are smashed or shoved toward the back for lack of room, it is time to clean out.
If you haven’t worn an item in your closet in more than a year, get rid of it. If you don’t wear it now, it won’t look better a month from now. If you are waiting to lose weight so that it will fit properly, stop defeating yourself. Let it go! Also, when you receive a gift or make a purchase of something similar to what you already have, toss the old.
If you are so overwhelmed you don’t know what to get rid of, try this. Starting January 1, place all hanging items in the closet with the hanger backwards. During the year if you wear it, turn the hanger the correct way. This indicates an item you will keep.
If this time next year an item is still in your closet with the hanger backwards place it in a plastic bag. Immediately place bag in the trunk of your car and the next time you are in town drop it off at the thrift store or donate to your favorite charity.
Are you a mail rat? You know the type—they have stacks and stacks of bills, marketing materials, bank statements, magazines, newspapers and the like taking over more than 25 square feet of space on multiple counters in various parts of the house.
This behavior is psychologically damaging and probably causing feelings of failure. If not you, then I can assure you it is driving someone in your house crazy! Not only that, you have created a small part time job by accumulating stuff when you can take a few minutes each day to disseminate trash from necessary pieces, and feel victorious!
Follow closely. Take the mail into the house. Take 30 seconds to review the mail and identify the legitimate pieces; these include bills, statements, reading material you have subscribed to and personal letters. Put those items to the side. Stack up the other junk mail, credit card offers, advertising flyers and catalogs and put them where they belong, in a trash receptacle. Don’t open it. Don’t wait. Throw it away, or recycle it—NOW!
Open the mail in the “real” mail stack and throw away the outer envelope. Distribute items to appropriate family members. Put other important items near your personal computer or in a brief case. In two minutes you have sifted through the mail instead of allowing it to stack up for another day. You have potentially saved yourself hours of reorganization not to mention lots more counter space.
Hire someone. Although I resisted hiring a housekeeper for many years, after returning to a full time job, I decided I deserved it. Actually my husband decided WE deserved it and he was right. Even if only once or twice a month—my time spent at home is much more enjoyable and the small everyday chores don’t seem so burdensome. It is well worth the sacrifice of adjusting the budget to allow for this service.
Lastly, don’t let dirty laundry take over your home or your life. Unless you are a college student, or have a diagnosed hoarding problem, there should not be an accumulation of dirty clothes anywhere but in a basket or in the washing machine. When one laundry basket is full of dirties—WASH IT. When I say wash it, I mean wash, dry, fold and put away and schedule it all in the same day.
Read, watch a recorded show, or get caught up on work while you wash. I recommend taking time in the evenings during the week to complete laundry to free up weekends. Also, this should be a family chore, so enlist the help of a spouse and/or children.
Make the rule that the person that starts a load is the one responsible for finishing it. I don’t care how large your laundry room is, if dirty laundry continues to build up you have just bought yourself an entire weekend doing chores. Yuck!
Your home can be a direct reflection of how well you take care of yourself. Begin the New Year by creating an environment of peace and serenity to make your home a haven. Be simple and be satisfied.
Questions or comments email: suzannemcginnis@me.com