How much do you hate coming home to a dirty house after a long and stressful day? It’s THE WORST! So get rid of some of your stress by keeping your house clean—it’s the gateway to a happier life with peace of mind! Neelam Sahota, blogger for The Network, gives us some steps to keep our houses looking like they’re straight out of the pages of a magazine! A tidy home is a tidy mind and leaves you the mental room to put your full effort into your career.
Step One: De-clutter. The key to conquering clutter is keeping your eye on the big picture, which means creating space first. Once you have space, your mind can actually focus on details. Start by sorting and purging one area at a time… with a big garbage bag in hand of course. When everything is in its place, go back and organize each section/room, which can be tackled at your own pace.
Step Two: Organize. While the de-cluttering phase is all about clearing space, the organizing phase is all about using that space wisely. This means that all your belongings should have a convenient home. Take advantage of the copious storage options available these days, and make sure the things you need daily are easily accessible. By storing items where you use them, they’re easier to access and return, which ensures clutter control. You just have to make a HABIT of returning an item to its rightful place…just like in Kindergarten!
Step Three: Eliminate Excess. Once you have your sanctuary, do a major purging regularly. Being decisive during this process is paramount. Go into each room and throw out anything that is no longer useful. In regards to your wardrobe, simply donate items you haven’t worn for over a year. Clean out your purse and keep old receipts in an envelope for a few months, giving you plenty of time for returns. The receipts for bigger purchases should be kept in a separate folder in case you ever want to re-sell or need to show proof of purchase.
Step Four: Vigilance. You have to be hyper-vigilant about avoiding future clutter. One major culprit is the junk mail we are inundated with daily, which quickly piles up on our countertops. Keep a box for all junk mail at the entrance and empty it regularly.
Get some friends and family and clean your house this weekend! You’ll get to bond with the people you love, and everyone will benefit afterwards! Ready to relax on the couch and bask in your efforts?
Good suggestion. When work is slow, I make it a priority to keep my home in good order. Then when I am working (hopefully a great deal) I have no guilt or stress about not taking care of things at home.
Posted by: Alice Raver | 06/05/2012 at 11:56 AM