Are you thinking about using your social distancing time to declutter? You are not alone, these days everyone is using this quarantine time to really declutter their home. The most common issue is time but since we have more time than we have ever planned, now is the time to start.
Believe me, decluttering is a beast of a project. It takes time to get everything done but, in the end, it is so worth it. I applaud you for adding this to your list of things to get done. Since these are uncertain times, I want you to be fully equipped to declutter the right way, here’s what you need to do.
Step 1 – Choose a Space to Start
It can be overwhelming to pull out everything from all the rooms in your home and simply start decluttering. Don’t do that, it will just overwhelm you. Instead, choose one room/space. With the time on our hands, we now don’t need to declutter in one day. We have the option to do it on a weekend or space out the days we declutter.
I always recommend that you decide on parts of your home that you want to start with such as your bathroom, office, closet, your bedroom room or any other part of your home. Take it step by step, section by section and before you know will be done. For more help, use this challenge as your guide – Join Free Organize Like A Boss Challenge.
Step 2 – Let Go of Things You Don’t Need
You are going to have to be honest with yourself. I want you to be the bad cop when it comes to letting go of things you do not need. You know when it is time to let go. To prove this fact, I want you to focus on the quick no and yes items.
Yes, I am talking about the ones you don’t have to think about and just drop in a donation bag. The ones you know that you can donate without even blinking. This includes the ones you know without a doubt in your mind that you want to keep this item.
As for the ones you are not sure about. The ones that hold on to certain memories or for some reason this item is blocking you, stopping you, holding you back in any way and causing you to take long to decide. I want you to put it aside or in a designated spot so you can come back to it later.
Step 3 – Disinfect Everything
This is so important and so crucial. You need to disinfect everything you are donating. Don’t forget that we are all home for a reason. Even when we are decluttering, we still need to be extra careful by wiping down the items you want to donate. Use alcohol-based wipes and follow the instructions on the package or use soap and water on it before placing them in a clean bag. Stop the spread in any way you can and continue to wash your hands.
Step 4 – Avoid Donation Locations.
I am all about donation locations! You can catch me at the thrift store with my cart full to the max but not during this quarantine time. I love the energy when you donate, donate and donate so that others can find love in items you no longer need but times have changed right now. We need to stay home. This is not the time to be making driving trips to local thrift stores or donation bins.
These locations are dealing with the same circumstances that we are. This means dropping off your donated goods could overwhelm an under-staffed location. Clutter builds up because locations are closed and of course causing you to leave your home potentially exposing you to harmful germs. Now is not the time to be dropping it off. So, what do you do with your donation items?
Step 5 – Store your items in one area in your home
As much as I love to get things out of my home, under these circumstances, it is best to set aside a space or a section in your home to store these items. If you have a garage, that is a great spot to store your items because it is out of sight and out of mind.
Living in an apartment might be tricky because of limited space. Personally, for me, I live in an apartment, so I know that space is limited. Since some of my items are not clothing, I place my items in a bag and place them on the balcony with a label. For clothing, it is near the balcony door in a neat pile with a label. Alternate options, if space allows it, you can put your belongings in the trunk of your car or attic or basement space.
Final Thoughts
This is how to use your social distancing time to declutter. I am all about decluttering and removing things in your home that you no longer need or use. It is a fantastic way to let go and free up space in your home. But I also want you to be careful while doing so. It is more important than ever to be strategic with decluttering and be smart with what you are donating. Disinfect everything, find a place in your home to store it with a label, and avoid dropping off your donations until it is safe for those locations to open. You got this! Be safe.
FYI – I invite you to join me in my signature The Organized Mom System where I virtually coach you and help you take control of your household by removing clutter, mastering your time & simplifying your life.
Related: The Best Guide to Survive Social Distancing
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