Here's what I shared for participants in the 2024 Spring Cleaning Declutter Challenge...
To begin, we have 3 things to focus on:
Thoughts for Change
Fire-lighting Whys
Non-negotiable(s) - choosing decluttering projects
1 Thoughts for Change
Our thoughts are a major driver of our actions.
When I first heard this concept from Brooke Castillo, I thought, "Well, duh," while also thinking, "I hadn't thought of it that way before..."
These are some thoughts I had before I started thinking like an organized person, and I hear them from my virtual clients often:
"There's too much stuff, I don't know where to begin!"
"I'm just a messy person."
"I don't know how to do this."
"This is too hard!"
"I don't have enough time."
Does any of this sound familiar? Do you have other thoughts connected to clutter?
I'm so passionate about this topic that could talk about this aaallll day, but I'll try to be concise:
LEARN TO MANAGE YOUR THOUGHTS AROUND CLUTTER.
The first step to managing your thoughts is to pay attention.
Listen to the record you're playing on repeat in your mind about:
clutter
messes
what messiness means
how capable (or not) you are of decluttering and getting organized
how much time you have (or don't have) to clear clutter
Before I decluttered and organized my home, my mental record playing on repeat said I was stupid for not being able to figure out how to organize my home, that I was a bad wife, and that I didn't have enough time.
And yet here I am, SO HAPPY in my home - even when it's messy! Everything in my home has a home that makes it SO easy to put it all away.
I even have homes for the homeless - designated, out of the way spaces for things I haven't made a home for.
And not only am I happy in my home, that inner critic rarely ever pipes up with that crappy record anymore - and I have thoughts to send her packing when she does!
To change our thoughts is a VERY important practice with decluttering.
If you're not already working on this, I encourage you to start today!
2 - Firelighting Whys
Connecting to the DEEP reasons why we want to declutter deepens our success.
To keep up the effort it takes to finish decluttering (and sometimes just to begin), we need at least one STRONG why.
These aren't whys like "I want my house to look nice, I don't like messes, clutter stresses me out..."
It needs to LIGHT A FIRE in you - and it needs to be hot enough to keep you lit!It may come to you immediately...is there a strong why that comes to mind now?
I recommend doing soul searching to find your FIRE-LIGHTING WHY(s) - make and keep a list of whys in a journal or the notes section of your phone.
Here's one of my (run-on) whys:
"I love feeling comfortable having friends and family over...
And to feel comfortable I want to be able to declutter quickly...
And to declutter quickly, I need to take time to clear EVERYTHING I don't need and want...
And I need to give EVERYTHING I keep a home...
And it's ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT."
3 - Non-negotiable(s) - choosing decluttering project(s)
I recommend choosing a SMALL space or category to begin so you can get wins and start to feel good!
This can be any space, but, if a majority of your house feels cluttered, I recommend choosing a 'non-negotiable' space, as my friend April calls it.
Non-negotiable spaces are small, manageable areas that make you feel good to have clear even if it looks like a bomb went off in the rest of the house.
My non-negotiables are:
Bathroom counter next to my sink
Kitchen counter around my coffee/vitamins
Smoothie station area
Bedroom floor
I started with ONE area, and I don't always keep these areas 100% clear...
But I do my best and if I'm feeling stressed or overwhelmed in life, I clear these areas first and always feel better.
Happy Decluttering!
XO,
Spring
Please remember that I'm here for you!
Reach out if you have questions and/or you feel stuck...
There's no need to struggle with clutter anymore...
You're not alone and I can help you feel better right away!
Text me at 360-265-2477