The TidyWild Donation Station
- Mar 23, 2021
- 5 min read
A tip to easily get unwanted items out of our living spaces.
The Donation Station is one of my absolute favorite simple clutter solutions.
Once we give our brains permission to let go of clutter and make space in our homes (so we can feel better!), it can be amazing what it comes up with.
The shirt that doesn't fit right.
The pants that make us feel bad about life in general.
The socks that are never worn.
The utensil that pushes the drawer into full "I'm losing my sh*t mode.
The sheet and towel that make the linen closet overstuffed.
The kitchen appliance we never use...
There's an endless list of things waiting for permission to let go of their hold on you!
The idea of a "Donation Station" came to me after I did a deep dive into decluttering my home while training to be a KonMari Consultant (I trained with Marie Kondo, but have since added many other techniques, including neuroscience and habit training).
I had gone through aalllll the categories in my home and organized my spaces, but I kept coming across random things I didn't want, need, use, or love.
And things kept coming in! Gifts I didn't want, clothes that no longer fit, dishes I decided I didn't like, etc. (It's like a tidal wave sometimes, right?!)
Those random things would either stay put and nag me every time my eye landed on it...
Or they'd come out and nag at me because they didn't have homes and needed to be donated.
So I created a Donation Station - and was amazed at how fast it filled up!
A Donation Station is a consistent, designated, easy-to-access place to put things we don't want, use, need, or love that we come across in our daily lives
(They're too small for ex-husbands, in case you were wondering).
My latest donation station (I recently emptied it because it was overflowing!)
✨How many times do we walk by, move, touch, or look at things we don't want in our homes, garages, cupboards, and closets?
When these are stressing us out, it can make be difficult to fully rest or do fun things...
So many people I work with say, "I don't feel like I can do _____ until this mess is cleaned up..."
Date, have friends over, relax, go away for vacation...
We deserve and need to fully rest, play, and relax!
We NEED to rest and relax on a cellular level.
When we don't, we offer an open invitation for illness, and our cells are left unprepared to fight infection and viruses.
(And we're not exactly the most fun to hang out with)
With the Donation Station, we become fully conscious and give our brains permission to see what is causing stress in our spaces.
With permission granted, we start noticing things EVERYWHERE that can go in it!
And instead of letting our eye, hand, or foot! pass over these things, we can teach our brains to pick them up RIGHT THEN and put them in the donation station.
The idea is to put these things in the Donation Station right we notice them:
Don't wear it
Don't want it
Don't use it
Don't love it
It bothers me
It jams up a drawer
It makes life harder / more frustrating
It never seems to find the right home
Someone gave it to me, and I know I'll never use, love, want, or need it***
***A NOTE ON GIFTS:
Yes, it's ok to immediately let go of gifts!
The gift is in the giving - the giver usually isn't trying to give you the gift of guilt! I don't believe that's a worthy reason to keep it.
Things can go straight into the Donation Station, knowing you're giving yourself the gift of less clutter 💜
I find it's best to have the Donation Station be:
Out of the way, but VERY easy to access
Big enough to handle kitchen appliances (your brain might surprise you!)
Open-topped (not a bag, if possible)
Clearly designated - either labeled or a never-changing spot
Easy to empty - I keep plastic bags nearby to put donation items into before heading to the local donation center
My donation station is easy to access, right next to the door I go through to get in my car.
I can (and do) easily grab a box or bag, fill it up, and put it in my car to donate while out running errands.
Mine was REALLY full, which is what made me think of writing this! As soon as I hit publish, I'll be heading to donate on my way to the store.
Allowing ourselves to put on reality goggles lets us really see what's around us and feel what it's doing to us on a day-to-day, moment-to-moment basis.
The ugly mugs in the back of the cupboard making it hard to put in loved mugs?
They have permission to say, "You can let me go now."
The dress last worn over ten years ago that didn't fit right even then? It can say, "I'm ready to go to someone who'll wear me - and actually LIKE me!"
And maybe that ratty old beloved t-shirt can finally say, "I'm ready to become a rag. I've lived a good life."
DONATION STATION BASICS
⭐️ Step 1 - SET UP
Make a designated place for unwanted items to go
Make it easy to get to
Put in an out-of-the way place, but not so out-of-the way you won't use it
Use a large open-topped box, tote, or laundry basket you can easily throw items in
If you're in a major letting-go season of life, put one in multiple rooms
Tell everyone in your household what and where it is
⭐️ Step 2 - USE IT OFTEN!
Every time we notice something we don't want/need/use/love, put it in the Donation Station.
Practice. It's ok if it gets taken out. Just practice putting it in. The more we do this, the easier it gets.
(And if it doesn't get easier, it's ok! Just reach out to me!)
⭐️ Step 3 - WHEN IT'S FULL, MAKE A DONATION TRIP
Keep it simple. Find a place to donate that's on your way to errands you already run.
In my opinion, getting it out so you can be healthy is more important than getting it to the right place. (I say this as a former environmental educator - our mental health is #1. We can't help the world if we're sick and exhausted)
⭐️ Once you set up your Donation Station, I recommend taking an inaugural walk.
Practice noticing ALL of what's around. Practice listening to and trusting your deep brain.
Look from the eyes of your Future Self visiting, or from the eyes of loved one (or a dream loved one).
Grab a Donation Station container (or any good-sized container)
Walk around the house looking for things that can be let go of
Listen to your gut
Practice putting things in - if nothing jumps out, open cupboards, drawers, closets, or look at bookshelves and knick-knacks.
If you can fill more than one container, great!
If you don't fill the container, great!
There is no right or wrong. This is just about seeing with fresh eyes and letting go of items that no longer speak kindly to you.
Do I sometimes take things back out to keep? Yes!
Do I sometimes have overflowing containers before I empty them? Yes!
Do I beat my Self up about it? No!
If you don't already have one, I hope you'll try the Donation Station idea and let me know how it goes!
Happy Decluttering!
XO,
Spring
Want help?
Reading about decluttering is one thing. Actually transforming your home and life?
That can take support, guidance, and someone experienced who believes in you completely.
I'm here. Let's do this together.
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