De Cluttering the Mind

When my grandpa was a mailman in Hoboken, NJ, I loved to hear his stories about the young professionals who spent all of their money trying to pay the rent. “Their living room was one chair, their bedroom was a sleeping bag, and their kitchen was a fork, knife, and a spoon!” he would joke.

 This is what some of us might imagine when we think of a minimalist lifestyle. However, it doesn’t have to be! We can work towards having a “less is more” approach in our homes by focusing on what we use the most and letting go of what we can trash, donate, or borrow.

 - Eliminate clothes that do not fit you today. If they are too small or too big, it is time to go. Turn all of your clothes hangers backward and hang them back up properly as you go along. After six months, donate the clothes that still have backward hangers.

 - Do all of the items in your home have a parking spot? Where do you keep scissors? Hairbrushes? Group them together to keep the one (or two) that is in the best shape or most sentimental. It is okay to have multiples if they serve a different purpose. 

- Put items like pencils or snacks in a jar, box, or drawer where they will be easily visible and accessible. If the container becomes overstuffed, you know it’s time to get rid of some.

 - Pretend the items in your home will “perish” like a sandwich. Is it stinky and moldy in the back of your closet, or does it look almost as fresh as the day you got it?

Try to de clutter like this for five minutes a day. If you are on a roll, keep going. If you feel overwhelmed, take a break. You can do it! One less thing at a time.