The 4th of July is just around the corner, which has me thinking about my own independence. I consider myself to be a pretty independent person. But from time to time, I can feel my possessions attempting to gain control over me.
I have learned to recognize when I see this happening – and I now know that I can indeed regain control. And you can too. We just have to remember that simplifying is not a one-and-done activity. It is a lifestyle choice.
Here are 4 Ways To Declare Your Independence from Clutter.
1. Create a Clutter-Free Corner in your home.
Designate a small space, perhaps a chair and side table, and declare it your Clutter-Free Corner. Kindly ask others in your home to help keep this space free of clutter. Even if there are times when the majority your house seems chaotic, you’ll always have this one spot as a place to retreat. Once you experience the feeling of this calming, stress-free space, you will be inspired to create more clutter-free areas in your home.
2. Declare Your Independence from Phone-Photo-Clutter.
Put a recurring monthly reminder on your phone to declutter your photos. If you’ve not reveiwed your photos in years…..you may think, “What’s the use? I’ll never get through them all!” Just set a time limit, 15 or 30 minutes, and do what you can once or twice a month. You’ll eventually get there. I recently discovered that photos in my text messages where taking up LOTS of room on my phone, so think about cleaning out your text messages, too.
3. Keep a dedicated donation box or container in a designated area.
Anytime you run across an item that is no longer adding value to your life or your home, put it in the container right then. I keep a large donation bucket in my coat closet. Make sure everyone in your home knows about the box, too. Put a monthly note on your calendar to drop off your donation items so that the items will be sure to leave your home.
4. Make Decluttering a part of your life routines.
When you’re brushing your teeth, look in your medicine cabinet and see if there are expired medicines that need to go. As you’re putting away the clean dishes, look for duplicate utensils that you could declutter. When you’re filling up your car at the gas station, look for trash to discard – and check your glove compartment, too. As you put away your groceries, check for expired foods in your pantry. I bet you can come up with more ways based on your usual routines.
Keep it simple friends,
❤️ Angie
