Do you ever feel possessed by your possessions? Does it almost feel as if you’re a slave to your stuff? Have you ever wanted to put an end to that cycle and take back your space? Your life? If so, then it’s time to organize. Here are some strategies to help you purge what you don’t need, better organize what you do and live a simpler life that provides you with more leisure time.
It can be hard to resist the allure of a great deal and for many of us, the psychology behind that way of thinking has led us to continuously buy more than we need and consequently, overcrowd our homes. It is never too late to break these habit loops and make a conscious decision to declutter and simplify both your home and your life.
Regardless of the size of your home we suggest that you start with an overall plan and then begin tackle the project one room at a time. Do you want to reduce the amount of clothing that you have? Perhaps scale back on the holiday decor that is taking up valuable real estate in your garage, basement or attic? Clean out the toys in the kids’ rooms? Whatever your goal may be, begin to visualize it and then get to work.
Now that we are close to summer’s end, perhaps the garage is a great place to start. You’ll want to take inventory of what you have in order to determine what you want to keep so it is best to pull it all out so that you can see everything. While this may be a bit overwhelming for some, it is a necessary part of the process. From here it is time to have an honest conversation with yourself about what you really need and want to keep and what you’re willing to part with.
Separate your items into three categories in different areas of the garage and first decide how you want to free yourself of your unwanted possessions. Anything that is irreparable, unusable or simply junk should be thrown away. As for everything else, if you have the time and patience, organizing a garage sale, either at your home or virtually through Facebook or some other electronic venue can bring in some additional cash. If you’d rather just be done with this part of the process, there are a number of organizations that will take your gently used and unwanted belongings and many will even offer you a tax-deductible receipt.
Armed with a collection of what you plan to keep, you will want to ensure that you organize these items in a logical manner so they are easily accessible when you need them. Clear plastic totes are a great way to do this for seasonal items and they are relatively inexpensive and easily procured. For your tools and other garage necessities, most hardware and home improvement stores offer a number of options to neatly display these items on a wall-mounted system. This allows your floor space to be free of clutter and makes it easier to maintain.
With the garage now an organized showpiece of minimalistic consumerism, you have the know-how and confidence to move on to the next room. As you tackle and work through each room, apply the same techniques discussed here and in no time you’ll feel both as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders and that you’re living in a completely new space.