Decluttering in a Week or Less
I hate clutter. HATE IT. Seriously, I can’t stand piles of old papers or magazines, dusty wires that go to unused DVD players, random remote controls, socks that don’t have a match, or a zillion half-empty bottles of expired lotion and perfume. It drives me nuts and makes me super anxious all at the same time. But, at the same time, I’m a terrible organizer. I will start an organizing project, generally with the intent to de-clutter my life in a matter of hours, and then will get distracted halfway through and never actually finish doing whatever it was that I had started. It’s a real struggle. Luckily, we’ve managed to compile a fool-proof way to de-clutter your house, your workplace, and your car in a mere seven days.
Monday: Start smart and small.
In order to ease yourself into the week’s worth of organization, de-clutter something small but important, like your cell phone. Delete any apps that you no longer use and consolidate the remaining ones into organized and easy-to-find folders. Go through your photo album and delete any repeat photos, screen shots that you no longer need, or unflattering photos that no one needs to see. Delete any notes that are no longer relevant.
Tuesday: Now the fun begins.
Today, set aside a couple of hours to organize your closet (I know- it’s pretty intimidating). Start by grabbing three trash bags- one for trash, one to let your friends go through, and one for donations. Rid your closet of anything that doesn’t fit, that is stained or ripped, that isn’t flattering, or that you haven’t worn in the past year (shoes included).
Wednesday: Transportation is key.
If you’re anything like me, you probably spend quite a bit of time in your car. The proof is in the granola bar wrappers, empty water bottles, gum wrappers, “emergency” shoes, wadded up receipts, two dozen lip balms, and other random goodies. Throw your trash away, empty your car of anything that doesn’t need to be there, and then vacuum and wash it.
Thursday: Take it down a notch.
Today, we’re taking a semi-break and organizing our wallets. You probably only need fifteen minutes or so to get this done. Toss old receipts and irrelevant business cards. Any other business cards that you need to hold onto should be filed away in a holder or small envelope. If you have a ton of change, keep one dollar worth of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies and then put the rest into some sort of catch-all. Place credit cards and your ID into easy-to-see pockets.
Friday: It’s time to work!
Before the weekend starts, set aside an hour to clean out your work space. Toss any old and unneeded papers. File any other loose papers away in well-labeled folders. Make sure that you have a designated spot for pens, pencils, and highlighters. Dust any photos or candles that you have on your desk, as well as your keyboard and computer screen.
Saturday and Sunday: It’s the weekend! Sit back and enjoy your hard work.