Top 5 Tips on How to Spring Clean

With the annual arrival of Spring, it is traditionally the time for a good old house “spring” clean – another way of saying organize your home and de-clutter your life. I personally think we actually need to metaphorically Spring Clean our home and therefore lives a lot more than once per year. I find about 4 major culls work for me with the stage of life my family and I are at. It may be worth thinking about if you need to do something similar. Irrespective of this, if you feel stressed just thinking about the clutter that's invaded your home don’t worry, there is hope. Just remember that it didn’t get there overnight and therefore won’t disappear overnight, so be realistic about the time it will take to sort out. Breaking it down into small steps is the best way to tackle it. Before you know it, those steps will add up to a massive step in addressing the problem.

1. Pick a day and make a start. Write it down on top of your ‘to do’ list, together with what you want to accomplish and what you need to make it happen. i.e. - buy garbage bags, labels, boxes etc. Make sure you have this all ready before the day. Keep the list in an obvious spot such as the fridge. Get a red pen to tick off the jobs as you complete them. This will give you a sense of achievement as you get through the jobs and start de-cluttering your house more seriously than you ever have before!

2. Use positive self-talk and a “Can Do" attitude, to mentally prepare yourself to organize your home. This will help keep your energy levels up, and help keep the lazy voice inside your head at bay. Don’t underestimate the power of saying positive things to yourself, such as “It’s easier than you think”, “One step at a time” and so on.

3. Start Small. It is a good idea to start with one drawer at a time before tackling whole cupboards and rooms. This way you won't get carried away with too many areas at once, getting yourself into one big, disheartening & dis-organized mess in the process.

4. Have garbage bags – ready for all your clutter and psyche yourself to fill them up - (separate ones for the tip and the op shop.) Remember you will need a ‘ruthless attitude’ to do it properly. Realistically assess each item without getting sentimental. Take photos of items that you have kept ‘forever’ if it helps, that you don’t really need to have physically, but would still like a photographic memory of it. This is a great home organizing and de-cluttering tip which I highly recommend, especially if you have trouble letting go of your ‘things.’

5. Give yourself regular breaks & keep yourself hydrated. Then make sure you get straight back into de-cluttering. You will find you are ‘on a roll’ in no time. Once you have your possessions in order, make sure you don't slacken off and start putting things away in the wrong spot, or you will end up in the same mess again. So if you hear yourself saying – ‘I don’t have time’, or ‘I’ll do it later’ – ignore yourself and just do it then and there! It’s all about getting into a new routine and changing your attitude and self-talk. Before you know it, you will be able to de-clutter without even thinking, leading to the organized home you deserve.