Is it time to sort all those junk piles into donate, sell, gift, or discard? Read on for some tips to make it easier.
By Alison Crane
Now that my husband and I are empty nesters, we have been making some changes to our home and trying to simplify our lives. We no longer need containers with costume pieces that might be needed at a moment’s notice for school programs or Halloween. It is not necessary to have enough extra blankets for a dozen teenagers to snuggle up in while watching movies. While we sometimes miss the noise (not very often, they come home each week for family supper), it is amazing how much easier it is to keep the house clean.
Simplifying and decluttering has been a freeing process but sometimes it is surprisingly hard to let go of some items. I have followed Fly Lady for many years, and I like how she evaluates an item to determine whether to keep it or not by asking whether you “love” it or not.
Letting go of household possessions that have been around for years or are associated with your children or a family member can be difficult, but it can actually be freeing.
The process of downsizing or decluttering can start by identifying three of your household possessions that you will be able to part with easily. Once you have identified them, decide whether you will donate, sell, gift, or discard them.
Here’s the key: you have to remove them from your house. If an item is not removed within a week to two weeks max, it will become part of the household clutter again.
If you are serious about wanting to minimalize, try this challenge for 7 days.
Day 1 Place one item in a “donate box” for every day of this challenge.
Day 2 Eliminate the need for a junk drawer by tossing the junk!
Day 3 Recycle one item that is beyond repair.
Day 4 Remove the items you’re “storing” in your guest room.
Day 5 Donate one bag of clothing to those in need.
Day 6 Clean up your mail (sign up for paperless billing or statements)!
Day 7 Declutter your dresser.
If you succeed at this seven-day challenge, contact the Garland County Extension Service at 501-623-6841 or email acrane@uada.edu for the full “30-Day Minimalism Challenge” or to learn more about ways to simplify your life and home.
Alison Crane is a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent with the Garland County Extension Service. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
