My husband and I are in the midst of packing to move in three weeks. Oh, what fun… especially with a 13-month-old daughter! Our new house is in Advance, so we will remain in the area for those of you who are wondering if I will still be able to help you organize.
Take Advantage of Life’s Opportunities to Purge
With this in mind, I wanted to mention how life gives you natural opportunities to let go of things you don’t need or want anymore. Obviously, when you move it is a wonderful opportunity to look at your belongings in a new light. For example, you may have gotten accustomed to the clothes hanging in your closet that you haven’t worn in two years in your current home, but when you are forced to move them to another house, maybe you realize it’s not worth keeping them because it is just too much hassle to move them so they can hang for 2 more years untouched in your new home.
Another good time to declutter is when company is coming over. Whether for dinner or for a weekend, use others being in your home as incentive to get rid of junk. Don’t just stuff your things in a back bedroom, but actually sort through your items and determine what you should toss and what you should keep. When you decide to keep things, put them back in their place, not just wherever you shove them to keep company from seeing it.
If you hear of a favorite charity collecting items to raise money, use this as an opportunity to help them. You may not have money to donate, but finding things around your home that are no longer useful to you can really help the charity raise funds.
Are Your Kids Moving to a New Stage?
Finally, use your kids moving through life stages to help you declutter. When you first have a baby, you likely need to clear out a room to make space for a nursery. Don’t just move everything from one room to another. Think through what you will really need, especially now that your time will be divided once children enter the picture. As your kids grow, use the change of seasons to inspire you to let go of clothes that you know your child won’t wear anymore because they have outgrown it and can’t wear it the same time next year. As Christmas or birthdays roll around, use that time to help your kids donate toys they don’t play with anymore to make room for new ones. And when your children are old enough to move out of your house, encourage them to donate items they don’t want to take with them (clothes, CD’s, furniture…).
Life gives us many opportunities to clear up our clutter if we will take advantage of them!