Welcome to Day 14 of the 30 Days to Less of a Hot Mess Challenge! We’re decluttering, reorganizing and taking a breath of fresh air to create a home we love. If this is your first time at the challenge, you may want to start here at the beginning. Affiliate links used for your convenience.
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We’re going to take a break this weekend from new projects so that you can work on the ones you’ve already started! Sound good?!
I’ve talked to several of my real life friends and I’ve heard a few comments that it’s hard to keep up with the daily “The Messy Work” challenges. So, I wanted to clear something up! Some of these challenges can be done in a day or in a few minutes, but others won’t be tackled now or even soon!
Some things, like decluttering an entire room, can take months. I know we’re all busy and have jobs, kids, spouses and the regular daily chores to keep up with!
Other challenges like cleaning out your purse should be fairly straightforward and can be done in a day.
Know that decluttering is a journey that you’re on. We’re all going to accomplish tasks at a different rate and different speeds because all of our homes are different. You may have a super organized laundry room, but a bathroom in disarray. It’s all good! Do what you can and don’t give up!
So, I wanted to recap 5 habits we need to develop when on the decluttering and organizing journey. These habits (and a new mentality) are key to being successful masters of our stuff!
1. Everything has a place and if it doesn’t, then make one or get rid of it! This one habit (and mental shift) has been huge for me. See, I have had some things that have floated around my home for months, even years. But not anymore! A paint sprayer doesn’t need to live on top of the dryer for years. It needs its own home and not in the middle of the laundry room!
2. Staying on top of organization takes regular discipline. I have my Morning 3 (unload the dishwasher, pray/devotions, prep for dinner) and my Evening 3 (run the dishwasher, make my to do list for the next day, pick up). These were my sanity when I had my second daughter and needed to prioritize the most simple daily things. Now that she’s a little older I’m adding more disciplines to my daily routine like: clear the kitchen counters every night and wipe them down, do a little bit of laundry each day and make my bed every day. Keeping up with these simple routines makes everything run more smoothly!
3. Let go of extra stuff regularly. Throw things away and donate them all the time. I’m literally throwing papers away multiple times a day. (Can anybody say kid papers?!? Those things multiply, I think.) I don’t ever keep kids’ meal toys. I just throw them away with the rest of the fast food trash – or not accept them in the first place. I don’t need any more toys in my home, especially of the little cheap plastic variety. I am constantly putting unused items in the donation box.
4. Ask yourself “does this add order to my life or take away from it?” When you’re setting down your purse on the kitchen chair, could you walk 3 more steps and hang it up in its designated spot in the mudroom? Or your keys? Will you remember that you put them down in the bathroom when you came home? Choose a spot for them and put them there every day! If you take your shoes off in the living room, could you take the time and put them right away? I’ve been asking myself this for the past year and it makes a huge difference. It also makes me irritable when others in my family don’t follow suit. Fair warning. 😋
5. Adopt the mindset that “There’s More Where That Came From!” Instead of keeping things around because “maybe” and “what if” and “someday.” If you’re not using something right now (and haven’t in years) tell yourself “there’s more where that came from” and let it go! Chances are that if you will need this item in the future you can either borrow it from someone or buy it again. This little mantra has been a huge change for my mindset in my decluttering journey.
And a bonus: Decluttering and Organizing is a Journey!! Don’t get overwhelmed and just keep trucking. Do a little bit every day and before you know it you’ll have new habits and routines that improve the functionality of your home! Your things should inspire you and create a wonderful home, not boss you around. Once you’ve been on the decluttering and organizing journey for a little while, you’ll be inspired instead of overwhelmed before you know it!
The Messy Work: Go back through the week and finish any challenges you’ve missed!
In the mess with you, Laura
LavaidaVandelia
Fast food toys stay in a mesh hanging bag in the car. They are great entertainment while sitting in traffic or waiting in line.
Each month, they get donated to the multi plastic recycling center, or zipped into a gallon size bag and dropped off at the park playplace.
Sylvia Hill
Great ideas.
j
“everything has a place and if not, get rid of it”
YAY, I have to get rid of my vacuum.
(It hasn’t had a place to store or put away since 1991. 🙁
that’ pretty much explains my storage and lack of storage.
I have a very sad house at this point, but your tips are great, and I am following along!
You’ve been a great encouragement.
Thankyou!
Laura
LOL – that’s hilarious! Maybe you should get rid of the vacuum and just hire someone else to do it? Or better yet buy one of those Roombas and let it vacuum for you. 🙂 I hope you can find some storage openings, soon! 😉
Becky
Number 1 is my motto for 2017: A place for everything, and everything in it’s place. We have a nice sized house with a lot of people in it (we have 9 kids), and VERY little storage! It drives me NUTS! The goal is to do a lot of getting rid of the extras this year, and then make “a place” for what we need to keep. My husband is on board with the plan, so I’m excited!
Number 5 is WONDERFUL! That’s a tough on for me (thus some of the extra stuff here!), so I think I’m going to write that one down and hang it up where I see it often! Thank you!
Laura
Wow! 9 kiddos? I grew up with 6 kids in my family, so I know how much stuff that can be! We grew up in a 1,900 square foot house, but we made it work somehow. I know that we used every square inch of that house. Now my parents are nearly empty nesters with quite a bit more space. 🙂
I know how hard it is to manage all of the stuff with just 2 kids, though, so I’m thinking of you as you pare it down and put everything in it’s rightful place! xo, Laura
Heather
Great tips, Laura! I love your tip of “everything has a place and if not, get rid of it”. I totally agree. I think I need to tell myself that more. 😉
We also try to stick with the one touch rule. Once you touch it, make sure that it gets back to its home instead of just left out.
Loving the challenge!
Laura
Yes, love the 1 touch rule, Heather! I’ve heard that several times and try to implement it as well. Thanks for chiming in!
xo, Laura