Decluttering Your Home- for yourself & your community!
Guest post by Kelsey Marion
Learning to let go
The past few years have been a whirlwind, to say the least! From the global reach of COVID-19, eccentric Netflix phenomena like Tiger King and Love is Blind, trending pastimes like baking bread at home, to the infinite loop of Zoom meetings – these years are undeniably unforgettable! The majority of us have found ourselves spending an extraordinary amount of time at home. Our living spaces have been operating non-stop, housing more culinary experiments, dirty dishes, clutter, and daytime activities than ever before!
For many, homes have evolved into multi-functional spaces – doubling as offices, schools, and daycare centers. This significant shift has required great adaptability.
Rather than merely tackling a list of goals or resolutions, consider focusing on enhancing your immediate environment – your living space. By creating a more organized and serene home, you’ll be better equipped to handle the challenges and changes that 2023 may bring.
Decluttering tips & tricks- from a professional organizer
To begin, let’s start with some questions to ask yourself when decluttering include:
- When was the last time I used this?
- Why don’t I use it more often?
- Does it have sentimental value?
- Do I love it?
- If I keep it, where should it go?
You may have noticed unfinished projects in your home and maybe you are unsure where to begin, or maybe the amount of clutter building up seems endless! Fortunately, there are solutions. You deserve a fresh start and a home to feel comfortable in. Start by sorting, move onto decluttering, and finally begin organizing the items. Then, maintain and repeat. You do not need to organize your entire home in a day (in fact, I strongly recommend you start small!). Begin with one area or room in your home. Keep in mind, if you feel motivated to declutter during a lockdown that means certain charity drop-offs will be closed. Fortunately, Furniture Bank remains open through its safe pick-up option. Simply head to https://www.furniturebank.org/request-a-pick-up/ to request a donation pick-up.
Remember, quality over quantity! It is much better to have a few memorable possessions that you love and always use than to have many things that weigh you down or clutter that creates unnecessary stress in your daily life- our lives are stressful enough! If you are worried about items being wasted, you can rest assured knowing that your household items will be put to good use! “Over half a million Canadians live in social or affordable housing, with a waitlist of nearly 300,000. When people living in poverty do find housing, they often have no beds to sleep on, places to sit, desks to study at, or pots and pans to cook with” (Furniture Bank, 2020).
Decluttering is an effective way to practice self-care as it helps you take control of your home, your life, and your “stuff” to improve your overall well-being and sense of wellness.
Benefits of decluttering:
- More space in your home gives the perception of a larger living space
- Less stuff to maintain and tidy up
- A clutter free environment can improve your mental health by reducing stress
- A clean space can improve your quality of sleep
- Reduce the chances of overconsumption or purchasing items you already have
- Reduce the effects of allergens in your home due to dust build-up
- Increase your ability to focus
- Turn your clutter into something positive by donating your unwanted or used goods
- A fresh start
Decluttering can help you transform any area in your home. It’s beneficial for your living environment, your mental health, and so much more! Consider donating to a local registered charity such as Furniture Bank next time you declutter. Organizations like Furniture Bank are striving to uplift the community by providing essential household items. According to Furniture Bank, each person moving into an empty apartment requires a minimum of $4000 in available funds to turn empty housing into homes. Furniture Bank is actively working towards ending furniture poverty and supporting communities and families that need the most help.
Meet Kelsey:
Organization meets wellness
www.get-sorted.ca
Instagram: @gswk.organization
Facebook: @getsortedwithkelsey
Are you ready to declutter your space?
Consider donating your used furniture and housewares to Furniture Bank
