In the May Issue:
Is the current state of your home allowing you to be at your very best? In my own life, and with women I’ve worked with, I can’t help but notice that once we create a simplified, clutter-free space at home, paired with systems that allow us to actually maintain it, we step into this happier and more confident version of ourselves, we didn’t know was inside.
I know, I know… you might say “I just don’t have the time!”, but you absolutely can do this, even if you are a busy professional, who isn’t able to set aside full days that are strictly devoted to de-cluttering and tidying up. Here are 4 of my best fast and easy tips to begin on your journey to less.
Use a Timer
Designate focused time to work on small areas when you can (a single drawer for example, rather than starting to tackle your entire kitchen). 5 or 10 minutes even! Set the timer on your phone and don't allow distractions. If you need to, let your family members know that for the next "X" amount of minutes, you are working on this and whatever they need can wait (well.. unless it's a true emergency of course).
Trash Bag Therapy
This one is pretty self explanatory, but it gets the job done! This is one of my favorite tricks as a busy woman on the move. Grab a trash bag and just start walking around your house. There are bound to be items that are begging to be tossed. For some reason, it just seems easier when you have the bag with you, instead of carrying every piece of clutter over to the garbage bin.
Donate Instead of Sell
In my experience, donating your items yields much greater satisfaction (and TIME SAVINGS) than trying to sell.
There are, of course, caveats to this. My rule of thumb is that if I can sell it for $50 or more, I will try and sell it. If it doesn't sell within 2 weeks, it is donated. I have spent hours upon hours posting items to Facebook buy and sell pages only to have people claim the item, go back and forth to try and set up a time for them to pick it up, only to be ghosted. It is SUCH a let down to spend your time doing this all for a $20 piece of home decor you are trying to make some money back on.
I have also reached out to family and friends to see if they would like to have certain items before donating.
*Pro Tip* keep a box near your door or in the back of your vehicle to add donations to on an on-going basis. As soon as it is full - take it to a donation center!
Keep Those Countertops Clean
I can't explain this, but the level of happiness a clear countertop brings is indescribable. And it is also, if you allow it, an area that can be difficult to maintain. If you have a mess on your counters right now, take 15 minutes out of your day, either today or tomorrow, and dedicate it to that space.
It may or may not be enough time (no shame if it takes several 15-min sessions) but you will feel so much better once you do. Then, going forward, commit to having a clean countertop before heading to bed every night. Waking up with a fresh slate is a great thing.
Meet Sam Greenwaldt, Owner of The Organized Vibe
Sam Greenwaldt is a wife, and mom of 2, from northern Minnesota. She is the owner of The Organized Vibe, where she helps working moms go from overwhelmed and feeling like they are drowning in housework and clutter, to having the confidence and tools to live a more simplified and minimalist lifestyle, so that they can have pride in themselves and their home, be happier, and become a better version of themselves.
She also is the podcast host of A Clutter Free Life | A Working Mom's Guide to Decluttering, Simplifying & Experiencing More Joy.
Connect with Sam HERE!
