Spring into Action (a little bit)

It's spring and like many of us you may be thinking- I would really like to declutter the house.

Unfortunately, I've found that thinking about it isn't the same as getting it done-disappointing!

So what's stopping you? Do you feel a surge of motivation only to find yourself sitting with a coffee and muffin perusing a 10 year old magazine?

Yes, this is often the case, we start on something and get distracted or overwhelmed and just can't seem to get going.

So how do we begin and then keep on going?

Well here's what you don't do:

Write a 3 page list of all the tasks that need doing, decide you can declutter the whole house (plus garage) in an afternoon, get everything out onto the floor and then panic and close the door!

This is what you need to do:

Start with something small- a kitchen draw (yes the one with random bits from blenders, bag ties and takeaway menus from the 90's).

1. Set a timer for 15 minutes.

2. Create 3 piles: bin, recycle, keep.

3. Go through the draws quickly and put each thing into one of the piles.

4. When the draw is empty, give it a wipe.

5. Re-home the items you're keeping- a good tip is to use any spare plastic containers to separate them into categories such as elastic bands, birthday candles, pens.

6. Open and close your draw continuously to admire your work!
   

Completing small tasks helps our brains to stay on track and not get overwhelmed. When you feel the satisfaction of completing the task, you will be motivated to move on to other areas of your home..

Let me know how you get on and visit my Facebook group 'Edinburgh decluttering' for professional tips and like minded people.