The time of the year is here again. Yes, other than preparing to receive or give angpows, the much dreaded spring cleaning is here again! It is amazing that our ancestors have it all figured out. They have to make it customary in order for their descendants to commit time to declutter their lives. Sometimes we get so buried in our daily lives, we accumulate too many unwanted things and they weigh us down. The release of clutter in your home and work environment will release energy and allow you to find peace in your new space. Sharing a 9 step way to start today!
1. Choose a time and commit to it
Make an appointment with yourself. Mark it on calendar and clear your schedule. Commit your time and make sure you have no other distractions to stop you from decluttering your life. The moment is when you choose it to be.
2. Create a system
To clear the place, you need a systematic way of approaching it. Create a list of places where you need to clear such as drawers, cabinets, boxes in all the rooms you wish to clear. Approach it in a systematic way sweeping from left to right and up to down.
3. Sorting
Have boxes and bags in position and make sure they are different in color,shape or size. You need to sort your mortal belongings into throw, sell or keep. Hopefully not everything lands up in the keep since that will defeat the purpose in the first place.
4. Reflect on every item
A hoarder is someone who thinks something will be useful the next day but that day just never comes. Some of your probably still have your university textbooks thinking that one day you might refer to it for work. Ask yourself some questions for every single item. When was the last time the item was used? When is the next time you will use it? Does the item bring joy or sentimental value? The 3 question will help you sort out items into one of the 3 bags.
5. Rest and relax
Don’t push yourself so hard. Decluttering the space can be strenuous on the body, mind and soul. It is a process of releasing the past and embracing the future. Take a break, have a snack or take a walk and come back to it. You will find new energy to move forward as you recharge.
6. Get reinforcements
Two pairs of hands are always better than one. A different perspective will also probably help you in throwing away some items from that nasty ex. They will help you release more things than you would have actually done on your own.
7. Compacting your memories
The love letters, photos and small items when displayed or stored separately takes up a lot of space. Compact them all together, sorting by size and compress them using zip-lock bags. This will save you lots of space while making sure that you can look through all those sentimental items when you need them.
8. Make some money
Before you throw away any items, think about the possible value of it and give it a new lease of life. Get the items listed on carousell and get some pocket money for a self treat! Consider donating some of the unsold items to charity or your friends! Just make sure they are all out of the door.
9. Reward yourself
After all the hard work is done, take a step back, open your eyes and enjoy your new space. Give yourself a good pat on the back and enjoy a snack in your new found freedom. Go out for a nice massage and reward yourself to a nice restaurant with the money you have made from selling your items!
Congratulations and you are welcome!