With my aim to simplify, I am setting up a manageable timeline for decluttering my space The two major areas I want to simplify is my space and how I spend my time. Decluttering my home is a huge step in this process. A post that provided a huge inspiration showed before and after pictures of cleaning in a decluttered home.
First, I have set a goal to finish majorly decluttering my home by the end of July. I am going to take small steps now so I don’t have to do it all during summer. I have summers off, so this make sense for me time wise. Each month I have a different focus planned.
- January – Kitchen/Living Room
- February – Office and Laundry Room
- March – Bedroom and Bedroom Closet
- April – Spare Bedroom (The infamous catch all room.)
- May – Craft Room and Bathrooms
- June – Garage and Car
If anything doesn’t get finished before July, that means I will have to spend summer time finishing it, so there is a HUGE incentive to stay on track. I am also going to reward myself anytime something gets finished by or before the scheduled month.
Most items will be given away. I’m giving myself a two week deadline to sell any items of significant value on Craigslist or Ebay. If it is not sold in that time than I am going to also give it away. My goal is a simple house.
I have a list of musts for each space.
- Finish each space completely.
- Get rid of all unnecessary items. Is it used? Is it meaningful? Is it beautiful? Is it helping simplify my life? If I am still unsure, I’ll read this. Or even better, if I am unsure, that likely means I do not need it.
- (Quote of Inspiration: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” -Will Morris)
- Find an appropriate home for all items to live. Items of beauty should be in a place to be admired. Items of use should be stored for easy access.
- Do not buy anything new for any space until I have lived without it for a month. Then I’ll reassess if I should buy the item.
I want to do this right so I do not have to do it again. I don’t want to be shuffling objects from one place to another. It is not just the act of decluttering now, but it is the act of instilling habits that will continue to keep my home and life simple.
