Does your house cause you angst? Do you feel like it’s a never ending battle keeping up with the clutter in your house? Life can be so hectic and really cleaning out and purging can get put at the bottom of our to-do lists, but decluttering is so beneficial in so many ways!
Organizing and purging seems to be at the top of so many peoples lists at the beginning of the new year. I received Marie Kondo’s book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” as a gift last year and read it cover to cover! I began having conversations with myself about each item in my closet and drawers and got rid of those pieces that did not bring me joy any longer, or ones that actually never did. It was a bit awkward at first thinking about giving gratitude to some of these things as well as really committing to getting rid of things.
I folded my clothes the way she said and moved on to other closets in my house. Wow, did I feel good! Her thought is that by doing this, you will be able to see what really enhances your life and brings peace to your heart. When I feel anxious, I love to clean out things, so as my youngest went off to college last fall for her freshman year, this project was perfect as I was quite anxious!
As lots of other people have done, I set several 2019 goals and one was to spark a tidy start to the new year. I revisited some of my closets and drawers to make sure that things that no longer brought me joy didn’t creep into places they didn’t belong. I know that going through my personal belongings one category at a time and removing things that didn’t bring me joy, including sentimental items, felt cleansing, although hard at the same time. I had several things that really needed to go, as well as made me really think why I had them in the first place. Why did I need six baseball hats when I am not a hat person? Out they went!
My husband thinks I have a shoe addiction, so that was an area that was hard to let go of. I held on to several pairs the year before that I still had not worn in the last 12 months. I worry that they might come back in style and I’ll like them better this year, but in the end, I bit the bullet and got rid of the ones that I did not wear. The process did make me realize the ones that are my favorites and the ones I really wear over and over.
Putting your house in order can be the magic to a happy life. As Kondo suggests, it’s so important that everything has a place. Feeling organized can be so empowering and it gives you a very peaceful and happy feeling. It’s hopeful that this will spill into all other areas of your life and help you realize who and what brings you happiness.
Closets and drawers are the top places people want to tidy and the ones in our kitchens are important rooms to focus on as we start the new year. I pulled out Marie’s book for a few reminders and tackled my cabinets, pantry and drawers. I found that I had accumulated so many needless kitchen gadgets and platters over the years. I also found myself asking how many appetizer plates did we really need and did they bring me joy? In the end, I got rid of so many platters and old bowls and dishes that would serve someone else so much better than me.
I also found that my pots and pans really needed to be replaced. Some of the nonstick had started to rub off and away they went. I did a ton of research on which new ones I should get and I decided on All Clad. I love their simple design and I feel that they can be used in all kitchens.
I continued on to my pantry and refrigerator and checked all expiration dates on all boxes, cans and condiments. I have labeled containers to keep things fresh and so that I can see when they need to be refilled.
My next stop was my spice drawer. Many people don’t realize the need to clean out and restock spices. They play such an important role in the dishes we make and need to be tossed out and restocked for freshness. All of my spices are in the same jars and are labeled, which really makes things a million times easier. When I think about spices, I’m reminded of the different recipes that I make that my family loves and how bland they would be without the additional flavors. My all-time favorite place to restock my spices/refill my jars is Fresh Market. There are also several local spice shops where you can find not only usual spices, but many ethnic spices that can be hard to find. The Container Store has many great options to help organize your pantry, as well as your spice drawer.
I hope this has gotten you in the mood to clean out and get organized for a productive life. Let me know if you have any great organizing tips!
