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Simply relax!


I have a sign in my house that says "Relax". It is a reminder for me to take a deep breath and enjoy life. I have been on a journey to simplify different areas of my life, because removing distractions helps me to relax. You would think simplifying your life would be easy, but it can take time and you have to be intentional about it, but the outcome is worth it.

One area that I have worked hard to simplify is in the home. Organizing is part of that process and de-cluttering is the first step. Clutter can be a joy sucker. I think better and relax in an uncluttered environment, with a bonus of having an easier time keeping my home clean! Taking baby steps helps me tackle different jobs I need to do. Focus on one area of your home at a time and make small goals that you would like to accomplish. I have used all sorts of tools to help me stay focused. Books and blogs have helped me, but I pick and choose what works best and adapt it to my needs, because everyone is different and ideas that are effective for me may not be for you.

The following is a list of ideas to help you get started:
  1. Begin with one room in your house (for me it is the kitchen, which is the hub of the home).
  2. Write down goals that you have for each room. For example, maybe you want to buy new containers to hold non perishables. You may have grand plans to paint the walls or get new flooring or appliances.
  3. Use a box for giveaways. Put items in here that you don't use and would like to donate to a local nonprofit, like Love INC (where my husband works).
  4. Use a garbage sack for throwaways.  Items go in the garbage that are broken or not worth giving away.
  5. Optional: you could have another box of items that you want to sell for earning money to go towards your emergency fund or an item you are saving up to buy.
  6. Don't try and accomplish your task all in one day. If you are like me, set aside a certain amount of time (30 minutes or 1 hour, etc...) each day is helpful.
It doesn’t have to look perfect, it just has to work for you!  The editors from those magazines aren’t going to come critique your house.

Keeping it real-my coffee table tends to look like this at the end of a day, but that's alright! I am not saying your house has to be completely clean all the time, but it usually just takes me a few minutes to straighten up because I have kept things simple.



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