Have you ever noticed that aging adults tend to lead organized lives? They aren’t necessarily tidier than other generations, but they usually have an air of refinement. As most people know, most aging adults are far more comfortable with their surroundings when everything is neat.
However, if you need help with tidying and decluttering, fret not! The good news is that there are plenty of ways to help you declutter and organize your home! Here are the top decluttering tips to stay organized and enjoy life to the fullest.
Make It Fun
Cleaning is best done when you’re in a good mood, so doing it while listening to your favorite song or with a great movie on in the background can make it more enjoyable. It’s even more effective if you don’t think of what you are doing as cleaning—try thinking of it as decluttering and organizing, which tends to put you in a positive mindset about getting rid of stuff. Regardless of how you do it, try to keep things fun to prevent things from becoming monotonous, leading to procrastination or just stopping altogether.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Don’t try to tackle all of your home organization projects in one day. Instead, give yourself plenty of time to declutter and organize. If you’re in a hurry, you may end up spending much more money than necessary or getting frustrated with your progress. Instead, set aside enough time for each project so that you can focus on getting things done well rather than just quickly. Consider hiring a move manager to help if you don’t have enough time or energy on your own. They will help with all aspects of moving while you focus on other tasks like decluttering and organizing.
Give Your Children Say
If you’re like most people, your kids aren’t doing anything to help out around your house. As soon as they move out, they act like it’s charity when you ask them to do something for you. It might be hard to swallow, but most parents are entirely reliant on their children well into their 60s or 70s. As difficult as it can be to accept that, try not to let it put a damper on your relationship with them—and keep in mind that you can use that dependency to your advantage when decluttering and organizing your home. If you give them a say in what stays and what goes, chances are high they’ll respect your decision.
Start in an Easier Space
If you have a much-cluttered room or closet, start with that one. It’s easier to clean up a smaller space and build up your confidence before moving on to an enormous mess. Once it’s empty, go through all of your things and get rid of anything that no longer has a place in your life. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t used something in six months, get rid of it! There is likely someone out there who could use it more than you. Be sure to donate items to charity if possible. Many organizations will come to pick them up from your home for free! If things still have value but don’t fit into your life anymore, then give them away or sell them on sites like Craigslist or eBay.
