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Clutter Free Home Tip #2: Borrow as much as you can
This is especially key if you are expecting your first baby. If you were anything like me, I was reading all kind of baby books and taking notes of everything they told me I would need for my first baby: car seat, swing, stroller, bouncy seat, exersaucer, pack-n-play, crib, rocker, baby carrier, diaper genie, diaper bag, bathtub…the list went on and on.
The truth is, you need a car seat, diapers, a few clothes, and somewhere safe for the baby to sleep. Except for the diapers, you can borrow the rest! There are an overwhelming number of things that you COULD buy your sweet new baby, but most aren’t essential. Baby items are used for such a short time so they are usually in great condition to borrow from a friend whose child is older now.
Our three boys are beyond the baby stage, but we’ve routinely taken hand me downs from family and gladly used them. We also borrow tools from a tool library that is in our neighborhood. We borrow lawn mowers and other tools that we occasionally need instead of purchasing them.
Clutter Free Home Tip #3: Make decluttering a regular habit
My motto at Setting My Intention is “progress, not perfection.” This is especially important to remember if you have a family.
I’ve been decluttering regularly since 2015, but I’m not done decluttering our home. With a family of five and three sons, you can bet that there is a constant flow of papers and stuff that comes into our home. That’s normal. The trick is to make going through all of that stuff just as normal.
The best way that I have found is to pair up decluttering with a habit that I have already established. Every morning I make coffee and while the coffee is brewing, I declutter the kitchen counters and kitchen table.
Every Sunday I do a load of laundry for my youngest son in the basement. When I’m down there, I spend 15 minutes or longer picking up some obvious garbage or recycling and grouping items together for my husband to go through later.
What is a habit that you already have established? Or a routine that is a daily practice? For example, do you have young children who take a nap daily? Try setting a timer for 10-15 minutes right after you put them down for a nap. Choose an area that needs decluttering and work on it in 10-15 minute spurts.
Decluttering is a muscle that needs to be built up daily. Be patient and focus on your progress, not how far you still have to go. If you focus on these three tips, you’re home will be soon be clutter free!
Related: A Simple Solution to Clutter & Disorganization
Hi I’m Angela!
I write at Setting My Intention where I focus on intentional change and developing healthy habits in the midst of the daily demands of life. I am a coach for women who are frustrated and overwhelmed with their clutter. You want to feel at peace in your home, but you feel stuck and have no idea where to start. I help you envision your ideal home and create a step by step action plan to go from chaos to calm. Learn more about what we can do together!
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