Sometimes, in our tech age, creating a peaceful home environment can enhance our well-being. A clutter-free space promotes mental clarity and helps reduce stress levels. Below are some tips on how to achieve this goal.
1. Declutter
The first step to a peaceful home is decluttering. Begin by assessing each room and keeping only items that serve a purpose or bring you joy. Use my SHOOTM method to get started.
- SORT – This can be the easiest and the hardest step at the same time. By breaking it down, however, the sort becomes simple and can proceed quicker than you might imagine. Have 4 large boxes or bags ready for your clothing. Label one box as Keep, one as Trash, one as Donate and one as Other Home. Use the “1-Touch Rule” – you touch it, you make a decision.
- The Keep items are those clothes you wear regularly, love and fit you properly. Don’t be tempted to keep clothing because it might come back in style or because you may get back into them in the future. Keeping things that don’t fit costs you space, effort and attention. If you do need a diet incentive, keep one spectacular item and consider donating the remainder.
- The things to Trash will be easy to identify – they are stained, ripped, or missing buttons, zips or closures. If you do a lot of craft work or painting, make sure you keep one set of “grubby clothes”. Please don’t make the mistake of saying “I’ll fix it and can wear it again”. If it’s sitting in your closet and is missing items, you are likely not going to all of a sudden find the time to get it fixed. If you can commit to getting the repairs done within 1 week of your purge, great – go for it! But you must commit and give yourself a deadline.
- Items to Donate include anything that you haven’t worn for the past 6 months (1 year for seasonal items like overcoats, winter boots, hats and gloves), anything that does not fit properly (too big or too small) or anything that you just plain don’t like. Make sure that your donation items are in good repair.
- The Other Home items are things that don’t, or shouldn’t, reside in your closet. These can include sporting goods, children’s items, kitchen items, etc. Put them all in a box or bag and distribute these items WHEN YOU ARE DONE. Resist the temptation to return things as you find them. Doing so takes your focus away from the task at hand.
- HEAVE + HELP – Now that you have done your sorting, you can decide what to do with the items you have designated as Donations and Trash.
- Charities and “Dress for Success” programs are always on the look out for good used clothing.
- Women’s shelters are another place where your donation items will do an immeasurable amount of good for those less fortunate. A quick look through the phone book or on the Internet will garner you a list of possible recipients. Some organizations offer to come to you home and pick up your items, so remember to ask if this service is available. This is also to time to bag up the Trash items to put at curb side on your regular collection day. If you don’t have curb side collection, put the bagged items into your vehicle and plan to take them to your garbage depot on your next trip.
2. Organize
- Once you’ve decluttered, organizing your space is crucial. Here are some tips:
- NOW is the time to determine your storage needs. Since you have eliminated your unwanted items, this leaves only the “keepers” that need to be organized. You can now estimate how many containers you will need and what sort of storage will best suit your items.
- To make the most of your closet, invest in a closet organizing system that will fit your space, or if you are handy, make one yourself. One of the tricks of organizing is to go up and make use of the wasted space at the top of a closet. Choose a system that supports double rods and offers full length storage. This maximizes your closet space.
- “Occasional use” items can be stored in either their original boxes or in clear containers on higher shelves. A picture on the front of the box will allow you to easily identify the contents. Clothing can be hung according to colour and item (all shirts together with each colour group together). Consider storing folded sweaters in a set of canvas hanging shelves. This prevents stretching. Again, organize by colour.
3. Add Natural Decor
Natural decor can enhance the peace in your environment.
- Add Plants: Indoor plants improve air quality and promote a sense of calm.
- Use Natural Materials: Furniture made from wood or bamboo can create a more inviting atmosphere.
- Bring in Natural Light: Maximize natural light by opening curtains and using mirrors to reflect light.
4. Act Like a Daycare and Create Zones
When you go into a daycare, you can easily see the zones they have set up. By using this trick at home we can dive our spaces into different “zones” to enhance functionality and reduce distractions.
5. Maintain Routines
A consistent routine can help keep your spaces peaceful:
- A Nightly Reset: Spend a few minutes each night putting things back in their assigned spots.
- Weekly Clean-Up: Set aside time weekly to dust, vacuum and refresh your space.
- Mindfulness Practices: Incorporate activities like meditation or journaling to promote mental clarity alongside your physical space.
Creating a peaceful space is essential for improving mental clarity and reducing stress levels. By decluttering, organizing thoughtfully, incorporating natural elements, designating zones and establishing routines, you can transform your space into a sanctuary.
