Getting old is a privilege. But it certainly has some drawbacks. Of course, we know that already. But one of the drawbacks I am dealing with now is getting rid of THE stuff. You know all the things we collected for the last 50 years. The stuff our kids don't want, and we are not sure we even want it.
If like me, you are planning on staying in your current home, it's time to start downsizing our belongings. I am sure we could go room to room and find so much stuff we never use anymore. Why should we have to spend time searching for the things we want when we could make our life easier by getting rid of things we don't need.
But getting started can be so darn hard. Where to begin and what to get rid of?
We need to take our time and do one room at a time. It doesn't matter whether it takes us a day or a week. Slow but sure will get the job done.
Prepare to stay focused and brace yourself for making those difficult decisions. We all know how hard it is to willingly part with some of our possessions. Even though we may not have even thought of these possessions for years, suddenly, now, we are holding them in our hands and questioning ourselves about getting rid of them.
If you haven't missed those items until now, toss them immediately. They were shoved into the back of a closet or cupboard and left there for years. Bye-by. Don't hesitate to put them in the donate box. You should feel no guilt about getting rid of things you know longer use or need. Keep in mind that someone else will appreciate them when you donate them.
Okay, let's get down to business. Pick a room and get started. Get your boxes positioned and ready set go. You will need a box for trash, a donation box, and one for Keep. And let's be honest, you will probably need quite a few boxes. And hopefully, you will need more of the donate and trash containers.
Work your way around the room. Maybe start with all the drawers or all the cupboards. Or you can start with the tops of tables and bookcases. You're the boss. Do whatever works for you. Don't let any nook or cranny go untouched.
One of the biggest problems about the stuff or the clutter or whatever you want to call it is that some of it is sentimental family items passed down. But for the most part, the passing down has come to an end. The younger generation doesn't have the same attachment to things as our older family members. My children never knew my grandparents or their dad's grandparents, so they don't exactly feel any passion for their possessions.
At some point, we will have to donate it. Please don't feel too bad about it. And donating it is much better than just tossing it out. Someone will come into the Good Will or Salvation Army store where you donated your family items, and they will find themselves on a journey down memory lane. Fond memories of their grandparents may bring a smile to their faces.
I am not suggesting that if something truly means a great deal to you, you shouldn't keep it. By all means, save it and enjoy it.
Once you have gone through every room of your home and everything has been decluttered, the trash is out, and the donation boxes delivered, the next step is to organize.
No groaning! Am I the only one who finds organizing fun?
As we get older, many of us will realize that we don't use as much of anything as we used to. So organizing will be much easier for us. So let's do some essential organizing.
Get the things you use the most organized.
Being organized will make life so much
easier. If everything has a place and we make a point to keep things put in their area, it will be simpler to navigate through the house. We won't always be wondering, 'where' did I put that? And cleaning should be much easier also. And think of the time you will save yourself.
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Kitchen-
Organize and tame your plastic containers. I have a love-hate relationship with my plastic containers. It can be frustrating not to find the correct lid for the container you have just filled with leftovers. That is why it is so important to have your plastic organized.
Give your refrigerator a good cleaning. Then add some clear containers to keep like items together. With your refrigerator organized, you shouldn't have to spend time searching for what you are looking for.
Organizing the pantry with bins and baskets can make accessing what you are looking for much more accessible. And sorting like items or items you usually use simultaneously means just grabbing one container. I keep oatmeal, walnuts, and brown sugar in one bin. So it's easy to grab one container and then put it back—no searching for the oatmeal and then grabbing the walnuts and brown sugar. Makes the start of my day much simpler.
Keeping under-sink cleaning supplies front and center allows you to reach in and get what you need quickly. Save the back of the cabinet for those supplies you don't use as often.
Kitchen drawer organization includes your junk drawer, maybe a spice drawer, silverware, utensils, and dishtowels.
And depending on the type of kitchen drawers you have, you might want to place some of your dishes in a drawer. Deep drawers would work for pots and pans.
Bathroom-
Keep the vanity counter clear of unnecessary clutter. I know I probably sound like a broken record but yes, in the bathroom, organizing like items and the things you always use together makes sense. Grab a basket from a cabinet with your make-up or hair supplies placed for quick access—no mess-no fuss. Clear containers will make it easy to find what you are looking for. Your toothbrush and toothpaste are within easy reach on the vanity counter in a lovely decorative toothbrush holder.
And for added safety as we get older, it wouldn't hurt to add a few safety bars in the bathroom.
Bedroom and Living room-
Generally speaking, our bedroom and living room require minor organization when it comes to our mission of decluttering and making life more simple. Our decluttering sessions in these two rooms should have made things easier to deal with. Baskets and bins once again make our drawers and closets more organized. And a bedside caddy that fits under your mattress will keep your reading material and glasses handy. Our requirements for these rooms are relatively simple. The critical needs are TV remotes, books, lightning, and comfy furniture. So maybe a small basket for the coffee table to hold your remotes or an armchair caddy to keep your glasses and other necessary items available.
Our family members will be very grateful that they won't be dealing with getting rid of our lifelong collections. That is one thing no one will have to worry about now that we have completed our decluttering. And our reward is that we are organized. So relax and enjoy!
“Organization isn’t about perfection. It’s about efficiency. Reducing stress and clutter, saving time and money, and improving your overall quality of life.” – Christina Scalise
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