Changes...

Something about the change of the seasons always gets me motivated to straighten and clean my home. I like to begin this project with my closets, because it prompts me to get rid of things I no longer need, while creating new space in the process.

Did you know that sleeping in a room with clutter or overstuffed closets can make you feel restless and disrupt your sleeping patterns? This may sound strange to you, but it shows the negative effect that clutter can have on us. If this is happening to you, it may be a good idea to look at the state of your bedroom as well as its closets. By clearing away the things you no longer need, you give order to your room and create new space in your home, which in the end makes you feel more relaxed and comfortable.

I know that clearing your home of clutter can seem an overwhelming job to take on. Often it's hard to know where to begin. I'm going to share my technique for de-cluttering, which I think helps to sort and clear clutter with relative ease. With a few boxes and a little time and effort, you can be on your way to creating a more orderly, calm, and peaceful space.

First, you will need 3 medium-sized boxes, labeled with the following terms: "donate," "doesn't belong here," and "not ready to let go of yet." You will also need a large trash bag for the stuff that simply needs to be thrown away.

Now, you are almost ready to begin, but first I want to give you some important advice. You'll want to start by going through the items in your closet quickly, deciding how you want to classify each item. In my experience, if you linger over this decision-making, you might not end up getting rid of anything! Here are some questions to help you classify your items: how often do you use it, do you have more than one of the same thing, and if it is clothing, does it still fit? When it comes to memorabilia, only keep those objects that are too important to let go of. If you are not sure about an item, put it in the box marked "not ready to let go of yet."

Once you've finished de-cluttering your closet(s), tackle the clutter in and on your dresser, shelves, and the area under your bed. When you have finished your sorting, you can return the items you've decided to keep to their proper places in an orderly fashion.

Next, put your trash bag(s) in the garbage, your box with items to be donated into your car to be dropped off at your local charity, then take the box with the misplaced items and return them to where they belong. Lastly, set your box with things you "can't let go of yet" aside for a few months, and if after that time you aren't feeling the pull, donate that box, as well.

After you have done this de-cluttering and clearing, you will definitely feel a huge sense of relief. You may even get inspired to do other parts of your home. If that happens, go for it! Your reward will be a home environment that is organized, peaceful, and harmonious.