Never Go To Bed Cluttered | Simple Yet Effective Decluttering Tips
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Most of us start our day in the morning.
NOT TODAY, MY FRIEND. We’re going rogue and starting in the evening. My secret to a productive day is starting it the night before. BOOM! So here’s how that works.
I teach my organizing clients to “Never Go To Bed Cluttered.” Spend 15 minutes (usually less) and put every homeless item in your house back where it belongs. The goal here is speed and efficiency. I have a great video about a practice I like to call “The Home Basket System” that makes this nighttime sweep super easy for everyone in the family to help. Set a timer and work quickly to sweep through the house and put things away.
There are two very important tools that must be in place for a night sweep to be effective.
A. You need the right storage systems.
B. Commit to being consistent.
This is so simple, but I see many people struggle with these two things.
Let’s talk about A. - Storage Systems.
I recommend having storage systems in all the high-traffic zones of your home. Typically, these are places like - the kitchen, the home-entry, and the bedroom. Consider bathrooms and playrooms in most cases, too.
What is a storage system?
It’s typically a series of small, medium, and large bins and/or drawers and other storage containers that... CONTAIN your stuff. A good rule of thumb is not to rely on large storage bins for small items like office supplies, game pieces, kitchen accessories, jewelry, etc. You need an assortment of containers in different sizes to keep things from betting buried and subsequently damaged.
Another good rule of thumb is to choose smaller containers that are stackable so you can take advantage of vertical space. Professional organizers LOVE vertical space and you will learn to love it too. Having more room to travel freely throughout your home without feeling like a contestant on Double Dare does wonders for reducing stress. Medium and large containers are great for stuffed animals, oversized toys, bulky camera equipment, blankets, pillows... you get the idea.
Cube storage systems in kid’s bedrooms and playrooms are popular because everyone can pitch in to tidy up. The process is quick and bins contain everything. Heed my previous warning of buried and broken stuff, though. Sometimes large bins become dumping zones that eventually overflow like that one hall closet you’ve been meaning to clean out forever. Label your bins and schedule time to organize their contents from time to time so that your system stays functional.
This leads me conveniently to item B. - Be Consistent.
If you’ve ever been told that you can set an organization system up and solve your clutter problems for good, make sure they mention YOU are responsible for maintaining and/or updating the system. As the sun rises and sets, things change. Kids get older, pieces go missing, you go paleo, and you must make updates. Nothing lasts forever, including that day when you perfectly organized your pantry.
My advice is to schedule times throughout the year to refine and clean up your storage systems. Assess what’s not working and determine how to upgrade or fix it. I suggest every three months. Do this more often, and it will take you less time. Do this less often, and it will take you more time. The choice is ultimately yours.
Pull up your Google calendar, or whatever similar app you use, and quickly create an event for this. Do it on a day you know you’ll most likely have some time and delegate some responsibilities to others. You most likely aren’t the one always messing with your perfectly organized pantry.
I SPEAK ORGANIZED
Here’s a recap of my decluttering tips and tricks before I send you off to watch The Home Basket System.
Set up storage solutions in high-traffic areas. Be sure to include small, stackable storage homes for small items.
Take 15 minutes every evening to reset your space. Set a timer and work quickly through your home, placing items in their storage homes you’ve set up in step 1.
Set reminders to update your storage needs and do deep decluttering work every three months. Plug these reminders into your phone so you will do it.
Be as consistent as possible. The more often you do a declutter sweep before bed, the less time it will take to finish.
Still need help? I offer virtual consultations and custom plans to help you tackle any organizing project. Check out my Custom Action Plans or schedule a free 1:1 consultation with me!
