Tips to Destress, Declutter & Remove Chaos From Your Life
Banish chaos with U•STORE•IT’s tips on how to organize your home and reduce the unnecessary items that are cluttering your space and your mind.
23 November 2020/For The Home
Tips to Destress, Declutter & Remove Chaos From Your Life
Like a lot of people, you are probably spending a significant amount of time in your home right now. You may be wishing that it was a little more organized and less cluttered, and you’re definitely not alone in that sentiment. The Mayo Clinic even recognizes the link between getting organized and your mental health. Here are some practical tips to help whip your home into an organized space and make it feel a little less chaotic for improved wellbeing.
How Can Effective Organization Strategies Save You Valuable Time?
A huge time waster in daily life can be when you can’t find the specific items you are looking for. For instance, if you have kids, it can be especially helpful to label where things belong and encourage them to place them back in the same designated spot every time to prevent searching for misplaced or lost items. In your kitchen, bathroom, garage, and office, this consistent organization system can be a good rule for adults too. Knowing where things go prevents spending mental energy on remembering where you put them. It can even save you significant time when you’re cleaning and organizing your living spaces.
Secure Storage Solutions: Evaluating What You Really Need in Your Home
It might be tempting to hold onto clothing or kitchenware that you might use “someday,” but all these items contribute to household clutter. Have you ever heard of the 80/20 rule? 80% of the time we probably use only 20% of the clothing, kitchen items, etc. in our homes.
- Look through your kitchen: Do you have duplicate cooking items? Dishes that you use once a year for special occasions? Way more pots and pans than you really need for everyday cooking?
- Look through your bathroom: Do you have personal care products that are outdated, expired, or that you have been hanging onto, but will probably never incorporate into your routine?
- Look through your closet: Can you donate anything right now? Turn your hangers in a single direction, and as you wear items, turn the hook in the opposite direction. The items you haven’t worn after three months (maybe with the exception of evening wear or special occasion clothing) is probably a candidate to donate to someone who will use it.
How to Implement the One-In-One-Out Decluttering Guideline for Your Home
When you shop, think about if you truly need or want an item enough to donate one already in your home. If you don’t then it will probably only contribute to clutter and more stuff accumulating in your living space. Read our 10 tips for creative decluttering and maximizing storage to learn more about deciding what to keep, what to store, and what to get rid of in your home.
Professional Storage Options: Investing in Organization Tools for Every Room
Bins, shelving units, hooks; these organizational items will all help you get organized systematically. Stock up on these organizational tools at the store and use them to bring some order to a room that may need it. Bins and hooks can organize items in the kitchen and bathroom, shelving units can bring a touch of sophistication to a living room or bedroom. Use these organizational tools generously throughout your home!
Go Digital for Reducing Physical Clutter in Your Entertainment Collection
If you’re a music, movie, or book lover (or perhaps all three) consider going digital for new purchases. There are many subscription options to stream music and movies, and also read books on your phone, tablet, or desktop computer. Check them out to see if one of these digital options is right for you and your family.
- For music: Apple Music, Google Music, and Spotify
- For movies: Netflix, Crave, Amazon, Disney+
- For books: Audible, Kobo, and Google Books
While you’re decluttering, you might notice that you need some extra storage space beyond what your home can accommodate. We have residential storage units of varying sizes to accommodate your decluttering needs and removing the chaos of disorganization. We have self-storage facilities located in North Edmonton, West Edmonton, South Edmonton, St. Albert, and Red Deer.
Key Takeaways about Decluttering and Organization for Mental Health
- Organization directly impacts mental health, as recognized by the Mayo Clinic, which establishes a clear link between decluttering your space and improving your overall wellbeing and happiness.
- Proper organization saves valuable time by eliminating the need to search for misplaced items, especially when you establish consistent storage locations for household items and implement labeling systems for family members.
- The 80/20 rule applies to household possessions, revealing that most people regularly use only 20% of their belongings, while the remaining 80% contribute to unnecessary clutter in living spaces.
- Decluttering requires honest assessment of your possessions, particularly in kitchens, bathrooms, and closets, where identifying duplicate items and unused products creates opportunities for significant space optimization.
- The One-In-One-Out Guideline prevents accumulation of clutter by ensuring that for each new item purchased, one existing item is removed from your home and donated or placed in residential storage.
- Organizational tools like bins, shelving units, and hooks bring order to chaotic spaces, with each serving specific functions in different rooms throughout your home.
- Digital alternatives for music, movies, and books offer clutter-free entertainment options through streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, and Audible, eliminating the need for physical media storage.
- U•STORE•IT provides storage facilities across Alberta including locations in North Edmonton, West Edmonton, South Edmonton, St. Albert, and Red Deer to support your decluttering efforts.