I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Buy less, choose well.” It’s one Melissa Rogers references when she works with her clients, minimizing clutter and making space in their homes.
Here are her thoughts on tweaking the adage to “Keep less and choose well.”
Melissa says:
If you’re still reeling from all of the gifts you gave and received this holiday season, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed, wondering where all of these new things will go. The presents have all been opened, the guests have gone home, and your house…..is a disaster.
Who has the energy to clean AGAIN after all the excitement has fizzled out? It might feel tempting just to keep all of your new treasures in piles around the house instead of trying to make room and put them away. But I want to encourage you to be proactive!
What if we pledge to jump into the piles of old and new that may still be sitting around the house, and do something about it? What if we start thinking about removing the old and unused items to help free up space for the new and exciting things? What if we shift our focus to really challenge ourselves to think about what we’re keeping and why?
To help you begin navigating how to decide what will stay and what will go, I want to give you a couple tips to get started.
- Sort your new trinkets and clothing, then group them in the area where you store your existing items. So, if you got new serving dishes, place them next to the cabinet or shelf where you keep your other serving pieces.
- When you’re ready to sort, be sure ALL of the similar items are accessible. This will help the examination process to move more quickly.
- As you assess which items are now obsolete, be prepared to make a harsh decision to keep or purge.
Decluttering is definitely a mental game. It takes focus and commitment to truly make an impact. But I know you can do it! You are ready to clean out the unnecessary mess and create space for your most treasured belongings.
There are a few “matter-of-fact” questions you can ask yourself about the item in question. Being intentional will make the process easier and help you to clear out more space.
- How many of this same item do I have?
- How many do I NEED? (Would I use more than one at any given time?)
“How many gray sweaters and black slacks do I really need?” - Is the item important to me? (When is the last time I used it?)
I want to encourage you to take action. No step is too small!
Wouldn’t it be amazing to start the new year with a clear mind and a neat and orderly home?
Brew yourself a strong cup of coffee with your new coffee machine, get in the right frame of mind and get started today.
Melissa Rogers is the owner of Modified by Melissa and specializes in helping women reinvent spaces as they transition through different phases in life. Read Diane’s posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on Huff Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. Buy her new book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life.
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