To win the
battle against clutter, keep these easy tips in
mind.
Accept the Value of Clutter Control
Scripture says "everything should be done in a
fitting and orderly way" (1 Corinthians 14:40).
God is a God of order, which is evident in the
marvelous beauty and order of the universe. As
His children, let's strive to reflect a small
portion of that order in our homes. By doing so,
we express gratefulness for the time and
possessions He provides.
Truly "See" Your Home
It's easy to become oblivious to our own
clutter, simply because we are accustomed to it.
Take a walk through your home and look at each
room with new eyes. Pretend that you are a
stranger and are seeing your house for the first
time. What feeling does each room invoke? Is it
cozy, comfortable, neat? Or is it too messy and
cluttered to promote relaxation and enjoyment?
Would you feel comfortable having guests see the
room?
Anything that adds a sense of confusion or messiness to a home can be considered clutter. Often it is the manner in which the items are stored, and not the items themselves, that causes a cluttered appearance.
Take it Slow
If your home is filled with clutter, accept that
it will take some time to get rid of it. Prevent
clutter control burnout by taking it one room,
one closet, one drawer at a time. In the race
against clutter, slow and steady wins every
time.
Take Action
Determine what to do with the clutter. Sort it
into four different piles or boxes designated as
Keep, Give Away, Throw Away, and Storage.
Important: If you find yourself placing nearly everything into the Keep box, ask the following questions:
Maintain
Clutter control is a way of life. After initial
clutter has been eliminated, it will require
daily effort to keep it eliminated. The good
news is that clutter maintenance is less time
consuming than allowing clutter to grow, then
spending several weeks cleaning it up again.
Train yourself and your family to spot clutter
the minute it starts building. Have an
"everything has a place" policy in your home.
Be Realistic
Lastly, unless your home is empty 24/7, there is
no way everything will be in its place every
minute of every day. This is real life.
Encourage clutter management habits in your
family, but allow them to live in their home.
Remember that making a mess is not a big deal.
The important thing is what you and your family
choose to do with the mess after it is made.
Copyright © by Brenda King