We all know the nagging feeling of needing to tackle a large cleaning project: the articles of clothes stuffed away in the back of our closets that haven’t been worn in a decade, piles of paperwork crammed in desk drawers that would be better suited filed electronically, and that garage full of unmarked boxes. Thanks to innkeeper Debbie of the Black Sheep Inn & Spa in Hammondsport, NY, we’ve got some helpful tips to help you de-clutter your home (and maybe even your mind in the process).
When Debbie and her husband, Marc, made the move from a 2,500 square foot home in Cleveland to a property over double the size (5,600 square feet), she realized she had much more to do beyond the typical pack-up. Sorting, organizing, boxing, and choosing what to take with her became a necessary process. “We began with things that were more external and not used all the time or rarely”, says Debbie. Her advice? Make piles according to things you’d like to 1) Keep, 2) Sell, 3) Donate, 4) Recycle or reuse in a new way that adds purpose to your home.
The best way to tackle the decluttering of your home, overall living space, and your life is to take small steps that ultimately lead to bigger lifestyle changes. Combined, these seemingly tiny changes lead to large improvements which you can easily maintain in the long-run.
“Many of our goals in cleaning out our homes also helps to clean out our lives, mentally, physically and spiritually…and it helps others too”.
