There's Power in De-cluttering.

Aww, spring!

The time where the cool gentle breeze brushes against your cheeks, dew on the grass makes its debut, flowers are in bloom, and you can finally let nature flow through our windows! Yes, I would live in springtime all year if I could. The weather is a nice touch, but it’s the decluttering for me.

The Power of From top to bottom:

Starting with my closet, I pull everything out. When I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING! I hold all of my possessions in my hand and ask, “Am I ever going to wear/use this again?”. If the answer is no, then I throw it in a pile. If the answer is yes, then put it in the laundry to be washed. I wash the walls, sweep the floors, and disinfect any surfaces. It’s time to put away the heavy winter clothes and break out the lighter, more flirty pieces in my wardrobe.

Moving from room to room, I repeat the process until I see the sparkles shine come off the walls like a Mr. Clean commercial. The kitchen requires the same process. Instead of clothes, the only difference is plates, pots, pans, cutlery, appliances, and baking/cooking tools. If I’m going to use it, I’m going to keep it. If not, there’s no use holding on to it.

The Power of letting go:

Spring is the time to let go of any attachments that we may be harboring over the winter, the quarantine, and beyond. All of our items hold energy. Suppose you had an unpleasant experience in or with a piece, toss it. It’s that simple. To have a clean home is to have a pure mind. It’s like getting rid of the evidence from the life that doesn’t suit you anymore.

As hue-mans, we all need to grow and evolve every single day. Therefore, part of the growth process is to essentially shed these things as a snake sheds its’ skin. Once we release the things of the past, we are rejuvenated. We are finally ready to experience new experiences whole-heartedly. When you are cleaning, it is not uncommon to do away with 70 to 80 percent of your things you acquired in recent years. It wouldn’t be surprising to get rid of all of it! Start a new life.

What to do with the remnants?

At this point, you are probably wondering what to do with your old life. Elementary, my dear, donate it! Yes, I said give it away to the less fortunate. If you cannot dig deep and do it out of the kindness of your heart Scrooge, it’s still a tax write-off. The best thing about the process for me is to be able to gift people who may not acquire these things independently.

This year my charity of choice is Special Olympics Oklahoma. They provide a program made available to children and adults with intellectual disabilities to give them athletic training for competition. They came around my neighborhood and passed a list around of what they needed. So when I was cleaning, I found things that would help benefit the charity.

If you are not able to donate something, sell it. That’s correct! Sell it. This is where Letgo, Offerup, Craigslist, FB Marketplace, Posh Mark, and any other site allow you to sell gently used or lightly worn items to strangers for cash. Get your camera phone out and ready. Now you become a photographer and a visionary. Let potential buyers know how good your things will look in their homes.

Last but not least, throw away what you can’t donate or sell. As the daughter of a hoarder, I throw away everything! I mean, E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!!! If uno (one) card comes up, missing out of the UNO card game pack. I’m chunking it to the curb. There is no need to keep unnecessary junk. Rotate your underwear, toothbrushes, and hygiene products. I’m reiterating because these are the items I don’t recommend selling or donating.

The art of Budgeting:

You can create a budget by utilizing the funds gained from selling your things. If you get $5 from an oil diffuser that you were gifted and never used, that can go towards something you’ll enjoy. That will just go towards your overall total. The same thing goes if you were to sell your bedroom set. This way, you can upgrade and offset the cost.

You don’t have to break the bank to upgrade and organize your home. The Dollar Tree, Five and Below, and many other stores will be able to assist you with things like baskets, bins, and bundles of tools to make your home feel new again. Paint your walls, get different color schemes, mix and match. This is what makes all of this fun and worth it.

Start from scratch. A clean slate is the most simple and effective way to organize. Containers and label makers have always been consistent with affordable ways to customize the treasures in my home. Simply find what works for you.

Helpful Tools 101:

Hanging Storage- Anything from closet doors to cabinets and drawers. If you don’t know what to do with your shoes, I find the cubbies fit well for sneakers, heels, and boots. In comparison, the door hangers work better for sandals. Key and mail holders also bring a level of functionality to your entry-way.

Baskets- Keeping storage under the bathroom sink for toothbrushes, hair tools, and hygiene products helps keep them unsightly and neat. Desk drawers are effortlessly maintained with rectangle baskets for pencils.

Foldable Cubes- Can be used as accent pieces or could be placed under tables for decor; keep your off-season throws and pillows, or store them flat when you’re finished.

Canisters- Want something versatile for cereals, flour, sugar, or anything else in your kitchen or bathroom that comes in multiples? Choosing the right pieces for your home is the key to make everything seem more organized.

The power of the Daily Purge:

This goes without saying, but the best tip I have for you is simple. Create daily habits of organizing so you don’t end up a mess before you know it; when you clean daily, put everything in its proper place and take out your trash. Keeping things like rotting food or milk in your fridge gives off negative vibrations. Do yourself a favor and toss them as you go along.

You don’t have to wash clothes every single day, but I suggest not keeping dirty clothes in the bedroom with you. Have a hamper in the bathroom and or a laundry room. This keeps the build-up from the day away. It also keeps the energy clean and fresh in your space. Besides, no one needs the smell of their gym clothes wafting through the air.

The Power of the Smudge:

Once this is all said and done. Do not forget to smudge or sage your house. The smudges energetically clear the house after you have cleaned and cleansed it physically. Depending on what type of smudge you use, it will have different effects. Go throughout the outline of your home and open the windows to let all of the remaining energies escape. This allows you to re-program your dwelling completely.

The Power of Completion:

When the process comes to a closing, relax! Take a bath. Unwind. After all of the tedious work and effort, you deserve it! There is no better than to take a bath in a spotless home. It will be well-earned and deserved. Let your hair down, sleep naked, snuggle up with a good book. Your home is clear now to work on your mind.