It’s January – time to pack away the holidays and get organized!

However.

When the urge to organize strikes, do you find yourself just moving stuff around? Or do you fill brand-new Rubbermaid bins and then hide them away in storage rooms or closets?  “There!  All done!  I’m so organized!”  ***me feeling proud of myself***

Organized?  Maybe so, but there’s another side to it.

Overconsumption is king

The global marketing machine works 24/7 to make us want MORE stuff. Then, it encourages us to conveniently “organize” the excess in expensive new containers.  It’s so sneaky!

I get it. I am not immune to the seductive pull of a colour-coded pantry full of $40 plastic bins in every size and shape. Ever heard of The Home Edit?

But energetically, it doesn’t work.

Too much stuff weighs you down, no matter how well it’s organized. It keeps you stuck in the past, feeling lethargic and unmotivated.  So, return those new containers and commit to decluttering first, THEN organizing.

This will create much-needed SPACE to move forward with clarity, energy and momentum. Space also gives life to new ideas and opportunities. It allows your home to showcase what is truly meaningful.

Just start!

The first step in decluttering is just STARTING.  How about tackling one of these common dens of disorder?

  • glass and mug cupboards

  • bathroom drawers full of hair and make-up products

  • junk drawers of miscellaneous treasures.  We call ours the Famous Third!

  • flat surfaces like kitchen countertops

  • bookshelves

  • the back entrance

Chalk up the gold stars with smaller jobs. Then move on to bigger challenges like closets, storage rooms, and the garage.  Even a 20% reduction of stuff can shift the energy and make your home feel like it’s taking a deep breath of fresh air.

A little tip:  one of my secret weapons is my community’s Facebook Upcycling page.  No matter what it is – a collection of hair products I no longer use, or all of my great aunt’s broken costume jewelry – I give it away on the site.  A win all the way around.  Maybe your community has something similar!

Our possessions hold tremendous influence over us and our experiences. How we manage them also impacts our lives in subtle, yet powerful, ways.  As author William Morris said, “have nothing in your home which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

That’s the HomeHearted way.

Love,