A Clean Space

The term “living in clutter” is not just referencing your state of being but also your state of mind. A cluttered mind is full of ideas, but has very little direction on how to implement those ideas. You may know that you have 10 tasks that need your attention, but which task should be first? Should all those tasks be completed today or can one wait? How should those tasks be handled? All of these questions are floating around in a cluttered mind the same way clothes, shoes, and trash are thrown about around a messy room. When entering a messy room most people quickly become overwhelmed. There is no place to sit, little room to walk, and just no sense of structure. This type of disorganization can affect our sight and our minds. Subsequently, a cluttered space is a cluttered mind.

According to the American Psychological Association, one third of Americans are living with extreme stress. Adults and children that have to deal with issues at school and work, social issues affecting our economy and environment, and just the daily difficulties of life can quickly become stressed and overwhelmed. On the contrary, our homes are supposed to be the one place in which we find peace and solace to effectively deal with life’s volatility. Subsequently, by starting with the cleaning and organization of your living space there is strong chance your life will follow.

In the morning I wake up, make my bed, and make sure there is nothing on the floor. After getting dressed I place my toothbrush in the holder, wipe off the toothpaste, and my aunt always reminded me to use a paper towel to effectively remove all hair from the sink. This routine helps me to mentally prepare for the day, even on Mondays. I am not rushing around trying to figure out what and where to begin. My undergarments are in the top drawer, dresses are hung in the closet, and my shoes are by the door or hanging in the shoe compartments in my closet. I am ready to take on the day because I have a clear plan and can quickly execute without confusion. I feel safe, organized, and sure of myself. This energy can only carry onto the other tasks I have planned for the day. I am ready to go.

Yes, I know most people don’t have time to clean every single day. I also understand how easy it is for rooms to become messy quickly. Subsequently, try implementing these 4 tricks below that will help you to maintain a clean and clear space everyday of the week!

1. Make up your bed as soon as you rise – A freshly made bed always makes a room tidy. Just make sure that you don’t throw items back on your bed. Just keep it clear and neat.
2. Give all items their own space – My husband always said his mother told him to give everything a space because then you always know where to find it. In addition, it allows you to quickly clean because you literally don’t have to think about where to stick something. Haircare products go in the small drawers while jewelry goes in the jewelry box. Socks in the top drawer, pens and pencils in the holder, trash in the can, dirty clothes in the bin…
3. Empty trash every other day – Nothing is messier than garbage spilling over into the floor. In addition, it makes it easier to leave wrappers and unnecessary paper around, making areas unnecessarily cluttered. THROW TRASH AWAY IMMEDIATELY!
4. Clean your Floors Daily – Clean floors are another feature that contributes to the cleanliness of a unit. Many of my clients don’t consider floors vacuumed unless they see the lines (….with which I can agree). However, if you don’t have a vacuum you would be surprised how well and how great it looks to use a broom on carpet. Growing up in the south during the summers, my grandmother showed me how to use a broom to clean when no vacuum was available.

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