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In the meantime, here are a few to get you started.
Hold off on buying new storage options - at least until you’ve decluttered the space, categorised the contents and figured out exactly what should go where. If you buy storage solutions too soon, you could end up with more stuff than you started with – and that’s the last thing you need.
Remember – it has to get worse before it gets better. In order to truly clear a space, you need to take everything out – and for a time it will seem like you are making no progress. This is not the case, however, so don’t get disheartened. Once you’ve taken it all out, categorise it and then start to put everything back in the right order.
Remember the environment – when you’re decluttering, it’s easy to just throw everything in the bin. But this is not great for our planet. There are many alternatives to throwing things in the bin. Before you start, find out about your local council recycling initiatives, or think about organising a clothes swap, or even think about selling your things on online!
Make a list - give yourself half an hour and just write down everything that’s floating around in your head. Don’t worry about the order at this stage – just get it all down on paper. Once you’ve done that, make a cup of tea and go back through the list to see if you can group similar items together (eg shopping, researching, errands). Then – just do one of the items on the list. Start with a small one – and once it’s done, tick it off – you’ll be amazed at how good you feel!
Update your list – make sure every time you finish a job, you tick it off. Every time you think of a new job, add it to the list. Once your page is full up, turn to the next page and re-write the list (obviously leaving off the things you’ve already done). Carry the list with you everywhere you go.
Plan ahead - it’s been said that for every hour of planning, three to four hours are saved from redundancy, waiting for information, not being prepared and poorly managed tasks. Abraham Lincoln agreed wholeheartedly when he said “If I had an hour to chop down a tree, I would spend the first 45 minutes sharpening my axe”. So – get out your calendar and look over the next few months – what do you have coming up? Birthdays, holidays, bills to pay, deadlines… I know, the list goes on! Add these items to your list (above), refer to your list often and enjoy ticking them off when you’ve done them.
Draw up a clear timetable of things to do - working backwards from the date of the event. Ensure you allow enough time for each task to be completed – and then add a bit extra for things going wrong (they always do!).
Make sure you have a budget – and make a note of how much you spend as you go along, to ensure you’re keeping on track. Get quotes from providers in writing before agreeing to anything – and don’t be afraid to ask for discounts. and make a note of how much you spend as you go along, to ensure you’re keeping on track. Get quotes from providers in writing before agreeing to anything – and don’t be afraid to ask for discounts.
Get some help – whether you get friends or family to help out, or call in a professional, it’ll make your life easier on the day. Make sure everyone is clear about their task and the deadline – and follow them up to ensure they’re doing it to your standards!
