Does #Dad really need another tie or pair of shoes? #Father’s Day gifts don’t have to add to the #clutter. Tickets to experiences such as concerts and sporting events can treat him while adding nothing to the amount of #stuff stored in the home (assuming he resists buying a lot of souvenirs), and his favorite consumables can be good options, too. Or you can give the gift of #organization, says Just Organized. Many of a typical #dad’s favorite spaces — the garage, workshop, mancave and home office — tend to be dumping grounds for all kinds of #junk that could be #decluttered and #organized. Help him yourself or hire a professional; he won’t forget it! #FathersDay
Tag: decluttering tips
Start Downsizing While Parents Still Have Their Health
The best time to have a conversation about #decluttering and #downsizing with a parent is long before you need to, says Reader’s Digest — when they are still healthy, independent and not in the middle of a move. That way, they can decide where the most meaningful items will go in a more directed, yet theoretical way. Avoid using words that subtly undermine the value of their lives’ possessions such as “#trash” or “#junk,” and instead use words such as “preserve,” “repurpose” and “donate” to help them let go. Start by asking which items matter to them most — it may not be what you think. #FathersDay
Give Dad the Gift of Decluttering
Show dear old #Dad that you care on #Father’s Day by helping with a few household tasks, says SpaceWise. You can help out with his lawn and landscaping, install or troubleshoot software, or paint a room. Or you can #organize a closet, #declutter the garage or basement, or help prep the home for #downsizing. Any help you can lend will be a thoughtful gesture that shows you care. And if you find anything that still might be useful to other families, you can easily give it a second life by #donating it to ClothingDonations.org with a #free #donation #pickup. #FathersDay
Help Dad Increase his Decluttering ‘Toss Rate’
Confronting a lifetime of #possessions isn’t an easy challenge for anyone, so how can you help an aging #father #downsize? It’s more than just asking them to tackle their own #clutter, because like most people, they can get distracted by the #memories engendered in an object and lost track of the task. Getting involved in the process — holding up each item, one at a time, for consideration and a decision — results in better “toss rates,” says The Homes I Have Made. “It forced him to truly confront the volume of items he owned. As he fatigued with the decisions, they became easier to make.” #FathersDay
Are You a Decluttering Lion or Lamb?
With its rapid temperature fluctuations and blustery winds, it’s often said that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. This begs the #spring-cleaning question: When it comes to #decluttering, which one are you?
#Decluttering lions roar into a room and make snap decisions. They’re prepared to sort things into #keep, #trash and #donate piles fast, and have labeled bins, boxes and bags at the ready. They’re fed up with #clutter and perhaps preparing for a deadline or an imminent life change.
“Aggressive decluttering isn’t gentle editing; it’s decisive, time-boxed and real about what your home can hold,” says The Scarlet Society. “You’ll move fast, make smart calls and stop saving for a ‘someday’ that never comes.”
Aggressive #declutterers often follow if/then rules: The 20/20 rule, for instance, says that if you can replace an item in less than 20 minutes for less than $20, then get rid of it. If you can replace a rarely used memorabilia item with its memory (a photo), it’s time to say goodbye.
You might take as little as 48 hours as a decluttering lion, spending a few hours on each specific area of the home and paring things down to the essential, often-used #stuff. Then, you can bundle the rejects for #sale or #donation and contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup.
If you’re more of a lamb when it comes to #decluttering, you will aim for slow and steady progress instead of a frantic purge. You might target one drawer instead of a whole room, taking just 30 minutes to #sort things out. The next day, you can move on to #organize another spot.
Gentle #declutterers often get overwhelmed by the task. To prevent decision fatigue, Simple Clean Living suggests keeping a “Not Sure” box close to catch things that may have true practical or sentimental value. “You can revisit it days, weeks or months from now, when your nervous system is more settled.”
You can let go of #clutter without the rush if you do it in manageable moments. The key is to make it a regular, ongoing practice to ensure progress. With time and regular effort, lambs can create calmer #spaces for themselves.
Lion or lamb, ClothingDonations.org is here to accept your #donations of lightly used clothing, media and household items. Let us take care of the things that no longer serve your lifestyle or fit your space!