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: get organized
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
Help Kids Organize Their School Stuff
#Parents aspiring to minimalism (or at least hoping to keep chaos at a minimum) will want to #organize anything that comes home at the end of the #school year and prepare for the next, says Your Mom Village. Have your #kids empty their backpacks and sort out the supplies. Broken crayons and used-up pencils and pens can go in the trash; notebooks can be saved if they still have lots of unused sheets left. Group useful items together for storage — and into bins labeled by child, if necessary — until the #fall. Launder the backpacks, and start shopping for any #school supplies you’ll need in the fall to beat the #back-to-school rush. #SchoolsOut