«My house is always a mess»: 5 steps to organizing space

Your determination to end the mess vanishes as quickly as it appears. You are tired, exhausted and decided that order is not your forte. You reconciled yourself and admitted that you lost in this unequal battle. Do not despair! Let’s talk about how to make cleaning efficient.

Step 1: acknowledge the problem

Before you start cleaning, admit that this problem is real. Let’s look at clutter as an everyday part of your life. Do you often fail to find keys, documents, important and beloved things for a long time? Do you feel like you are wasting time (being late) while you are searching?

Do you understand how much money you spend on buying duplicates of lost things? Are you ashamed to invite guests into your house? Do you manage to relax and unwind in your own home, or do you feel tense, tired and irritated all the time?

Do things often go wrong for you? If your answer is yes, it’s time to take matters into your own hands.

Step 2: start small

If clutter is affecting your life, take the first step. The reason for the failure was perfectionism. Don’t demand too much from yourself. Supertasks will scare you and lead to procrastination. You will again want to postpone cleaning until later. Set yourself one easy-to-do task and set a deadline for completing it.

For example, you decide to clean up the closet under the sink this week. So do it with integrity. Get rid of any expired cosmetics, throw in the trash everything that you don’t like, regardless of the cost and fullness of the tube. Wipe all the shelves, arrange things according to the principle of frequency of use.

Praise yourself and be sure to reward. Eat something tasty or make a nice purchase, such as a hairpin box or a glass for toothbrushes. Keep giving yourself small, easy tasks within the same zone until you’re done.

Step 3: Forgive yourself for being extravagant

Feelings of guilt, fear and pity become the strongest obstacles to achieving order. We are afraid to upset our grandmother, intending to throw away the old towel, which she carefully embroidered for us for the holiday. We are ashamed to get rid of gifts given by friends, we are afraid to throw away something that might come in handy. We are sorry to say goodbye to a thing that we spent a lot of money on, even if we did not like it.

Three negative feelings make us keep unnecessary and unloved things. Forgive yourself for the extravagance, unwisely spent money, for not liking the gift of a loved one. It’s time to fill the house with positive energy.

Step 4: Be honest with yourself

Finally admit to yourself that the things you planned to use someday will not come in handy. Do you store fabric for three years in the hope of sewing curtains? You will never do it. You seem to be living just fine with the ones hanging on the window now. Is not it so? Then buy ready-made or take the fabric to the studio today.

Store your linen in case guests arrive, but they never stay overnight? Why do you think? Perhaps you yourself do not really want this? Or do you have an extra bed? Get rid of your underwear as soon as possible.

You bought an expensive cream, but you didn’t like it and have been lying on the shelf since then? Do you keep it just in case? However, every time your favorite cream runs out, you buy the same new one. Say goodbye to unnecessary cream.

Step 5: Tidy up in a good mood

Get rid of the idea that cleaning is a punishment. Cleaning is a blessing to your home. This is a way to be alone with yourself, listen to your feelings, understand that you really love. Don’t rush, don’t get angry.

Believe me, cleaning is not a waste of time. This is a fascinating journey into the world of loved and rejected things. Spend some time on them regularly, and they will help you prioritize and put things in order in all areas of your life.