You’ve decided to run a marathon….. Oh! No - you’ve decided to embark on a decluttering project - what do you need to know?
First of all there are a few basics that need to be in place if you are so overwhelmed that you are unsure what the first move is. And they are not to do with decluttering or organising!
Begin by looking after yourself.
You need to get plenty of sleep
Eat well, drink plenty
Move
Shower / bathe and clean your teeth.
All common sense isn't it?
I know only too well how easy it is to not get enough sleep, wait until I am too hungry and grab the easiest thing in the fridge to eat - in my case usually cheese -, not drink anywhere near enough to keep myself hydrated, sit on my backside all day working at the laptop and forgetting to clean my teeth at the weekends because any routine at all is lost!
So before you even think about getting stuck into any major decluttering projects you MUST have your self care routine sorted!
Do you struggle to get a good night's sleep?
The best advice is to ensure you have a dark room which is not too warm. It may help to crack the window open slightly if you can.
Leave your electronic devices alone for an hour before bed.
Try to take a hot bath or shower - as your body cools it gets sleepy.
I stopped drinking caffeine after 3pm and that has made a difference to my sleeping.
You could also try meditation, relaxation techniques and apps.
As you know I am a strong proponent of journaling. Spending time before you lie down in some form of journaling can clear your mind of anything which could cause you to lie there thinking and not resting and sleeping.
If you have long standing issues with sleep and these techniques have no effect on your sleep pattern maybe seeking medical and professional advice is needed.
Eat and drink well.
I recommend you focus on this for a couple of reasons.
If you get very involved in a decluttering project it is possible you won’t stop to eat or take enough to drink! Yes - really! So make sure you have a bottle of water on hand and an alarm set for meal or snack breaks
If you find you are struggling with your decluttering you may turn to food as a comfort or stress release. If this is the case, make sure you have some healthy snacks and meals prepared so you don’t fill up on unhealthy food which will leave you even more lethargic and unwilling or unable to continue with the job.
Move.
I have deliberately said move and not exercise here. Although if you can exercise regularly it will help create an energetic mindset which is valuable when embarking on any new project.
I am actually meaning that you must get up and walk around or even ensure you do some stretches throughout the project. Sitting or standing in one place whilst sorting through your belongings can be hard work and by a little movement you can relieve aches and pains which may result in making the whole process last longer and be uncomfortable.
Self Care.
I have added in shower/ bathe and clean your teeth because these are the foundations of the day. If you can start and end each day with these acts as the punctuation marks, you have a clear beginning and end.
So the basics are covered. You are ready, physically, to start the project.
In order to get your mindset ready too you might want to look at my previous blogs on journaling and decluttering:
Are you still unsure where to begin?
Download my 7 quick decluttering jobs worksheet. You can find it in my shop
ou can comment below ↓↓ or look at the end of the blog for all the ways you can contact me privately. I love hearing from you with all your ideas and photos of the areas you are working on!!
If you want to delve deeper into finding a ‘system’ which will work for you, you can contact me via my email lindajharper@yahoo.com or using the chat bubble on my website, I would love to help you!
You can message me on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Linda-J-Harper-Professional-Declutterer-and-Organiser-107805011001601.
I am also on Pinterest and Instagram if you need some inspiration! https://www.pinterest.co.uk/adnilenaj1314/boards/
Comments