These practices will keep your home cleaner and your mind more clear. Let’s break down each rule to better understand our why!
1. Don’t set things down randomly, put them away
This rule will keep you from having to do large amounts of tidying at the end of each day. Keep in mind, it takes no more than a minute or two to put something where it belongs rather than throwing it on the counter or on the stairs to pile up over time. This creates a not only overwhelming but also time-consuming cluster that will take much more of your mental and physical energy to deal with at a later point.
2. Stick to the one in, one out rule
This rule is HUGE. This mentality can keep you from buying random or unnecessary items. If we are intentionally thinking, “What will this new item replace in my home?”, it prevents us from accumulating to the point of creating clutter, disorder, running out of space, and eventually building anxiety over the home. Do we want the new item bad enough to also remove something we already own?
3. The 24-Hour Rule
Leave an item in your cart for 24 hours when online shopping. This results in less purchases over time and cuts down on impulse buying. We often buy something online when feeling sad, lonely or upset to make us feel better, to get that boost of serotonin. When we leave these items in our cart for 24 hours, we allow room to ask ourselves questions like, “Do I really need this?”, “Where will I put this item?”, “Why do I want this?”, “Does this benefit me, my home or my family?”.
4. Check your home inventory before buying groceries
This rule will help from purchasing duplicate items and creating unnecessary waste.
5. Ditch expired toiletries and perishables regularly
Expired items in your home are taking up valuable real estate. If something is expired, it indicates that you either do not use it at all, or so infrequently that you won’t miss it when it’s gone. Get it out of your house to make room for more important things.
6. Schedule a refresh day once a month
With our endlessly busy schedules, it is important to intentionally set aside time to refresh and reset spaces in your home to get it back on track and up to date. Carve out time to focus on areas that have been neglected. Play music, turn on a favorite show, and make it fun! And the more you build this into your routine, the easier and faster the entire process will take.
7. Create Drop Zones for donations and purge regularly
Designate a space in your home that you and your family members can drop things they no longer fit into, like or want. This creates a habit that will help your home feel lighter and make a mentality for you and your family to let go of items that do not serve you anymore. Once this bin or bag of donations is full, drop it off at your nearest donation drop-off.
8. End your day with a 10 minute timer and tidy
Give your future self the gift of a reset and clean space when you wake up and start your day.
9. Make shopping lists and stick to them
This is to stop the impulse buying. This is to stop buying duplicate items. This is to be intentional with our time, money and resources.
10. Keep surfaces clutter free
The less you have on counters and tables, the cleaner and more life-giving your home will feel. I guarantee that if you stick to this rule, you and your family will walk into your home every day with more peace.
Two of my favorite quotes from “Atomic Habits” by James Clear say –
“Stop setting goals for the outcome. It’s hard to change your habits if you don’t change your underlying beliefs that led to your past behaviors.”
“The more you repeat a behavior, the more you reinforce the identity associated with that behavior.”
