THE HIDDEN MEANING IN SPRING CLEANING

THE HIDDEN MEANING IN SPRING CLEANING

You’ve walked in the front door. Immediately it hits you. The toys are everywhere. The dirty plates are all over the dining table. The unopened letters are piled high. There are a number of unidentified random things lying around that you never use but can’t put away because where on earth do they even go?

Breathe in deeply… relax….stay calm. Of course, sometimes your emotions will get the better of you. It’s all too overwhelming. There’s too much to do. I’m OK living like this, honestly…

We’ve all been in this situation before. We work, take care of our kids, run around like headless chickens to tick off items on the to-do list. It’s almost impossible to find the time and headspace to work through the house and re-organise the space we spend so much of our time in.

But every so often, it’s important to take stock. Spring cleaning isn’t just about the physical act of sorting through your possessions. My good friend Feng Shui told me there is a clear emotional connection between people and their homes. An organised house will encourage positive thinking and provide you with the energy to put your attention to other things.

To help kick-start your mission to organise the chaos, here are my top tips:

  • Pick one room to take on every week and block out some time in your calendar to show your commitment.
  • Consider the storage available before you tackle the room. Do you need to get some extra cupboards, shelving or cubes? If so, order these ahead of time. Officeworks, Ikea and Kmart all have great inexpensive storage solutions.
  • If you don’t already have one, pick up a dymo labeller so you can clearly label items, leaving absolutely no room for interpretation by your family members of what belongs where.
  • Sort your items into three piles: Keep, donate or toss. Remember that charities can really benefit from many of the items you no longer need.
  • Use the one-year rule. This means everything you haven’t used in the last 12 months gets removed, with a few exceptions like special outfits and family memories.
  • Keep items accessible that are used the most. They get priority in the prime real estate of your cupboards and drawers.
  • Could you use clever space-saving gadgets? My favourite place for these has to be Howard’s Storage World. Things like pantry organisers will help you maximise space in the kitchen, while storage bags and tubs will create a whole new world of space under your bed that you didn’t even know existed.
  • If books are on display, arrange them from large to small on each shelf. This makes a world of difference to the book look.
  • As you work your way through the home, make a list of all the items that need to be repaired. At the end, you can call on a handyman to fix everything in one go.
  • When sorting through your home office, archive files that you don’t need regular access to, labeling the contents clearly should you ever need to refer to them. If you don’t already have them, set yourself up a couple of in-trays to hold your to-do papers and filing.
  • A filing cabinet is a must-have for every home, whether you have a dedicated office space or not.
  • For the final touch, hanging some art and family photos can really help to change the look of your home. Art Pharmacy is a fantastic website that connects you to emerging Australian artists where you can buy affordable originals while supporting our home-grown talent.

Congratulate yourself when you’re all done. You can invite your friends and family over to show off your Kim Kardashian-like home, only yours will be way better.

If the task of re-organising your home is just too overwhelming or if you need any help, Bespoke PA can get you organised. Contact us to have a chat – we’d love to hear from you!

Natalie Brownstein
Managing Director, Bespoke PA