Spring is a time for throwing open the windows and letting the sunshine in! It’s also a time for sorting through and getting rid of stuff. They don’t call it ‘Spring Cleaning’ for nothing!
However, de-cluttering is not easy – suddenly there are lots of scary decisions to make:
what to keep?
what to let go?
how/where to store items you've decided to keep?
If you find making these decisions challenging, sometimes it's just easier to churn...
So what is the difference between de-cluttering and churning? When you de-clutter, you actually get rid of stuff - making the space more pleasant and useful.The number of items in a specific area is usually reduced. Churning on the other hand, does little to reduce the number of possessions in a space as it's simply moving things around to different areas. Decision making avoidance at its best!
If you are one of those people who find it difficult to let go of possessions, treasured and otherwise, here are some suggested rules to help:
Is the item broken and unable to be fixed in the immediate future (within one week), or can be replaced at a minimal cost?
Do you have more than a certain number of the same item (for example, more than 3 wooden spoons; more than 6 cookbooks (recipes are so easy to find online) etc?
·Have you worn clothing within the last 12 months? If not you probably don’t need it.
·Does it belongs to someone else? Time to give it back.
These are all just examples of rules that could be set. The important thing is to set them before you start decluttering. This will make the process much easier and will help you avoid decision fatigue, which leads to churning.
Alternatively, you could always contact a professional like Time Genie to help you. Happy decluttering!
Heather Knewstubb
Time Genie Personal Concierge and Errand Services
Kapiti Coast
Ph: 022 394 8493
www.timegenie.co.nz
https://www.facebook.com/Time-Genie-Magic-115372315722316/
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