Hey there, friends and fam! How are you hanging in there during this time of self-isolation and social distancing? I hope you’re doing well despite it all.
I have been having good days and bad days, but I’m doing my best to choose joy and gratitude through it all. It’s not easy but it’s been essential for me during this time, especially as a new mama! This is just one of those times where you really need to reach for any bit of positivity that you can.
[bctt tweet=”This is just one of those times where you really need to reach for any bit of positivity that you can.” username=”SummerTelban”]
Since this time of social distancing and self-isolation is extending longer than we all initially thought it would, I think it’s important that we’re intentional with all of the time we have at home. While I have had some Netflix binges (no shame) it’s been important for me to balance that out with activities that’ll better my life. One of the things I have been focusing on for my family is decluttering!
I figured now would be the perfect time to share about some of the decluttering projects Mike and I have been working on, as well as ones that YOU might want to work on! Let me know in the comments if you’ve been working on any declutter projects and if so, what ones. 🙂
[bctt tweet=”Things To Declutter By Category & Room During Social Distancing” username=”SummerTelban”]
THINGS TO DECLUTTER DURING SELF-ISOLATION:
IN THE KITCHEN…
- Refrigerator
- Seriously, take the time to completely clean it out! Get rid of expired items, clear out the leftovers you never ate, and reorganize everything. I don’t know about you but I feel so refreshed when the refrigerator is organized by food group!
- Freezer
- Freezers need a good deep-clean, too. Same as the above – clear out anything old and unwanted, that ice cream with freezer burn, and so on. Organize everything!
- Sometimes freezers can get a weird smell from everything so punch a few holes in a box of baking soda and simply leave it in the freezer. It’ll absorb unwanted odors – replace at least every 3 months.
- Tupperware
- Tupperware… such a genius invention but also such a pain to clean, store, and actually keep together, haha. Who agrees? 😉
- Go through and pair up all of your Tupperware pieces and repurpose the pieces that don’t have lids anymore. There are endless ways you can repurpose Tupperware tubs… for the garage, in your desk, the “junk” drawer, and so on.
- Organize/down-size cleaning supplies
- Mike and I have always kept the bulk of our cleaning supplies in the cabinets under our kitchen sink. The other day I reorganized everything in order of what’s used most often and it’s been extremely helpful!
- Move any repeat and rarely used cleaning products to the garage or basement.
- Reorganize cabinets
- Clear out or donate any wanted items – tableware, party supplies, etc.
- Paperwork, takeout menus, expired coupons, and mail
- Junk drawer
LIVING ROOM, ENTRY, DINING ROOM…
- Throw pillows
- Ladies… I know that you have too many throw pillows. Why? Because I am with you, haha. 😉 I just recently went through my throw pillows and chose a good bunch to donate. I encourage you to do the same!
- If you’re not ready to give up some of your throw pillows yet, then repurpose them and don’t buy new ones. Instead of buying new ones when a new season is upon us, try to work with what you already have or invest in covers for the throw pillows you already have.
- Clean out your entryway or entryway closet
- Get rid of your coats from college, the rainboots you never wear, and any other miscellaneous items you’ve kept there. Donate, pass down, or throw out! Make piles for each.
- Clear off your coffee table and dining table
- Magazines & books
- Movies
- Candles & knick-knacks
- Seasonal decor
RELATED READING: 8 TIPS FOR A BETTER WORK-LIFE BALANCE
BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS…
- Your clothing
- Instead of piles of laundry, it’s time for some new piles: donate, pass down, and garbage! I like to clean out my closet and drawers at least twice a year, if not every season. I’ll pass down some clothing and accessories to my sisters and I’ll donate some pieces that are in great condition, as well. But some items need to be thrown out after a while.
- Another option for old t-shirts: save some to use as rags for deep-cleaning needs or for in the garage. Mike likes to have old tees available to use when working on the car or other maintenance needs.
- Unwanted and expired cosmetics, skincare, and haircare products
- I bet that a good bunch of the cosmetics you’re holding onto are expired – so get rid of them! If you have cosmetics that you know you’re not going to use but they’re still new and in shelf life, pass them onto a friend or donate them to a local shelter or program for girls.
- Items under the bed
- Old bedding (donate if still in good condition)
- Medicine
PIN ME FOR LATER!
COMPUTER & PHONE…
Honestly, for myself, I think my laptop and phone need more decluttering than my house, haha. Does anyone else feel the same way? Electronics are a little easier to declutter since it’s mostly… keep, delete, or store in the cloud or on a hard drive. Since that’s straight forward, here’s a list of everything you should work your way through.
- Photos & videos
- For the photos or videos that you’ll keep directly on your device, organize them by category/topic/etc.
- Sticky notes on your laptop & notes on your phone
- I’m working on this… I have SO many notes on my phone, haha.
- Any files that include personal information
- Organize and secure them
- Update all of your passwords for everything
- Banking, social media, and so on.
- Clear out your bookmarks
- Mine are so old! I still have some saved from my college days… over 5 years ago. Yikes!
- Unsubscribe from email lists that no longer serve you
- Delete old reminders off your phone
- Backup important files online
- Apps you don’t use
- Turn off push notifications that aren’t a priority
[bctt tweet=”A List Of Things To Declutter During Self-Isolation” username=”SummerTelban”]
There you have it! While there are a ton of things you could declutter during this time, I’d say these are typically priority! They should definitely keep you busy when you’re not working or spending time on self-care. Have you spent time decluttering yet? Tell me what you accomplished! If you haven’t yet, what’s the first thing on your list that you want to declutter? Let’s chat!
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