Welcome to the 30-Day Organize-athon!
In today’s 5 minutes we’re going to express-declutter your living area.
Take a deep breath, and imagine inhaling a sense of clarity, freedom and order. Then get started!
Day 1: Declutter Your Living and/or Entertainment Area
Step 1: Grab a large garbage bag.
Step 2: Quickly make your way around your living and/or entertainment area, tossing these items into the bag as you go:
- Magazines other than the current month’s
- Newspapers other than today’s
- Knick-knacks – unless you really love them
- Tatty coasters
- DVDs no-one watches any more
- CDs no-one listens to any more
- Games no-one plays any more
- Remotes and technology no-one uses any more (including old game consoles)
- Food
- Books you’ve read and won’t re-read, or will never read
- Videos, cassettes, computer floppies, camera film – any storage device for which you no longer have hardware
- Framed photos – unless they’re genuinely special to you
- Tatty cardigans, socks and other apparel strewn around the furniture
- ‘Displayed’ items on shelves that collect dust but hold no meaning for you
- Dead potted plants
- Threadbare or stained cushions, throws, rugs, etc
- Anything else that isn’t loved and/or used regularly.
Step 3: Put your bag by the door or take it straight out to the car. (Take it to the tip as soon as you can.)
Step 4: If there’s something genuinely valuable in there, and you’d lose sleep over tossing it, then you can put it into a separate charity store bag. But if it’s junk, just let it go. If it doubt, don’t over-analyze – toss it.
And you’re done!
Got an Extra 5 Minutes?
- Return items that don’t belong in the living area to the proper place – the kids’ bedrooms, the office, the kitchen, etc.
- Straighten the coffee table and wipe it down.
- Neaten remotes, DVDs, and anything else that lives in the living room.
- Fluff up the cushions.
Now doesn’t that feel more like a ‘living’ room?
The 30-Day Organize-athon Mantra
Move fast. Don’t overthink. Let it go!
Leave Your Comment Below…
Please leave a comment below to say you’ve completed today’s task.
And I’ll see you back here tomorrow!
one down – 29 to go!
Done! Thanks for a great project!
wasn’t easy to get rid of some stuff, but it’s done! what’s next?
Woo! I went over 5 minutes by a couple of hours, but my livingroom is cleaner than it’s been in a long long looooonnng time.
Done!
Yea, day 1 is behind me! Not much to get rid of in the living room but was inspired to keep going so I sorted some stuff ~ threw some out, some in the charity box and some in the eBay pile. My five minutes turned into an hour!
Day 1 – Living Room – Check!
Done!
Done! 😀
Done – could use more, but it’s a start!
Today was easy to do as I have company in town and have to keep the living areas straightened anyways! 1 day down!
Did it!!
Done! Such a space created in just 5 minutes! 😀
DONE!!! This will be a great challenge.
Done and done!!!!
Day One Complete!!!!!!
Done! Yay!
I am always amazed at how much can be accomplished in 5 minutes. I did it today!
Day 1 complete!
Done – felt good to get rid of all those old magazines laying around!