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!
Day 1 done. I posted on the day I completed this task, but I think I posted in the wrong location. The email link took me to like March 25 or something.
Done………..5 days late, but done! Onto the next task.
April 5th – 1st day I’ve had to clean 🙂 Day 1 of Organiza-thon was just what I needed to get me moving. Felt good to start off with some de-cluttering! I plan on doing days 2-5 today as well.
Did on Day 3, but done. Needed waaay more than 5 minutes, but got about an hour or so in. Will need to schedule another time frame for more work in there!
It’s unbelievable how many out-of-date items I discarded! Great!
Well, that was less painful than I thought – only because I have already done a huge clean over the weekend so I could shampoo the carpets. just need a light dusting now and that is task 1 complete.
done
I’m doing this is my office at work when applicable! Tossed catalogs and journals that were more than 3 months old! Gee that feels good!
I’m getting a late start, but day 1 is complete! Tossed and straightened!
Accomplished Day 1 a little late, but I”m thankful that I got rid of a gallon-sized ziploc bag of old CDs. Glad that is gone from my living room space. On to day 2!
I’m done, I went on to the second 5 min, and so ended up using a total of almost 30 minutes total – well worth it !
Done Day 1!
Yeah! great stuff- when in doubt- toss it OUT! 🙂
Done!
Done!!!
Done! This one was easy, we’re in a very temporary rental and when we moved in a few months back a LOT of things got culled! =)
This was the hardest over the weekend — so many items seem to be “valuable” but yet rarely used. Lots went out but still one box of delayed decision making left. I may tape it shut and check on it in six months to see if I remember what’s in it.
Very easy! It didn’t even take 5 min since the living room isn’t too bad!
Done! have some catching up to do, but we were on spring break last week, so this is perfect timing.
Couple days behind on finding your marathon…but I am OFF and running!!!! Getting on living area today and making up ground with an extra 5 in the bathroom!!