So, the apartment is full of clutter, and I have felt so drained and lethargic. I believe wholly that clutter and objects have energy about them. For the last few months, I have given away alot of items to Goodwill, and have done a good job clearing away paper and other miscellaneous. Yet the last few weeks, I have been interviewing and a little stressed because the job market has been bad. Ironically, my apartment has followed suit and there is alot of clutter. I realize now that it is true that the external state is a reflection of one's internal state. Yet, when I believe it is also possible to influence the internal state by changing the external state. For this reason, I have to start decluttering again. I am not looking forward to it because I have decluttered so much in the last few months, that I feel a little dejected that I have allowed the clutter to return. I am worried it will return. I am trying to figure out how I allowed it to return to this state. I think it is because I have been so busy that I cannot find things, and end up going through my closet or papers. Perhaps, I need to downsize my possessions a little more.
I have had a hard time getting myself to start the last two days, but I have only 3 days until my new job starts, and I also have to alter alot of work clothes, so this needs to be done first. Here is how I am going to start.
1. Start with the kitchen sink. Cleaning the dishes somehow makes you get into the spirit of cleaning and want to see the other parts of the house just as clean. Gather all the dishes and cups lying about before you start washing. After you are done with the sink, clean out the refrigerator, take out the trash. After that, I also clean the bathroom sink and the toilet.
2. The third area that I do is the apartment floors. Pick up everything from the floor and put it on a shelf or closet. If there are clothes or books on the floor, put them in a chair.
3. Hang or fold all clothing that are lying about. Put all dirty clothing in a laundry basket or bag. Hang or fold the clean clothing. If you do not have enough hangers or drawer space, only hang the ones you wear often and put the remaining in a shopping bag or plastic bin. Fold your comforter or make your bed while you are at it because it will give a neater look.
4. Next clean your desk. Throw away all small pieces of paper, like old receipts, and put others that you may need, such as business cards in a box. The desk is usually important to a person's productivity as this is where they do alot of work, and by it being clean, you will not only feel more productive, but more energetic and inspired to do the rest of the apartment.
5. Sweep or vaccuum the floor. If you have time, you can mop the floor and enjoy a nice coffee, book or video to relish your completion as you let it dry.
6. Throw away old magazines. I sometimes sort through them and tear out articles or cut out pictures, but I find that this creates more clutter. So, only keep an article or picture if you love it, and limit yourself to only having 25 articles and 25 pictures saved total in your entire article stash.
7. Create a donation bag and leave near the door for the next time you go out. Evaluate the clothing that could not fit in your closet to see whether you really use or need each one of these items. If you don't have time or energy, another day, you can make a list or count all of your clothing, and then go through this pile and decide whether you need these items or already have enough of these. I also suggest doing this for shoes and household items.
This whole process does not have to occur in one day, but I suggest finishing each task that you start so you are not disgruntled and feel motivated to continue on the list the next time you declutter.
If you need some motivational words on how decluttering is good for your life, check out this post on letting go.
