One of the reasons I look forward to summer is because I finally have time to declutter (organization
NERD hello). These first few weeks of summer act as a little "reset" for me: time to take a breath, practice some self-care, and spend lots of time in the sun. My "reset" also includes a whole lot of organization. However, I
don't want to spend TOO much time organizing, and I want my results to last, so I have a specific way I tidy up. For this post, I've chronicled my best tips for organization, sorted
by type of space!
To start off your organization spree, make your bed and get
everything off your floor. This way, you'll have space to lay things out
on while you organize. This will reduce frustration and cut down on time it takes you to declutter.
+FIRST AREA: CLOSET AND/OR DRESSER
Start by taking all of your clothes out of your closet and
laying them on your bed. You are going to be sorting into four piles: warm
weather clothes to keep, cold weather clothes to keep, donate/hand-me-down, and
recycle (I'll get to the how to recycle later).
Pick up each item of clothing and think about if it's really
you (wear what you are!), if it brings you joy, if it is in good condition, and, the big question: if you were in a store would you buy this right now? If you answer yes
to those questions, put it in the pile for its weather type. If you decide to part with it but it's still in
good condition, put it in your donate/hand-me-down pile. And if it's something that no
one will want, put it in the recycle pile. Do this with all of the clothing.
+WHAT TO DO WITH THE PILES
Keep:
Put the clothes you decide to keep back in your closet, with
the current season's clothes most accessible. Here's the catch: put the hangers
backwards. When you wear something, put the hanger the correct way. At the end
of the year or season, if the hanger is still backwards then it's probably time
to part with that piece of clothing since you haven't found time to wear it
(unless it's like a Dior ball gown, def keep that).
Donate/Give Away:
Find these clothes loving homes. Whether it's making a Goodwill
drop off, sending them home with friends, giving them to your younger neighbor,
or even selling them on Poshmark, make sure these don't hang around in your
room for much longer.
Recycle:
Take these to your local H&M. You'll get 15% off and
they'll recycle them, so it's a win-win! Some Levi's, American Eagle, Madewell,
and North Face stores do this too for various rewards. Get rewarded for
rewarding YOURSELF by decluttering and for rewarding THE EARTH by recycling.
Win-win-win-win.
As for your dresser, do the same "four pile" method as above.
Additionally, fold your tshirts like how I did below and invest in small bins for undies
and socks.
+SECOND AREA: DESK/STUDY SPACE
I know for me, this is the place that takes the biggest hit
from clutter. Before you start to tidy, think about yourself and your study
habits. This will help you know what to save so that you can refer to it later.
For me, I only save my notebooks from Spanish because everything else I can
easily look up on Google or in my virtual notebooks. I gather old
course materials from throughout the year and recycle them. I try to save
binders and folders for future use if they're in good shape!
Then, go through your supplies like pencils and sort out
anything that you have too many of. Donate those to a local school supply drive
if they're use-able. Anything that's broken should be recycled or thrown it away. Lastly, put together a pencil bag of things to use next year so you
know what you'll need to buy!
+THIRD AREA: BATHROOM
One of my biggest solutions for bathroom clutter was getting a small bin for things I use every day. It has my foundation and brush, eyelash curler, mascara, cleanser, and moisturizer. I take it out from the cabinet, use the items, then put it away. This also helps set apart what you really use, and what you can throw away.
Go through your makeup and toss what's past its prime/dried out/has been replaced. Throw away samples you won't use and empty bottles. If you have an awesome product that you love, like a great mascara, then throw away all other mascaras.
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I hope these tips will help you clear your clutter, and therefore clear your mind! I've also been pinning some awesome minimalist interior design inspo and organization tips on this Pinterest board.
stay sunny
meg
