5 reasons why mess needs to go

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... and 6 ways to get you on track


As we launch into Spring, it is the perfect time for a spring clean up. And there are many benefits to doing this:
1.     Decrease the stress of the mess
2.     Cleaning can be made fun
3.     Make money from discarded items
4.     Reduce wasted time chasing kids and picking up
5.     Spend more quality time doing fun things with the family

Mess and Stress
Whether it we realize it or not, having mountains of stuff around us adds to stress levels because there are endless jobs not yet completed. It can be so overwhelming that it becomes a mountain when it started out as just as a molehill. If ignored, it gets under feet, and guilt sets in :“I should be more organized” or “I’ll get to that soon”.

Create fun ways to declutter
This is something that the whole family can do together. It is not the responsibility of one person because everyone has contributed to the current situation.
Find favourite tunes and enjoy the process. If different family members have different styles, take turns and get silly so it’s a fun activity.



Make money from clutter
Once there is a collection of items, set up a garage sale. Even add in a lemonade stand for the kids to man. It’s a great way to meet neighbours as well as being a money making venture!
If there is not much of a result from this, online selling is worth looking at, but requires taking snaps of each item and posting them or arranging pick ups.
And then there is always Pay It Forward sites or op shops that are glad for donations.
So there is a feel good component to de-cluttering, too.


Clean as you go
Parenting books suggest that kids’ toys can be strewn around all day as long as there is a clean up at the end of the day. One way to minimize this is to downsize on the number of toys available, especially when the most fun is had pulling out all the toys onto the floor. Having only half a dozen available at a time, and a similar amount of books, keeps kids’ attention. Then toys and books can be rotated when it’s time for a change.

Time to focus on more important things
Clutter can distract from fun activities as well as important things. Instead of planning a trip to the beach, maybe everyone stays home intending to tackle the mountain of work around the house. At the end of the weekend, everyone is still stressed, the clutter is still there, and may even be worse because everyone was home during the day.
Or the opposite happens, where everyone goes out to avoid the mess and comes home to see it still piled up.

When we decide to do something about it, we often don’t know where to start or how to tackle it. Try one of these this week to get motivated:

Tips to get started:
1.     Set aside a time each weekend to clean and the whole family can help (when no one has sport or work or parties planned). 
2.     Start with one room at a time and don't move on until that one is done.
3.     Clothes are a big challenge. A whole blog could be dedicated to this but start with things not worn last season that are coming into season and still not being worn. These need to go because it’s been two years already.
4.     Hand-me downs are fantastic for kids but just make sure that when new comes in, old goes out, too.
5.     Pack after play: When looking into Montessori schools, I noticed a policy that items used are not to be passed on to other kids but to be put away first then another child can play with it. So kids learn to put things away after using them. It takes some time to develop this habit but well worth it in the long run.
6.     And if it comes down to it, get someone else to do it. Having someone come to clean the house means tidying up beforehand which forces a clean up even if once a fortnight to keep costs down!

Good luck! It will feel great just getting started.

By E K Wills
Author and Mum
https://www.amazon.com.au/Mums-Word-Secret-Diary-Mother-ebook/dp/B06X6B5SCC

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