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23rd May 2021

Ditch clutter: 10 easy ways to get more organised – and you can start today

Trine Jensen-Burke

ditch the clutter

Sure we all love it when we have the time and energy to tackle of one those massive organisation projects at home.

You know, like, the hot press or the garage – or that spare room that has basically been used as a storage for clothes in need for ironing for the past year-and-a-half.

However, sometimes there just isn’t time for that level of organising (seriously – who has the time?), but I have discovered that I can almost get that same feeling of having pulled my life together by instead tackling a few, much quicker and less intimidating organising projects.

Try one – or all – of these this week, and you’ll be surprised at the level of calm it’ll bring you.

Even better? Commit to doing these every week, and you’ll find yourself feeling a whole lot more organised at all times:

1. Clean out your handbag(s)

Old energy bar wrappers, receipts, five million pens – and probably, if you are a mum like me, a handful of Pokemon cards, a hair clip, some dummies and God knows what else. Lay a towel of the floor and empty your bag(s) out, give the inside a quick wipe with a baby wipe, and carefully place back in only what you need.

 

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Purses can be the gathering place for all sorts of things. From receipts, snacks, flyers and change purses can become a catch-all for the things that life throws at us daily. Purses eventually build up and collect more and more; this makes our bags become a cluttered and unorganized mess.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A quick way to prevent this build up is by simply emptying your purse daily. That may sound crazy but once you have a system down it’s actually very easy.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Emptying your purse daily will help to ?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? Create an organized bag.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ☁️ Create a light bag! You’ll only have what you need for that particular trip.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? Make sure important tasks are not forgotten. If an invitation is stuffed in some obscure pocket of your bag it probably won’t make it to your calendar or in a scheduling discussion with your spouse. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ♻️ Make switching bags a cinch. Do you need the pool bag instead of your everyday bag? No problem! Grab what you need and go! No more shuffling through a mess to find what you need!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Here are a few more tips for keeping an organized bag ?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? Get a purse with lots of pockets and have a home for everything in your purse. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? Choose a specific location where your lip balm, receipts and other items go.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? Keep purse contents to a minimum. Only take what you need for that trip.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? Generally, don’t opt for the huge suitcase as a purse. We tend to fill the space we have so choose something functional but also slim.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This single task of emptying your purse daily, turns something that is typically cluttered into a functional and simple⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ tool for carry our belongings … After all, isn’t that what a purse is for?

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2. Open all the mail

Have stuff piled up on your kitchen counter or dining table? Throw out envelopes, junk mail, and keep only what needs to be kept (don’t throw any bills out!)

3. Go through your makeup bag and toss everything old or that you don’t use

And while you are at it, give your makeup bag a wipe down – it probably needs it.

4. Take a bag out to the car and clean out all the rubbish

And if you have time, hoover it as well.

5. Organise the cutlery drawer

You’ll feel a little burst of happiness every time you look inside it.

6. Clean your fridge

Toss anything that has gone off, put stuff about to go off to the front, so it can be used, and make a note of what needs to be re-stocked.

7. Colour-code your wardrobe

Put everything of similar colour/hue together, and it will make it easier to mix and match outfits in the morning. Plus, it looks super-chic.

8. Write out your calendar for the month

Yes, I know we all have Google calendars these days, but there is a lot to be said for having an IRL one as well, taped to the fridge or somewhere where everyone can see it. And while you are at it, make a to-do list for the week ahead too.

9.  Delete screenshots and photos you don’t need or want

I probably have a few thousand of these, tbh.

 

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When we talk about simplifying our lives, it is not just about getting rid of stuff or slowing down (which is a big part). Somethings we can’t get rid of or we can’t say no to. So what are some ways we can make those things easier and simpler? One of our favorite ways to do that is by using a food management app! ?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Here are some ways a good food management app can make your life easier ?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ✉️ Interactive recipes cards⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⚖️ Scale the recipe for your needed portions ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ✅ Check off directions and steps as you cook⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? Highlight what step you’re on while cooking ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? Easily clip online recipes⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? Simplified meal planning⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ✍️ Easily add specific recipes and notes to your meal plan for the week ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? After you’ve compiled your meal plan, easily add all your needed grocery items to a shopping list⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? Interactive and organized grocery lists⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ?Organize your grocery lists based on locations within the store so when you’re in the produce section, you get everything you need. Plus, easily check off items as you go⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ?Pantry Inventory⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ?Keep track of what you already have stocked in your kitchen⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And more!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Here are a few that we recommend?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Paprika ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Pepperplate⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Prepear⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Plan to eat⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do you use a food management app? If so, which one and what is your favorite thing about it?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #mealplanning #mealprep #familymealplanning

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10. Delete any apps on your phone that you don’t use

We all have at least five apps we haven’t looked at in MONTHS

(Feature image via The Little Market)