Glad to Give: Decluttering Tips
I read a recent article showing a positive correlation between clutter and stress. The more clutter you have in your home the higher your cortisol stress levels. I’m not sure I needed a study to tell me this, but in case I needed scientific proof that my burgeoning closets, overflowing bookshelves, and messy floors lead to feeling stressed out–I now have it! The good news is that with a little self-discipline and focus we can cut the clutter, help others in need, organize our homes, and de-stress!
Today I am partnering with Glad and their #GladtoGive campaign to share real stories from celebrities and everyday people who are inspiring others through their giving. Click to watch how celebrity philanthropists Tyrese Gibson, Ayesha Curry, and Kid President are partnering with the Glad to Give program to inspire acts of giving. I love the video by Kid President! He always makes me smile and has such a great message on spreading the good. 🙂
My Glad to Give Story
As a decorating blogger, I am constantly redecorating our rooms, creating new decor, and updating our home. Instead of selling my gently used decor, I am glad to give to those in need (and want!) by donating our items to local charities. Recently as I was making a large drive-through donation to a local charity, a woman in the car behind me saw some of the items I was unloading from my trunk. She came running up and asked if I would mind gifting her with a sunflower painting and a few toss pillows she saw in my donation bags. She explained that one of her close friends was going through a tough time and would absolutely love these items for her new living situation. I was glad to give these items to her, knowing that I was making her friend’s day a little bit brighter and her new living situation a little bit cheerier! You just never know who might be blessed by the things you no longer need, so let go of your clutter with a smile!
Decluttering Tip 1: Pick one small section of your house to organize at a time.
You’ve most likely been there before. Your house is a wreck and you set out to organize it. Maybe you pick one room to do today. You try and tackle the entire room at once, end up wandering in circles while feeling overwhelmed, and then stuff it all back in the drawers or closet and vow to do it at another time.
Big goals are always accomplished in small, manageable, bite-sized chunks! Instead of setting out to tackle an entire room, focus on one very small, manageable section of a room at a time. For example, in my guest bedroom I chose to tackle the bookshelves. We have A LOT of books and it’s time to let some of them go. Instead of focusing on the entire bookshelf, I chose to focus my attention on two sections on the left. I set a timer for one hour and sorted through those two sections in that time. Make your goals obtainable from the outset and you will find success!
Decluttering Tip 2: If it isn’t immediately beautiful, functional, or sentimental, then let it go.
The key word in this tip is immediately. I frequently have trouble letting go of items that I just know will hold some purpose in my life at some point down the road. And it’s true. There have been times after I’ve donated something that I’ve wished I had that item back for some functional reason or another. But there has never been a time where I deeply regretted letting go of something. We are great at talking ourselves out of letting go of most everything in our lives. If you’re questioning whether or not you really need it, just get rid of it.
Decluttering Tip 3: Sort the mess into three piles: keep, donate, and trash.
Don’t create a “maybe keep” pile. Be strict with yourself and donate the items you no longer have use for and throw away the items that are irreparable or not able to be donated. I like to use the yellow ForceFlex Glad bags for all of my donations and the black ones for all of my trash. It is the easiest way to color-code and separate your trash from your donations.
Decluttering Tip 4: Utilize free donation pickups in your area.
Glad is making giving even easier. On the GladtoGive.com page, scroll down and enter your zipcode to find a local charity that schedules free pick-ups in your area! Depending on where you live, many local charities will come to your driveway at a pre-scheduled time and load and carry all of your eligible donations away for you. This will hold you accountable to having your items ready to donate by a certain date and will save you a trip!
Purging your home can be difficult and stressful, but knowing that your donations are bringing joy to others certainly helps! Glad believes that communities are built around human connections and giving back to those around you. Hearing what people are doing every day to help their communities, inspires others to get involved. It’s a new year, a new beginning, and a new chance to declutter your home and help those in need. What are you glad to give? Click here to share your inspirational story or tell me in the comments! Let’s make 2017 the year we consume less, give more, and inspire others in the process!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Glad Products Company . The opinions and text are all mine.