A new year for many people means a fresh restart to life and new beginnings. A majority of people feel a new year means time to clean and declutter their entire house. Over winter break, many adults were off from work, and students were out of school. Since many people were home, they have plenty of time on their hands to start new projects in their house or clean. Winter break was a time filled with people receiving new gifts, which caused them to want to purge old items they had.
When decluttering, people should develop a plan. According to an article by Sherry Bowen, the first plan before starting to clean is to set goals. It is important to set goals, so people know how long a project they want to clean may take. The next step is to take your declutter project and break it down into manageable jobs. This means people can take their time and do a little bit every day. The third step is to start with the visible areas first when cleaning. When people start cleaning what is in plain sight, it will encourage them to keep going. Afterwards, people should confront the hidden spaces. Some people, when decluttering, forget about hidden spots like under the sink and closets. Step five includes sorting and deciding. I agree with Sherry Bowen that if someone picks up something, they should ask themselves if it brings them joy; if not, get rid of it. This is a helpful tool when trying to clean and organize. In step 6, Bowen states people should contain their clutter and get creative. It is important to have organization and put objects in a container when cleaning. Sherry Bowen’s last step is to eliminate the extras. I believe if people have something they have not used recently, then they should get rid of it. Planning helps with time management when people decide to declutter.
According to an article by Julia Ubbenga, the five major things minimalists declutter during winter break include kids’ toys, visible and unused clutter, expectations, schedules, and toys. This means new toys are more likely to enter people’s homes. If people get rid of old toys, then they will have more room for their new ones. Visible clutter can make people feel stressed and exhausted. People should minimize the visible clutter in their house by starting with easy objects like their laundry basket. Starting with easy items helps people have the energy to keep cleaning. Many minimalists let go of any expectations when decluttering. If someone has expectations, then they are more likely to increase their stress. Next, minimalists declutter their schedules. Decluttering schedules is effective in regaining peace and presence during the stressful winter break. Lastly, minimalists prioritize their own needs to be more present.
For example, I cleaned my closet during the winter break. Many teenagers tend to receive clothes during Christmas that they have to put away, so it is the perfect time to clean out the closets. According to senior Brennan Deeter, he cleaned out his closet after receiving new clothing. I also helped my parents redo our living room by painting and removing furniture.
Overall, decluttering is common during the winter. When people free up space, it helps them feel stress-free and lets them relax. Decluttering also makes people feel relieved. I know decluttering can be a huge hassle, but the end result makes people feel happy and accomplished. Whenever someone is bored and has free time on their hands, I recommend cleaning.
