place to start the decluttering process,
because throwing away chipped
dishes and expired spices isn’t as
taxing as wading through boxes of
potentially important paperwork or
personal items. Take everything out of
the fridge and cupboards and spread
it all out on a counter or table so it’s
easy to review. Give shelves a good
wipe-down and restock them with
the necessities, putting go-to things
within easy reach, and donating or
storing appliances and dishes that are
used less often.
The surprising
health benefits of
decluttering!
G
etting your house in order can
be a struggle, especially as we
age. Sorting through decades of
belongings is often emotional and
stressful, as questions and decisions
pile up: Is this jewelry valuable? What
should I do with all these tools I no
longer use? Will this china set have
sentimental value to my children?
BPT
A study at Indiana University showed
that people with clean houses are
healthier than people with messy
houses. Regular household chores like
vacuuming and washing windows
can be great physical activity. A tidy
home can also mean we’re more likely
to invite people over - prompting
interactions that can help alleviate
feelings of depression and isolation
But while it can be exhausting, this that can accompany aging.
effort to declutter and simplify can be
worthwhile, not only for our homes With these tips, decluttering
but also for our health.
doesn’t need to be a dreaded
task:
The advantages of decluttering
* Don’t judge yourself. It’s harder to
Getting rid of things you no longer decide what to do with items that have
need or want may have a positive been in the family for generations
effect on mental health and can also than it might be for millennials to
make for a safer environment. It’s a decide what to do with items from
sobering fact that every 12 seconds, their college years.
according to the CDC, someone over
age 64 will fall and end up in the * Take it one room at a time. According
emergency room. Decluttering can to a study by Moen, the most-cluttered
help keep paths clear and obstacles areas of a home are the garage, kitchen
to a minimum.
and home office. The kitchen is a good
14
|
WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE
|
AUGUST 2018
Once you feel good about your
progress in the kitchen, move on to
tackle the garage, office and other
spaces where belongings tend to pile
up. Like closets!
* Keep only what you wear the most.
Pick a handful of favorite outfits for
everyday wear, social outings and
special occasions, seasonal wear and
wardrobe staples, and donate the rest.
If it’s hard to part with handmade
or other sentimental items, consider
finding creative ways to remember
them, such as making a memory
quilt of old T-shirts or photographing
special items for an album and then
letting them go.
* Stop the build-up before it begins.
Keep a recycling bin handy for
unwanted credit card offers and
coupon packs before they enter
the house, and unsubscribe from
magazines and newspapers if they pile
up unread. Eco-Cycle has some tips to
cull the tide of junk mail, and mobile
apps like Evernote can help collect
and digitize recipes, warranties,
instruction manuals and memorabilia
to clear away more piles of paper.
At the end of the day, it’s OK to hang
on to belongings that are near and
dear to you. But for items that don’t
hold sentimental or functional value,
kick-start a decluttering mission
today so you can enjoy a tidier, safer
home tomorrow.