The toys we thought we’d need to raise our children during this time.īut as the global pandemic enters its third year, we can begin to see, in the brilliant words of Maya Angelou, “We need much less than we think we need.”ĭecluttering the unneeded possessions from our home frees up space in our home (and garage). The entertainment system we thought we’d use to pass the time. The exercise equipment we thought we’d use to get in shape during the pandemic. Over the last two years, we accumulated lots of stuff we don’t need. But if Americans were decluttering their homes during the pandemic, most immediately filled them back up again.Īs Spring begins to bloom, no doubt families in both red states and blue states will return to their annual ritual of Spring Cleaning.īut this year, perhaps more than ever before, we should consider the benefits of Spring Decluttering, not just Spring Cleaning. By the middle of the pandemic, Americans were spending 38% more on consumer goods in the “home category.”Īnecdotal stories of donation centers overrun with donations during the pandemic may have emerged. Time at home, ironically enough, resulted in more shopping. And not just a little- spending on consumer goods in December 2021 increased 22% from the previous highs in December of 2019. Bureau of Economic Analysis, by the end of 2021-a year plagued by a global pandemic and social isolation-Americans increased their spending on consumer goods. I only have a small space at home for my shoes so there’s no point be over-buying them,” she added.The COVID pandemic brought about changes not just in where America shopped, but in how much shopping we did.Īccording to the U.S. With shoes, when one pair comes in, another goes out. Once I’ve done that I can see I need a new swimsuit or would like to buy a couple of dresses. With summer clothes, I store mine up in the loft and bring them down before summer to review. “It’s also about planning what you need before going shopping. There’s always something that can creep back into the house and it’s important to keep on top of it with a quarterly review,” she said. “I recommend that people review their space every quarter to see what has crept in, because in every quarter there’s some kind of celebration from Christmas to Easter and summer holidays and Halloween. Nicola believes the key to doing that is to do a proper review every three months. Of course, decluttering is one thing, but maintaining it is something else entirely. Shop at Wayfair Credit: Wayfair How to keep your home clutter-free Another manageable task would be a chest of drawers,” she told us. Instead, choose a section in the wardrobe that you think you’ll be able to complete in the amount of time you have. “If you go into a bedroom and you know you’re only going to have an hour, don’t empty the whole wardrobe out. Have your to-do list to hand, and make sure it’s not too ambitious. “Always plan what you’re going to do before,” Nicola said. “I always say start off with small steps,” Nicola advised. We spoke to Nicola Lewis, organising expert and author of Mind Over Clutter, to get her top tips for decluttering if you only have an hour to spare. While it can be time-consuming and sometimes a little overwhelming, there is an easier way and it involves easing yourself into decluttering and chipping away at your to-do list. Decluttering can be a daunting task, and for some people the thought of going through cupboards, wardrobes and storage boxes and attempting to get rid of the mountains of stuff that’s accumulated is just too much, meaning they put it off completely.
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