Don’t Declutter First

Everyone always says that before you organize, decluttering is the first step.  I agree that you can't organize clutter…but I think there's actually a step before decluttering that is often overlooked.  Keep reading or watch the video here to find out if you're skipping this crucial first step!

There are soooo many things to do to get and keep our homes in order:

• decluttering
• organizing
• tidying up
• setting up systems
• laundry
• dishes
• cooking
• cleaning

There's a LOT more involved in managing a home!  All this takes a lot of energy– both mental and physical.  You have to physically do the things:  move stuff around, drive it to the donation center, etc.  Then you also have to make decisions on what to keep or declutter, how to organize it, and figure out how to fit all this extra work into your normal busy life.

The number one way to actually stick with your plan to get your home in order is by having the energy to do it.  You absolutely must take care of yourself so you can show up with your best energy!  Getting your home in order is never a quick, easy project.  It takes consistency and sustained effort.  You have to have energy reserves to be able to keep going!

So what do I mean by taking care of yourself?  I don't mean bubble baths, although if you enjoy that, by all means do that.  But there are things that are even more important than taking time for fun things.

Sleep

This is the #1 domino that can make things go in the right (or wrong!) direction.  If you're well rested, you can manage everything else so much more easily!  It literally makes everything else better.  Everything feels more doable, and I always make better and wiser decisions if I'm well rested.  If I'm not sleeping well, I drag all day long.  I have brain fog.  So when it comes time to think about what I want to keep or let go, or how to best organize and implement a new pantry system, it just isn't going to go well or quickly.

If I'm tired, it also bleeds into every other area of my life!  I don't feel like exercising or going for a walk.  I tend to eat more junk food and less healthy food.  This is just a downward spiral for me.

Sleep doesn't fix everything, but it's definitely the best place to start and the first thing to fix if you're not well rested.  So DO NOT stay up late to fit in your decluttering projects, LOL.  If you've been going too hard for too long, you're just going to have to cut back to find time.  What can you say “no” to, even if it's just temporarily?

I tend to not factor in enough time for a lot of activities.  If I'm making dinner, I might plan enough time to cook and eat, but I forget to plan for cleanup time.  If I'm getting ready in the morning, I'll plan enough time to get dressed and put on a little makeup, but I don't leave enough time for a healthy breakfast before rushing out the door.  Try to be realistic about how much time you actually need.

Regular Meals

This is something I really struggle with.  Often I get so busy that I just snack all throughout my day instead of sitting down to eat an real, healthy meal.  If you're going to operate at max energy, you need to fuel your body with healthy food!  I would feel so much better if I just sat down and ate a balanced meal instead of grabbing a few crackers or a cookie here and there.  I'm not being more productive my skipping meals. I'm just making my energy slack.

I show up so much better when I take the time to eat breakfast, break for lunch, and then eat a balanced dinner.  When I do videos, I try to sleep well, eat a healthy breakfast, drink water, and get dressed because I know I need to bring my A-game!  This is what I should be doing to take care of myself every day!

Getting Dressed

This can be a real struggle if you work from home or if your job is managing your home.  If you don't have to leave the house, it can be really tempting to just stay in your PJs all day.  But I never do my best work in my PJs.  I'm just not nearly as productive because my brain is still in lounging mode.

Even if I don't put on super nice clothes, just taking the time to brush my hair and put on a little makeup goes a LONG way!  I feel like I'm ready for the day.  Plus, I don't have to worry about getting in an accident or having to get out of the car in the dropoff line at my kids school.  With my luck, that would be the ONE day I'm still in PJs!

Putting on shoes has the biggest effect for me.  Once my shoes are on, I'm ready to go and ready to work!  It's like a switch flips in my brain.

Do This in the Background

You don't have to be perfect at all of these before you start decluttering and getting your home in order.  But definitely keep these things in mind and do your best to show up for yourself and give your body what it needs to carry you through your day.

Sometimes I feel like taking care of myself “isn't productive,” but this couldn't be farther from the truth.  Yes, sleeping takes 8 hours!  But getting those 8 hours in makes you soooo much more efficient during your day that it really pays off.

Sometimes I'll rush into activities because I don't want to “waste time.”  One thing I find myself doing is getting home from the gym and plowing straight into work without taking a shower.  I feel totally gross the rest of the day, and I 100% know it affects my work productivity.  It would have been so much better if I had just taken the 30 minutes to take a shower.  I would feel better, and I would be less distracted from my work by feeling gross!

Hopefully this helps you realize that you need to take care of yourself in order to be able to show up for yourself and your family and accomplish your goals!  It's kind of like putting your own oxygen mask on first in an airplane.  Once you're sleeping well and taking care of yourself…it's time to declutter!  If you're ready to get going on a major declutter, check out my decluttering playlist over on YouTube here!

Organization that actually sticks for busy, happy lives