tips for a tidy space
We all know the saying, “tidy space, tidy mind”, and for most people, this rings true. I know personally it helps me declutter my mind by taking time to clean my environment. For me, my room is my safe space, and I like to keep it in tip-top condition and make it a stress-free zone. Nothing stresses me out more than coming home to a pile of what seems to be an insurmountable mess. I’m fortunate, in that I actually enjoy cleaning. I find it calming and nothing feels better than that rush of dopamine after completing a task with instant visible results. I know that for others, keeping a room tidy can feel like a never ending battle, but never fear! I come bearing gifts in the form of tips that can hopefully help any messy-prone readers.
Tip 1: “I pick things up, I put things down”
Sounds simple right? If you put something down, you should pick it up, sooner rather than later. We’ve all been there, frantically trying on outfits until you find the one. Maybe there’s a deadline, your date texted you that they’re already on the way, and you still haven’t located your favorite going-out shoes. One thing is for sure, you are not going to be putting away laundry after a night out. And what if the date goes well and you invite them back to your place? Wouldn’t you have wished that instead of throwing discarded dresses or evening slacks across your bed, that you had hung them up or folded them and put them back in their rightful place? I get it, maybe you didn’t think you had the time, but it’s going to save you time the next day when you’re possibly hungover and have to go collecting your various articles of clothing that have been strewn about. I know it’s easier said than done, but if you pick something up, you should put it straight back to where it lives. Side note: this author does not have kids, and clearly this tip may be harder to apply if you have tiny humans.
Tip 2: Consistency is key
If you want to maintain a tidy space, you have to be consistent. 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes at night of tidy time will go a long way. You don’t have to deep clean your kitchen every single day, that’s not sustainable, but placing your dishes straight in the dishwasher is something small and easy to do that really does make a difference. Within this tip, make it a habit to make your bed in the morning! We’ve all heard this one before, but starting off your day with a tidy bed will make it easier for you to maintain a clean space. If you haven’t even made your bed, it’s unlikely that you’ll feel motivated to tidy up the rest of your room. This leads us straight into our next tip...
Tip 3: Don’t make it harder than it has to be
If clutter makes you anxious like it does for me, perhaps filling your home with Knick-knacks isn’t the best course of action. Similarly, if it’s always been hard for you to make your bed a daily habit, perhaps consider not having 30 pillows and 3 different blankets adorning your bed.
Yes I agree that nothing is prettier than having a beautifully made bed that is fun and full of different textures and colors, but if those pillows spend most of their time on the ground, perhaps they aren’t necessary. At the end of the day, you want to make it easy for yourself to
keep your home free of mess, and sometimes that means taking a deep breath, and Marie Kondo-ing the heck out of your possessions.
Tip 4: Divide and Conquer
Sometimes life gets the best of us, and we end up with more mess than we can tackle in just 10 minutes. Sometimes the more the mess builds, the more we put it off. I’ve found that it’s easier for me to get started when I divide up my tasks into smaller tasks. Feel like you can’t possibly clean your whole room? Divide your space into sections and start there. I always like to start with clothes, they always make a room feel more cluttered than it really is. Pick your clothes up, either place them in a laundry bin or hang them back up and take a look to see how much tidier your space already feels. This initial step helps you feel more motivated to keep cleaning. Sometimes you can’t do it all in one go, and that’s okay! Just start with something small. Remember, something is always better than nothing. And finally,
Tip 5: Make it fun!
Make cleaning something fun for you to do, not just another chore on a list. Make it the time that you listen to a podcast, or put on some music. Put on a timer and move your body while you tidy up your place! You can even put on a show while you take care of the mess. This time can be anything you want it to be, so make it something you enjoy doing!