Spring Cleaning is in the air!

Part 1 of a Spring Series

Hello World!  I recently launched Chic & Neat an Interior Design & Organizational Firm with a Spiritual & Green Twist! I have lots to say about the Home, Mind, Heart, Soul, Family, Food & the Outdoors!  So this is for whoever is listening!

It’s that time of the year again, when the tulips start peeking their ears out of the ground and the daffodils are in bloom, and the smell of Spring is in the air!  I like to take the coming of Spring as an opportunity to dust off whatever I shelved when Winter hit and get ready for the growth that can happen at this time of year, before the heat of the Summer takes over!

With the warmth of Spring comes an energy, a motivational energy, out of hibernation and ready to get things done!  Put that energy to good use & dust off those running shoes, fill your bike tires with air, get outside into the fresh air and let the sunshine fill you up with happiness & clarity, this will better equip you to tackle those unfinished projects at home or anything else that comes your way!

First lets discuss why things pile up.  Busy lives get in the way of cleaning your apartment?  Backing up your computer?  Cleaning out that closet?  Well now it’s time to dust off that ignored project and get it done using that Spring time sunshine energy!!  You can do it!!

When starting an unfinished project I like to plan how I will tackle it before jumping in!  You must also set a goal and time period in which to complete that project (Tip: be realistic with your schedule, stamina & attention span!)

1. Goal
2. Plan
3. Time Period

Now you’re ready to get started!

Lets use the following as an example: You have a set of bookshelves filled with items you do not currently use & stacks of books all over the floor which you want on the bookshelves.  So your goal is clear:

1. Goal: Get books off the floor and onto the bookshelves!

Next figure out your plan of attack:

2. Plan:  Quickly look at the items on the shelves and decide what categories they can be divided into.  For example – Keep, Toss, Storage, Donate & Borrowed from a friend.  Then get boxes, bags or bins, one for each category, label them  and begin sorting away!

3. Time Period: 2 Hours per day until complete!

At first it might seem a daunting task, but once you start (if you went for that bike ride in the sun) you will get the boost of energy necessary to complete the task ASAP!  Because who wants to spend their whole day indoors sorting books!?! Not me!!

Tip: If you are slow to the start, my technique for deciding each items fate is to ask myself :  “Do I Need, Want or Use this item?”  If “No” is your answer it’s outta here!  If it’s “Yes” it stays!  That should help you get started and the more you do it, the faster you’ll get at it, until  the bookshelves are empty, the bins are full, and you have space on the shelves for all the books on the floor!!

Of course it may not be that easy the first time around but you’ll get better with practice.

For more assistance contact us at Chic & Neat, we are Unfinished Project Specialists and can help you with everything from Bookshelves to Closets & Desks!

Completing a project gives you a great sense of accomplishment!  And you cleared your floor and filled your shelves with books you look forward to reading!  Great job!  Now you are free to enjoy!  Until your next project…Thanks for reading!

Happy Spring Cleaning Everyone!!

XOXO

Pamela~

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