With the dynamic situation in the world and all of our collective overwhelm at what’s happening, if your house is anything like mine, it’s gotten a little out of control. Lots of things have been taken out, played with, and used and not many things have been put away. It always makes me feel better – calmer and more under control – when I’ve taken a little bit of time to declutter.
If you live alone or have a full house with a family, this simple, yet effective practice will have you feeling calm, cool, and collected in no time. Nicole and I call this the #Neatnik15 or the #Family15. If you have a family, this is a great way to pull together as a team and to teach your children a feeling of responsibility and empowerment.
Here’s how it works:
Set a timer on your phone or the stove for 15 minutes. Everyone in the family does as much as they can for 15 minutes cleaning up, putting away, and decluttering. You can assign areas of the house or categories to each person or you can keep it more freewheeling. You would be amazed at how much you can accomplish in 15 minutes! If you don’t get it all done in 15 minutes, no problem. If you want to keep going, set the timer for another 15 minutes. If not, you’ve gotten a lot done and can do it again tomorrow or another time. Make this a regular part of your routine and your house will be well-organized in no time! (Share your experiences with this technique on social media using #Neatnik15 or #Family15 and tag us at @NeatnikDC!)
My family and I swear by these short, but effective clean up sessions. Try it and see how you feel. Please let us know about your experiences!