Rita Wilkins's Blog, page 39
March 3, 2022
Start Decluttering Your Home Today!
Are you overwhelmed by the clutter in your home? Does it seem impossible to get started on decluttering? Do you feel as though you don’t even know where to start? Hi, I’m Rita Wilkins. Many know me as the Downsizing Designer, and I’m here to help you start decluttering your home. With the easy decluttering checklists you’ll find on my blog, you can get started on decluttering in no time.
The Trick Is To Find The Decluttering Method That Suits YouIf you haven’t been able to stick to your decluttering plan, it’s likely that you haven’t found the right method. That’s why I’m offering my 8 Proven Methods To Start Decluttering course! Here’s what you can expect when you sign up for this course:
8 different decluttering methods sent straight to your inbox Easy to follow decluttering checklists to help you get started The pros and cons of each method to help you choose which one is best for youDon’t wait – you can get started on your decluttering method today! Get your decluttering checklists today.
Learn How To Keep Your Home DeclutteredIn addition to learning the best decluttering method, I can help you learn how to keep your home decluttered, too. Be sure to read My 5 winning strategies to finally succeed at decluttering and remain clutter-free. This decluttering checklist will help you declutter your home now and keep it clutter-free in the long run!
Rita Wilkins Offers Lifestyle Design And Interior Design ServicesDo you want to learn more about downsizing and decluttering? Call Design Services LTD at 302-475-5663 to discuss your design needs. You can also connect with me by following me on Facebook and LinkedIn. Would you like complimentary advice from the downsizing designer? You can schedule a complimentary 30-minute call with me today.
The post Start Decluttering Your Home Today! first appeared on Design Services LTD.
March 1, 2022
Procrastinating? Distracted? No Excuse Guide to Decluttering
The Downsizing Designer
At the beginning of the year, did you promise yourself that this was the year you were finally going to declutter and get organized?
Here it is, 02/22/22, almost 2 months have passed and you are still struggling with clutter.
You’re overwhelmed because clutter just continues to pile up.
Never-ending streams of paperwork.Clutter from unfinished projects.Unread books/articles on your nightstands.Bills and receipts on your countertops and bookshelves.You’re distracted, having difficulty focusing, impacting your productivity and ability to get things done.
Clutter is taking its toll!
You’ve been procrastinating, putting off dealing with clutter because you can’t decide where to put it, so you just leave it out, adding to the clutter.
You’ve started to judge yourself because you feel like you’ve lost control of your life, you’ve lost confidence that you can get this done and you’re starting to feel like a failure.You’re exhausted! You’ve had enough! You just want to dig out from underneath all of this clutter that is weighing you down so you can get your life back!You just want to know how to stop procrastinating and make decluttering a priority in your life.But first, it’s helpful to understand the connection between clutter and procrastination.
Procrastination is simply delayed or deferred decisions.
Clutter is just one result of those deferred decisions.
Think about it:
The clothes you were too tired of to put in the laundry are laying on your chair.The corporate clothes that sit in your closet even though you retired two years ago.Those unopened boxes in the basement or garage were to have been stored for a temporary period of time.Each of these delayed decisions compounds the problem, creating a snowball effect they make the clutter feel like it will never end, making us feel uncomfortable in our own homes and reminding us of work that is never ever done.
Clutter is bad for our brains because our brains crave order. Clutter is a constant reminder of chaos and disorganization and it causes overwhelm, stress, distraction, and lack of focus and productivity.
Not making decisions about clutter is what causes us to feel stuck, unable to move forward.
While there is no magic bullet to cure clutter and all of the emotions associated with it, there are some life-changing steps you can take right now to start the process of letting go of the clutter that is weighing you down.
No Excuse Guide to Conquering Clutter: One Room, One Item, One Decision at A Time
STEP 1: DECIDE how you want to use a particular room
i.e., master bedroom purpose: sleep, relax, intimacy, clothing
Then ask, “Why is the elliptical in the master bedroom?” It is cluttering the room because it doesn’t belong. Put it in a room where it does belong.
STEP 2: DECIDE to reduce items in that room to only what you need, use, and that matter to you
Item by item: touch it, try it on.
Then ask, “Do you need it? Will you use it? Does it fit? Does it belong there?”
If not, put it where it belongs.
STEP 3: DECIDE on a “home” for each item
For all the items you’ve decided to keep, decide where each item belongs so that you can find it when you need it.
STEP 4: DECIDE on a system that will help you stay organizedSo you know where it belongs.So you can commit to putting it back each time you use it.These 4 steps are life-changing.Decide to decide. Don’t let indecision weigh you down any longer.The emotional impact of finally making decisions to let go is cathartic, empowering, and liberating.
February 24, 2022
Find Your Decluttering Method
Do you look around your home and only see clutter? Are you at a loss for what to do with it all? Do you wish you could just get rid of clutter but aren’t sure how? Hi, I’m Rita Wilkins, the Downsizing Designer. I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to let the clutter overwhelm you. You can learn how to get started decluttering today with my help.
I, too, once had too much clutter in my home. Today, I live with 95% less than what I once owned. I successfully decluttered and downsized my life. You can, too, with the help of my online course.
Find The Decluttering Method That Works For YouThe trick to successfully decluttering your home is to find the method that works for you. My 8 Proven Methods To Start Decluttering online course is designed to help you find your method! Read through all of the methods and then find the approach that works for you. My course can teach you all of the following and more:
How to declutter item by item. How to declutter with the help of friends or family. How to declutter room by room.Once you find the decluttering trick that works for you, getting started is easy. Each method comes with easy decluttering checklists that help you from start to finish. Don’t let his opportunity pass you by! Sign up for my 8 Proven Methods To Start Decluttering course today.
Rita Wilkins Offers Lifestyle Design And Interior Design ServicesDo you want to learn more about downsizing and decluttering? Call Design Services LTD at 302-475-5663 to discuss your design needs. You can also connect with me by following me on Facebook and LinkedIn. Would you like complimentary advice from the downsizing designer? You can schedule a complimentary 30-minute call with me today.
The post Find Your Decluttering Method first appeared on Design Services LTD.February 22, 2022
5 Winning Strategies to Finally Succeed at Decluttering and Staying Organized
The Downsizing Designer
I want to begin with a quote that has made a difference in my own downsizing and decluttering journey that I hope will give you some food for thought as you, two might be struggling to declutter, prevent “re-cluttering” and staying organized.
I’m not sure who to credit with this quote, but whoever it was, THANK YOU!
“People give up because they think about how far they still have to go instead of thinking about how far they have already come.”
This could have been written by just about anyone…
A long-distance runner struggling to focus his mind and body.Someone who is dieting, struggling to lose weight.Someone who is downsizing and decluttering trying to get and stay organized.Bottom line is that this quote is directed at us training ourselves to think and act differently, not giving in, not giving up.
Perhaps the reason this resonates with me so much is because that was me a few years ago, as I looked around my big house, I was overwhelmed… intimidated, actually by the mammoth project I was about to undertake.
I had so much stuff! I didn’t know where or how to begin.
It looked like an impossible task. I felt defeated before I even began.
If this sounds familiar to you, if you’re drowning in stuff and plagued with clutter that seems to keep reappearing, YOU’RE NOT ALONE. Decluttering can be emotional and paralyzing.
And if it sounds like it’s too good to be true, that if it’s even possible to defeat clutter, get organized and stay organized, IT’S NOT!
I want to share with you 5 winning strategies that I discovered on my own downsizing and decluttering journey that helped shift my thinking and changed my life.
I reminded myself daily of how far I had come already rather than how far I had yet to go.
My 5 winning strategies to finally succeed at decluttering and remain clutter-free
1. Begin thinking like a minimalist
Pretend you’re moving or downsizing to a much smaller home even if you’re not.
Try walking into one room of your home.i.e., Master Bedroom
Make a list of only the things that would fit into your much smaller home (bed, nightstands, dresser)Now, look at your closet. How many dresses, pairs of shoes, pants, tops could you take if you moved to a much smaller home?This exercise might seem like an exaggeration and just to some extent it is, but use this exercise to start training your brain to let go of things we tell ourselves we need. It will help you simplify your life and help you learn to live happily with less.
2. Practice letting go
Going back to the idea of living in a much smaller home…
Go to another area of your home.i.e., Your Library or Den
Look at each bookcase one shelf at a time.Pick up only three items from each shelf that you want, need, will use, and enjoy.Practice letting go of the other items and go to the next shelf.This exercise will help you realize the impact of letting go, making room for more fun, freedom, and adventure in your life.
For example:
Why did you buy it?Would you buy it again?Will you have room for it when you move to your new smaller home?Do you need it?Will you use it?Whatever questions you choose to ask yourself, they should help you become more decisive.
It’s a little like building muscle memory the more you do it the more automatic it becomes and the easier It is to make decisions. As an aside, if you are spring cleaning, use these questions to help you declutter as you go.
4. Determine ahead of time where you will take your donations
Don’t leave it to chance that the donation site may or may not take your donations.
Do they take small appliances, books, furniture, decorative accessories?Don’t assume that many donation sites have been inundated during Covid and have become quite selective about what they will accept.
Know their hours of operation and what their drop-off policies are.Find out if they provide a pick-up service. That will save you time and energy.5. Declutter each day, throughout the day
As you go about your day, declutter as you go. Don’t let it build up.
Do dishes while you are cooking and as soon as you finish eating.Make your bed as soon as you get upPut your clothes away or in the laundry.Clean off your desk or kitchen counter after you’re finishedWhatever you’re doing, use it, then put it back where it belongs so you know where to find it the next time.
Every little action counts when it comes to keeping clutter at bay and staying organized.
It’s all a matter of training yourself and being disciplined about it.
If you try to declutter all at once, it’s frustrating and overwhelming. So rather than thinking about how big the task is ahead of you, take baby steps. 5, 10, 15 minutes at a time.
You’ll feel good about those quick wins and you’ll start thinking about how far you’ve already come!
And don’t forget to take before and after pictures, they will keep you motivated.
ONE MORE THING!Once you discover a particular decluttering method that works best for you, your personality, your lifestyle, use it every single day!
February 17, 2022
Downsizing And Starting Over in Your 60s Is Emotional: How to Design the Life You Really Want
The Downsizing Designer
If you’re in your 60s or 70s, perhaps you have already downsized. You might be saying, “Why didn’t I downsize sooner?”
You might be experiencing a home and a lifestyle that is better suited for you at this stage of your life.
You have more time, energy, and freedom to enjoy life… life is fun again!
More travels and exploring new placesMore time with family, friends, and grandchildrenNew hobbies, sports, businesses to createYou have already gone through the physical and emotional challenges of the downsizing journey.
But for those of you in your 60s and 70s who are just now beginning your own downsizing journey, this blog is intended just for you.
Downsizing is physically and emotionally exhausting. I’m not going to lie and tell you it’s easy, because it’s not.
But what I will tell you, is that it’s worth the time, effort, and tears because just like so many clients say after they’ve gone through it, “I wish I had downsized sooner.”
They are now living a simpler life with less stuff, less work, and less maintenance.They now have more time, energy, and freedom to live the life they really want.1. Face it. Change is hard and it’s scary.
If you’re in your 50s, 60, or 70s…
Your life is changing.You’re entering a new chapter.You are in transition.Empty NesterYou’ve become an empty nester. Kids are grown and gone.
The house seems so big… and so empty.
Divorced or WidowedYou’ve recently become divorced or widowed. You lost your spouse or partner. You’re suddenly left alone.
The house holds both good and bad memories. It may have become unaffordable.
AgingYou’re starting to feel the impact of aging. It’s harder to climb the stairs, the maintenance is too much.
The house has become a burden.
These are just a few of the reasons people in their 60s and 70s want or need to downsize to a smaller, more manageable home. And moving to a smaller home means you have to let go of a lot of stuff.
2. Letting go of your sentimental items is emotionalYour home and the things in it hold many memories of special times and people in your life.
It’s natural to develop an emotional attachment to them and the thought of getting rid of them might make you feel like you’ll lose them and all of those wonderful memories.
But remember, memories are in your heart not in the things.
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3. Making the decision to downsize takes time. It’s not easy. It’s emotional.Saying goodbye to the house you’ve lived in for 30 years, the neighbors, the friends, and the familiar surroundings, even though you realize the house is too big and requires too much maintenance, and is no longer affordable.
If you want to close this chapter of your life and open a new chapter, it does require:
Courage to changeLearning to let go of the emotional attachment to your home and your stuff.Committing to the downsizing journey and what it takes to make it happen.Learning from friends and family who have already downsized.Reframing your thinking from “it’s too hard” to “it’s a new opportunity” to live the life you really want at this stage of your life.Consider it an opportunity to embrace new beginnings and a fresh start.
Where you have fewer “have to’s” and more “want to’s”Where you can choose a new home that’s better suited to this time of your life i.e., one level and lower maintenanceWhere you can choose a new lifestyle where you have more time for fun and living life to the fullest
The post Downsizing And Starting Over in Your 60s Is Emotional: How to Design the Life You Really Want first appeared on Design Services LTD.
Why Declutter Your Home?
If so, you’re in the right place. Hi, I’m Rita Wilkins – known to many as the Downsizing Designer! There are many out there who want to learn how to declutter their homes but simply aren’t sure how to get started. That’s where I step in. I was in a similar position once. After decluttering, downsizing, and getting rid of 95% of what I once owned, I’ve lived a much happier and fuller life. Now, I help others do the same.
Why Are You Looking To Declutter Your Home?There are many reasons why you might consider decluttering your home, including.
Preparing to move to a new home Preparing for retirement Needing to reduce expenses Wanting to reduce the stress clutter causes And more!Regardless of your reason, I have the perfect tool to help you get started decluttering your home.
Try My Easy Online Course – 8 Proven Methods To Start DeclutteringI’ve designed an easy online course – called 8 Proven Methods To Start Decluttering. This course makes it easy to get started decluttering by showing you 8 different and proven methods that work to declutter your home. You get to choose the method that suits you the best. Just read over each method, choose your preferred method, then follow the easy, 1-page decluttering checklist.
Getting started is easy. Just sign up and you’ll receive all the relevant information in your email! Sign up for my 8 Proven Methods To Start Decluttering course today.
Rita Wilkins Offers Lifestyle Design And Interior Design ServicesDo you want to learn more about downsizing and decluttering? Call Design Services LTD at 302-475-5663 to discuss your design needs. You can also connect with me by following me on Facebook and LinkedIn. Would you like complimentary advice from the downsizing designer? You can schedule a complimentary 30-minute call with me today.
The post Why Declutter Your Home? first appeared on Design Services LTD.February 10, 2022
The New Decluttering Trend
The Downsizing Designer
What does the popular Marie Kondo Netflix series, the art of Swedish death cleaning, and the Covid pandemic have in common?
Each has inspired a decluttering trend and movement that:
Caused us to rethink excess accumulation and overconsumption.Inspired us to get rid of items we no longer want, need, or use.Teaches the value and joy of a simpler life with less.Some might even say that the traditional spring-cleaning season has now become a year-long event for many Americans because they see the value in a clutter-free home.
During the pandemic when we were stuck at home, we took a good hard look at
The piles of clutter that were all around us.The tremendous amount of stuff we had accumulated over the years.The stacks of boxes that had remained unopened for years.But then, our eyes were opened!
We saw things we just didn’t see before when we were on the go and too busy to look or even to care.
When we were confined to our homes for the first time in a long time, we began to experience firsthand the negative impact of clutter.
The stress, the overwhelm, the distraction, and the inability to focus due to clutter.
And it was not just our stuff… it’s other people’s stuff too! Our spouse’s, our kid’s, our friend’s and family’s stuff that cluttered our minds and our homes.
So given that we now had more time on our hands, many of us were inspired to declutter, pare down our stuff, get rid of things we no longer wanted, needed, or would use, in order to create a more organized and peaceful space.
The Urge to Purge helped us reclaim our homes. It became known as the
Great American Clean Out or The Purging Tsunami.
Check out my newest ONLINE COURSE!
But what many Americans discovered in the process of decluttering was that…
Decluttering is far more than simply cleaning and organizing our physical stuff.It’s also about decluttering our minds, freeing us from unhealthy emotional attachment to stuff that impacts our overall health and well-being, our focus and productivity, our overall happiness, and peace of mind.
For the first time in years, many people discovered a higher quality of life that was available to them when they were no longer drowning in their stuff.
Our brains naturally crave organization so that when our homes are lighter, our brains are also lighter and we can think more clearly.
This movement and trend to declutter is not going away. What is emerging is a simpler lifestyle that we desire and that we deserve.
Once you’ve experienced the benefits of a clutter-free home and lifestyle, you realize you have more time, energy, and freedom to enjoy more of what matters most to you
The NEW DECLUTTERING MOVEMENT was initially inspired by Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, then Margareta Magnusson’s book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning and further driven by the Covid pandemic.3 Of the Biggest Impacts and Long-Term Effects of The Decluttering Trend and Movement
Many Americans are choosing…
1. TO MAKE DECLUTTERING A HABIT… so that it becomes part of their daily routine, never letting clutter build up like it once did.2. TO AVOID OVERSPENDING AND OVER CONSUMPTION, realizing that owning less allows them the freedom to live more.3. TO LIVE A SIMPLER, MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE where they value more what they choose to keep. How has the decluttering trend/movement impacted your life? Have you decluttered and gotten rid of things you no longer want, need, or use? You can schedule a free 30-minute phone consultation with me if you have any questions regarding right-sizing, downsizing, and decluttering.Follow me on social media for more updates:FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | LINKEDIN | TWITTER
Declutter And De-Stress
If you look around your home and only see clutter, you likely feel frustrated and stressed. You’d like to get rid of the clutter – if only you knew how to get started. Don’t worry! I’m Rita Wilkins, the Downsizing Designer. I’m here to help you get started on decluttering your home. I once lived with too much clutter, too. Then, I downsized, decluttered, and found myself with more time, money, and freedom to do what I wanted. Now, I’ll help you accomplish the same.
Take My Online Course TodayHow can I help you get started on decluttering? It’s easy when you sign up for my 8 Proven Methods To Start Decluttering online course. It’s easy to get started decluttering once you understand the options you have. Find the method that suits you best, then get started by following the simple decluttering checklists included. This course is designed to help you
Get Unstuck – Don’t let uncertainty stop you from decluttering your home Relieve Stress – By decluttering your home, you’ll find it more relaxing Do What You Want – Once your home is decluttered, you’ll have more time and energy to do what you want.You don’t have to live with the frustration of a cluttered home any longer. Learn the decluttering method that is best for you! Sign up for the 8 Proven Methods To Start Decluttering course today!
Rita Wilkins Offers Lifestyle Design And Interior Design ServicesDo you want to learn more about downsizing and decluttering? Call Design Services LTD at 302-475-5663 to discuss your design needs. You can also connect with me by following me on Facebook and LinkedIn. Would you like complimentary advice from the downsizing designer? You can schedule a complimentary 30-minute call with me today.
The post Declutter And De-Stress first appeared on Design Services LTD.February 8, 2022
Busy Peoples Quick Start Guide to Decluttering and Getting Organized
The Downsizing Designer
Do you find yourself saying…?
“I’m too busy to find time to declutter and it’s too emotional for me to deal with.”
“I have a hard enough time just keeping up with everything I have on my plate.”
“I want to have a simpler, less cluttered house and life, but I just don’t know how to find the time.”
If that sounds like you… you are certainly not alone. But you might also wonder…
“My friends are busy too, but somehow, they seem to make time to declutter and stay organized. Their homes never seem to look as messy as mine.”
Let me first dispel that myth because chances are, they have just as many challenges with clutter too because all busy families do.
But maybe, just maybe, they’ve discovered some simple tricks that work for them so their clutter just never builds up to the overwhelming and emotional phase.
Try not to beat yourself up if your house is cluttered right now.
In this blog, I want to share with you a few quick tips to declutter and stay organized.
I call it…
The Busy Peoples Quick Start Guide
Follow along, take notes, I think you’ll be glad you did!
1. Deal with clutter in the momentGrowing up in a house with five kids, our home could have quickly been overcome with clutter… and sometimes it did.
But our mom posted a small sign on each of our bedroom doors that became our “rules to live by,” to help keep clutter to a minimum.
Chances are your mom had a similar sign called Mom’s House Rules.
Reading this brings tears to my eyes with such sweet memories because I had the same sign hanging on my boy’s bedroom doors when they were growing up.
Simple rules, when followed regularly will help you.2. Allocate a certain amount of time each day to decluttering and getting organized
Even if it’s a minimum of 15 minutes in the morning. Get up 15 minutes earlier each day and just start decluttering a smaller space. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect, just get started.
If you are a night owl, perhaps you can stay up 15 minutes later to declutter an area of your home… a drawer, a desk or the kitchen countertop.
Challenge yourself to making this routine a habit. Over time, you will notice a lasting difference.3. Follow this rule of thumb: “If you’re not using it, get rid of it.”
Take just 5 to 10 minutes a day.
For example, your closet:
Have you ever noticed how often you wear the same things over and over again?
Challenge yourself to declutter those shoes you never wear, those handbags that just take up space.Have a box or bag in your closet, put those never-used items in a bag or a box to be donated.
Another example, your pantry:
The next time you open your pantry, check your pantry shelves for outdated food items. Donate them to a shelter or dispose of.What other areas of your home do you have items you never use or rarely use that are just taking up physical and mental space?If you use these quick-start methods when it comes time for SPRING CLEANING you have so much less to do!4. Integrate decluttering into your day… everyday
PRIORITIZE DECLUTTERING.
Prioritize a few minutes each day to reduce and remove clutter that takes your time, energy, and attention.
The results will be amazing!
You will be spending far less time, energy, and attention dealing with clutter.You will be spending far less time straightening up or tidying up (Marie Kondo’s Book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up)You’ll end up having more time, energy, and freedom to devote to things that matter most to you.Face it, you’re busy and you’re also wanting to be more organized and have less clutter in your life. Follow these simple quick-start methods, use them as a daily checklist and you will achieve amazing results. What you’ll discover is that they will quickly become habits that help simplify your life so you can remain organize and clutter-free.
Another way to get started!
Click here to check out my newest Online Course
You can schedule a free 30-minute phone consultation with me if you have any questions regarding right-sizing, downsizing, and decluttering.Follow me on social media for more updates:FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | LINKEDIN | TWITTER
February 3, 2022
Finish Decluttering Your Home
Do you feel as though you live surrounded by clutter? Are you ready to declutter your living space? Do you wish there were an easy-to-follow set of instructions – a decluttering checklist, even – that could help you get started and finish? Hi, I’m Rita Wilkins, and I can provide the help you’re looking for. After getting rid of 95% of what I once owned, I live a happier, freer life. Since then, I’ve become known as the Downsizing Designer as I help others downsize and declutter their own lives too.
Just Sign Up For My Online Decluttering CourseYou don’t have to figure out how to get started on decluttering your home on your own. You can seek help! I’ve heard the call of people like you who need a guide to get started decluttering, and that’s why I designed my 8 Proven Methods To Start Decluttering online course.
How Will This Online Course Help Me?My 8 Proven Methods To Start Decluttering online course is designed to help even those who have little to no experience with decluttering or downsizing. When you sign up for this course, you’ll receive information for 8 different decluttering methods. Sign up today to get all of the following:
Easy 1 page checklists for each method to help you get started Information that helps you understand the pros and cons of each method Advice from me, the Downsizing DesignerDon’t wait – get started today. Sign up for the 8 Proven Methods To Start Decluttering course!
Rita Wilkins Offers Lifestyle Design And Interior Design ServicesDo you want to learn more about downsizing and decluttering? Call Design Services LTD at 302-475-5663 to discuss your design needs. You can also connect with me by following me on Facebook and LinkedIn. Would you like complimentary advice from the downsizing designer? You can schedule a complimentary 30-minute call with me today.
The post Finish Decluttering Your Home first appeared on Design Services LTD.
