Episode #4: Declutter Your Home So You’ll Want to Live There

For years I suffered from a reoccurring nightmare. In my dream, it was Christmas Eve, the stores were closing, and I didn’t have all my presents purchased. I’ve stopped having that dream, thankfully, but I still find the Holidays stressful. There’s a lot I love about the Christmas season but on the list you won’t find trying to cram too much into too short a time.

There are just over two months until Christmas, but many of us don’t think about it much until it’s upon us. And yet, preparing in advance affords you the time to really celebrate with your friends and family during the holidays.

That’s why I’m decluttering and deep-cleaning my home before the holidays arrive.  This podcast is one of my first efforts to help you do the same, but I’ll be revisiting this topic from different angles in this podcast, in A Simple Life articles, and in the videos I create and share with you.

Let’s do this together.

Escape into a Simple Life Podcast, Episode #4:
Declutter Your Home so You’ll Want to Live There
Show Notes
Introduction

I update you on my progress and provide tips in the areas of weight loss, financial planning, gardening, holiday prep, quiet time, and decluttering. I’ve made progress in some areas and not in others, and I give the reason why.

I talk about how, in the past week, I had two meetings (actually three except that I forgot one.) and explain why two many meetings close together doesn’t work very well for me.  If you’re an introvert also, you may already understand.

 Main Topic
The Problem

Your home should serve as a refuge, staging ground for activities, and a platform for socializing . A refuge isn’t very peaceful when there’s a mess. A staging ground doesn’t work well when you can’t find the items you need for activities, and socializing can’t happen when you have chaos (can’t have anyone over syndrome).

The failure of your home to meet any of these functions is a reason to declutter.

Solutions
To the immediate crisis

There are two options for decluttering your home, the fast plan and a slower method. I address pros and cons of both tacks and give perspectives from my own decluttering. Emotional considerations come under discussion, and I offer a gentle solution to our natural reluctance to part with belongings.

To prevent future clutter

I identify five tactics to help guard against future clutter. One in particular is something I’ve not seen at other sites that teach how to declutter. We cover monitoring your spending, avoiding self-delusion, when repairing over replacing does and doesn’t make sense, and more.

Conclusion

I invite you to join me in decluttering our homes for the holidays. It’s fun to know that we’re both working on this at the same time. If you would be so kind as to let me know in the comments or by email, I’d appreciate it.

Thanks for listening, and I hope to catch you next time. Until then, you can find articles, videos, and podcast episodes to inform your escape into a simple life at JanalynVoigt.com.

Tweetables

There are just over two months until Christmas. Declutter now! Click to Tweet.
There are two options for decluttering your home, the fast plan and a slower method. Click to Tweet.
Join Janalyn Voigt and me in decluttering our homes for the Holidays. Click to Tweet.

Previous Podcast: How to Find Time For Yourself in a Busy Schedule

©2014 by Janalyn Voigt

The post Episode #4: Declutter Your Home So You’ll Want to Live There appeared first on Janalyn Voigt.