How To Organize Your Home While In Quarantine
April 17, 2020A lot of us are cooped up at home right now. And that means we’re all becoming hyper aware one way or another of the state of our homes. That’s why decluttering and organizing has landed on the top of many to-do-lists in this quarantine. On the other hand, there’s also no better time to get our homes in order. We have the time. We’re becoming more aware of what things we use more. And we’re also getting to know what things we actually need and what we don’t. But, before you start tossing things here and there, remember don’t just focus on getting rid of stuff. Instead, focus on making good decisions that work best for you. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Organize Your Pantry
Before anything else, one of the most important things you have to organize right now is your pantry. It’s important given the present circumstances that you make sure nothing goes to waste. So, start by pulling everything out and taking note of expiration dates. Then, take inventory of your essentials. When putting them back together, one helpful tip is to sort your items into categories. And make sure that the oldest ones are upfront so you’ll remember to consume them before they expire. The same goes for your fridge.
Designate a Space for Work or School
Now that you might be working remotely or taking online classes, it’s important you designate a space for it. Not only will this help keep you more organized, but it will also help you set a clear line between work and home. It’ll also help you be more productive since your environment helps set your mindset. Once you have the space, keep it clutter-free and decorate it with some things that inspire you or help you focus.
Organize Your Space for Mental Health
This pandemic is not only affecting our daily routines, but it can also affect our mental health. Being cooped up all day in the midst of worries can amp up your stress levels. So, we recommend taking your mental health into consideration when organizing or arranging your home. Clear out the clutter to make your home feel less cramped. Designate spaces for working out, game nights, and such. Or create your own little relaxation nook where you can simply lay back and read a book or meditate. Simply make sure that your own home isn’t contributing to the stress and worries of the situation.
Get Your Garage in Order
Garages and sheds are often the dumps of the things you don’t want in your home. Now that you have extra time on your hands, maybe it’s time to sort out those things. Empty out your garage then sweep or hose it down to get rid of all the collected grime and dirt. Before putting everything back in, decide which things you want to throw, sell, donate, and keep. Then, organize them by category and organize them properly.
Do a Room by Room Rearranging
One of the best ways to reorganize your home is to go at it room by room. This way, it won’t be overwhelming. And you’ll be able to fix your time around it. For instance, take one or two rooms a day. To make things easier, you can get yourself separate baskets for things to donate, things to sell, things to throw out, and things that should be put in another room. This way, you won’t have to keep coming back and forth between rooms.
Decide Which Things To Toss
Staying at home all day really makes you realize what things you need, what things you use most often, and what things you should really let go off. At the top of this list, of course, are expired pantry items. But, also don’t forget your fridge. Often times, we store leftovers, but never really use it until it rots. So, better chuck them out now. Another thing is kitchen tools and appliances that you never use. As you spend more time in the kitchen, set aside things you notice you never actually use. Then, when the quarantine is over, donate them, sell them, or give them away to family.
Aside from those, there are also your clothes. Now is as good as time as any to take a good look at your closet and make the hard choice of letting go of clothes you don’t use anymore. In addition to that, also comb through your old cosmetics and toiletries. Make sure that when this ends, you won’t be using any expired products. And last but not least, get rid of old papers and mail that you definitely don’t need. Once you’ve got that all in order, your home may feel brand new.
