Keeping clutter at bay

Once in awhile my desk can become very messy. Things just thrown around and items are not always easily found. My desk is more like a console table. So the difference isn't all that much, the width of the desk is fairly small and that's it. Anyways, my console table is used to do my makeup and that's really all it's there for. It just holds my mirror, lipsticks, eyeshadow, mascara, face powders, concealer, foundation, some random items and yet of course makeup brushes. The idea for this table was to use it like a vanity to get ready and the purpose has been useful because to me I like to have things in place (if you didn't know that then you haven't read enough of my blogs!) and really just have them organized. As time passes, well, things get a little messy and out of place. So I have decided to reorganize and throw unneeded products away. Don't think once you begin to clear an area, you will be able to throw everything away. It has taken me a lot of time to let go and try to live a minimalist life and it doesn't always come easy. When I cleaned my room once, I decided I didn't want anything anymore, my room was going to consist of a bed and clothes and maybe some crafting supplies. So that day I cleaned and I truly did give away my childhood. I threw away gifts that had some value but hey, I was 11 years old, I didn't know any better. I still disagree with myself on the items I tossed or gave away. I believe family gifts and stuff that has greater memories to you should always be kept and treasured because if you think about it, what will you have left of your family later on in life?; the bed? Well, you've kind of out grown that and the dresser wasn't anything special and its a little to big for this apartment you just got. So what do you have from you childhood home? not much. Well, that's my answer and it is not going to be yours. You maybe asking "how did we get from talking about a dirty desk to crying over lost treasures?" I don't even know if I can answer that. I guess what I can say is when cleaning, think about the value that the item has in your family or think about the memories before you decide the garbage is its new home.

So, getting back on topic about your console or desk. I highly recommend to use old but yet cleaned out mason jars, candle jars, and anything that looks chic and fits your theme. Using jars can look very minimalist and keep your desk looking organized because what can I say besides clear mason jars are the best!

So above is the final product! honestly all that was needed to be done was a little putting back together. now it may still seem like I have a lot on my console table and I won't lie I do but, I just put some items away into the guest bathroom especially things that I never use. 

The book I have been reading up on is called "Country Living storage style: pretty and practical ways to organize your home" by Lesley Porcelli. She gives amazing advice as to how to keep your home in order with great style, colors and organization. she shows her detail through pictures and word use. After seeing pictures I instantly wanna stop reading and start cleaning up my home but that's just me! Porcelli has five great tips on ideas for office space. She almost DIYs how she puts together items like one of her suggestions is to use a bath towel bar to hold the brightly colored spools of ribbon. So, with all this to take in, my question to you is: What have you gotten rid of from your childhood you regret giving up?

Decluttering and Organizing: Pt.5 Confidence

Pt. 5: Gaining confidence in life through the magic of tidying.

This concept may seem a little weird and you may be wondering "How would I gain confidence through tidying?" When you have a tidy room that you are confident in, it in turn boosts your self confidence. How do you feel when your room is messy? You probably feel lazy and sluggish, I know I do, and I have no passion to clean my room because it seem like too much work. But when your room is organized and tidy, it makes you feel more spontaneous and motivated.

"When it comes to the things I own, the clothes I wear, the house I live in, and the people in my life, when it comes to my environment as a whole, although it may not seem particularly special to anyone else, I am confident and extremely grateful to be surrounded by what I love, by things and people that are, each and every one, special, precious, and exceedingly dear to me" (Kondo 180). 

"Discard anything that doesn't spark joy" (Kondo 181). When your room is clutter free, you start to appreciate the things that you have more. The belongings in your room start to have more value and purpose. You want to create a space that you feel the most confident in, a place that sparks joy in your life. For me I personally love fashion, art music, and books. You can still decorate your room in a tidy fashion. When i hang posters an pictures on my walls, I make sure to leave at least one wall relatively empty to create a cleaner looking space. I also organize my books by series so that it looks more pleasing to the eye. These are the things that I love to surround myself with, the things that spark my joy, the things that are special and dear to me. 

Question:

What do you decorate your room with? What are the things in your room that spark joy in you?

Decluttering and Organizing: Pt 4. The Magic

Pt. 4: The magic effect of tidying up.

Tidying isn't just about cleaning up your room, it's life changing. In Marie Kondo's book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, she talks about how one of her client literally changed her way of life. "The lives of those who tidy thoroughly and completely, in a single shot, are without exception are dramatically altered" (Kondo 178). One of Kondo's clients had been messy all her life, but after trying Marie's methods, her life took a turn for the better. 

"One of the magical effects of tidying is confidence in your decision-making capacity" (Kondo 178). By getting rid of the things that you don't need, it strengthens your decision-making. It allows you to not be as attached to material objects, and useless memorabilia that you really don't need. 

Question:

What does your room look like? Is it very simplistic or is it filled with memorabilia?

Decluttering and Organizing: Pt.3 Designation

Pt. 3: Designating a place for each thing.

Now that we have gone through our belongings, and organized the things that spark joy in our lives, we can move on to the next step, which is designation. "The point in deciding specific places to keep things is to designate a spot for every thing" (Kondo 131). Although it may be a pain to rearrange and designate spots for your things, in the end you'll only have to do it once. After a spot is designated, it will become a habit for you to put your belongings in those spots. I personally have designated areas in my room for my book, CD's, art supplies, my guitar, etc. 

“One of the main reasons for rebound is the failure to designate a spot for each item. Without a designated spot, where are you going to put things when you finish using them?” (Kondo 132).

Whenever I finish a book, I make sure to put it back on my bookshelf where it belongs. When I’m done jamming out on my guitar, I put it back in the corner by my desk. Once everything has a spot it is way easier to keep your room tidy and organized.

Question:

Do your belongings have designated areas? If so where are they? J

Decluttering and Organizing: Pt.1: Perspectives

Pt. 1: Perspectives and our Mental State

Decluttering and our mental state may seem like they aren't related at all, but that's quite the opposite. The way perceive things is very much related to decluttering and organizing. Marie Kondō, author of the book, The Life-Changing Magic of  Tidying Up, emphasizes on how our mental state plays a huge factor in the art of decluttering and organizing.

Step 1:

“People cannot change their habits without first changing their way of thinking” (Kondō). You may not realize it, but keeping something tidy is a habit. By putting things back after using them, you are constantly tidying up, therefore making it a habit, a way of life. Making this a habit won't be easy, just like breaking a habit, you have to do this consistently, if not, it will never happen. “Visible mess helps distract us from the true source of the disorder” (Kondō). The source of the disorder, for most teens, is that they're too lazy, or that we are to busy to tidy up. But if we really want to make tidying a habit, we absolutely have to make time in our schedule to tidy up, even 5 minutes makes a huge difference.

                      

Step 2:

“From the moment you start tidying, you will be compelled to reset your life. As a result, your life will start to change. That’s why the task of putting your house in order should be done quickly. It allows you to confront the issues that are really important. Tidying is just a tool, not the final destination. The true goal should be to establish the lifestyle you want most once your house has been put in order” (Kondō). Changing your mind set is the first step in decluttering and organizing. Try to keep this quote in mind when tidying up your room or work space as a source of motivation!

What are some habits you have that help keep your room in order? 😜  

Decluttering and Organizing: Pt. 2: Organization

Pt. 2: Organization

I for one am terrible when it comes to keeping my things organized. So I decided to read The Life-Changing Magic of  Tidying Up, by Marie Kondō, in hopes of learning better organization and an overall put together life. The whole book focuses on ways to de-clutter and organize your belongings. It is filled with helpful tips and tricks to help you get rid of everything you don't need!

     

Step 1:

“Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle” (Kondō). While reading, this quote really stuck out to me and helped me a lot while cleaning. A lot of the stuff in my room can be dated back to when I was in 3rd grade, and I honestly have no idea why I have kept these things until now. By keeping this quote in mind, it made it a lot easier to get rid of the things that were just taking up space in my room.

Step 2:

“the best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one’s hand and ask: “Does this spark joy?” If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it. This is not only the simplest but also the most accurate yardstick by which to judge" (Kondō). This quote and the quote from step 1 go together hand in hand. As i was organizing my things, mainly my art and clothing, I kept this quote in mind. While going through my art I would ask myself if I was truly proud of the work I've created and how it would benefit my (art) portfolio. If I wasn't proud of it, I would toss it, and if I thought it was portfolio worthy, I would keep it. 

I drew this in 3rd grade, and I have no idea why I kept it.
This is an example of something I would toss.

This is my first ever realistic drawing.
I decided to keep it to compare how much I have improved since 6th grade.

  

This is a portrait I did last school year.
I decided to keep it to compare how much better I 
get over the remainder of my high school career.
What are your tips and tricks for better organization? Have you ever forgotten why you've kept something? 😜