Clear the Clutter with the 5 Minute Rule!

It's the beginning of a new year which always gives us the feeling of a new beginning. You get to start the year with a clean slate and leave the mistakes and unaccomplished resolutions of the old year behind. Most people set a goal at the beginning of the year to clear their home of clutter or to get more organized. The reason you might find this on your "resolution list" every year is because it's not a one time thing. Even if that was your goal last year and you accomplished it, you might be back to where you started with lots of clutter and an unorganized home if you didn't maintain the order.

The key to keeping your home clutter free is to first go room by room and clear out the old and organize what's left and then, maintain the organization on a regular basis. It's much like losing weight. First you have to work hard to lose the extra pounds but then you still have to make smart decisions on a daily basis or the weight - much like the clutter - will creep up on you.

Everyone gets geared up to get organized but if you think you can do it in a day or even a week, you're setting yourself up for great disappointment. BUT, if you use my 5 minute rule you'll be clutter free in about 30 days! We're all pressed for time and taking on the major task of becoming "clutter-free" can be daunting. However, you can do it if you take just 5 minutes a day, everyday for the next four or five weeks to work on accomplishing your goal.

My husband and I have been doing this with our 7 boys' toys and clothes. Every night before we put them to bed, we go through a couple of drawers and pull out items that are worn out, rarely worn, or they've out grown. It's been like a cleansing of the soul to purge out the junk and finally be able to close their drawers without having to force them shut. We've noticed our kids seem to wear the same few of their favorite clothes over and over, so having all the extra ones that only take up space, seemed unnecessary and added to the clutter. The same holds true with the toy box and closets. Go through what they've broken, lost interest in or have out grown and either donate or pitch it.

After the children's room were tackled, I used the same philosophy on our room and bathroom. As I put on my makeup in the morning, I would take 5 minutes and purge any makeup I never use. Let's face it, if that certain shade of lipstick that came free in a "bonus bag" at the cosmetic counter doesn't look good on you now, it never will. Pitch it or give it to a friend who it will look good on. As our children tend to wear the same clothes repeatedly, women also tend to wear the same makeup even though we have four times that amount in our makeup drawer.

Next, as you're picking out socks to wear, go through and get rid of the ones that have holes in them, don't have a matching pair or are out of style. Next, go through your underwear drawer and do the same thing.

After the rooms have been purged, it's time to organize the kitchen. Right now I'm in the process of using everything in my pantry and freezer before I buy any more food. Sometimes we continue to buy food when we actually have plenty in the pantry to get creative with. Use what you have and then wipe down the pantry shelves and freezer before you start restocking them with food.

If you use the 5 minute rule throughout your house before you know it you will have purged through all the unnecessary mess without even realizing you did it. All it takes is 5 minutes everyday. After cleansing your home of all the superfluous items, continue to use the 5 minute rule to help maintain the order. Use that time to throw away papers you don't need and put things away where they belong. You can use the 5 minute rule once or twice a week to help maintain the order you've created. Pretty soon your house will have more order with less mess and you and your family will be all the better for it. You'll have cleared your home, which will clear your mind of all the clutter leaving it free to think about and enjoy the more important things in life!