It’s probably easier to actually do something to declutter your home and your life at the beginning of the year, before all the pressures of just living make it too hard to contemplate.
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Decluttering your home and your life
For those of you who have the courage to make a start, here are some suggestions that may help:
- Set some achievable goals. What improvements would you like to make in your life? Make a list of these realistic goals. Then make a list of the main things that could prevent you achieving these goals. Consider how you can overcome the obstacles and be prepared to do what’s necessary.
- Stop buying stuff. Don’t by anything that isn’t absolutely necessary for two months. (This doesn’t apply to healthy food.) Then continue the habit.
- Turn off TV sets and computers early enough so you can get a good night’s sleep.
- Get rid of clothes you don’t wear regularly. If you haven’t worn something for over a year, you don’t need it. By the time this fashion comes around again, you’ll be too old to be worried about fashions.
- Accept the fact that you have too many clothes. Just because there’s a sale on isn’t a good reason to stock up on clothes you already have.
- Declutter your relationships. Make a list of the people who you want to spend your time with and focus your remaining time and energy on them. Avoid negative people who will drain your energy and emotions.
- Take a good look at your house and imagine putting everything in it on the front lawn. Then think what you would bring back inside and what you would leave on the lawn. Make some decisions and find a more responsible way to get rid of what you wouldn’t bring back inside.
- Make a statement – get rid of something big, like some old furniture that you don’t love.
- Remove all household decorations, paintings and photographs and store them somewhere for one or two weeks. Only put back the pieces you really missed.
- Accept the reality that your children won’t want most of your stuff. It’s unfair on them to have to declutter your home when you’re gone and they won’t love you for leaving the job to them.
- Actually do some of the above.
We have published five books that offer anyone who’s retired, or planning their retirement, lots of useful information and advice on how to make these years some of the best of your life. See our web site at www.retirementbooks.com.au for more details.
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