As I mentioned in this post, self-care comes in many different forms. It may be a spa day or a run through the park, or it could be maintaining an organized and clean living space. The latter of which is definitely true for Tim and me.
Having lived in New York for over 10 years now (crazy, I know), we’ve become accustomed to small(er) dwellings. We have learned the value of less is more and know the importance of staying decluttered. It makes such a big difference coming home to and living in an organized space, especially given that our one bedroom apartment is only 750 sq ft.
We’ve lived in 4 different apartments throughout our time here, with our current place feeling the most like ‘home’. When we first moved in together our furniture was a mish mosh of items neither of us were willing to give up, which we both quickly realized wasn’t going to work. From apartment to apartment we’ve slowly acquired key pieces that suit both of our tastes and needs (like this shelf or our little side table), which has helped tremendously in optimizing our space.
Living in a one bedroom, the tiniest of ‘messes’ can feel overwhelming and we have come to find that keeping things tidy not only helps keep us feeling less stressed but has a ripple effect into other areas of our lives.
You might not even realize the effect a cluttered space can have on your subconscious, so here are a few tips to keep it clean throughout the week:
- Make your bed every morning
- Have a designated area for little things (keys, bags, leashes, shoes, etc.)
- Don’t let dirty dishes sit in the sink
- Tackle one closet or room at a time to declutter and organize (donate items you no longer wear or use, invest in bins or draws – I love these which slide easily under our bed)
- Make time once a week to dust, vacuum, and scrub the bathroom, countertops and stove (we generally do this every Saturday morning and it makes a huge difference)
Try out these tips for one month and you’ll be amazed at how good it can make you feel!
