The challenges we face as busy mums can be problematic, complicated and downright frustrating! Maintaining an organised, clutter-free home is one challenge many mums face on a daily basis. It not only affects your physical space, it heightens your stress levels and depletes your energy. Taking control of your surroundings to create a calm, harmonious home environment will bring peace of mind and contentment.

De-cluttering is not always an easy task: it involves careful planning and determination but the results are definitely worth it! As you start to re-organise your home you will encounter many emotions: sentimentality regarding items accumulated in the past, guilt about wasting money, generosity for donating unwanted belongings to charity and relief at reclaiming space. Ultimately, you must release the negative feelings associated with your clutter and look forward to enjoying a new, organised home.

The Ground Rules Rule setting will help guide you through your de-cluttering process. Rules can be quite simple, for example if you haven’t used an item that isn’t seasonal for over twelve months, and you can no longer identify a purpose for it, get rid of it!

Be Prepared Preparation is a vital step in this process. Consider all the tools you will need to de-clutter your home, such as cleaning products and storage solutions. Don’t buy too many items: you don’t want to bring more than things into your home that won’t get used! Writing a plan about the areas of your home that require attention and the things you will need to organise it, will prepare you for the task.

One Step at a Time Don’t overwhelm yourself with the prospect of clearing your entire house in one afternoon! That is an impossible task! Instead, schedule time to de-cluttering over a few weeks, but keep at it so you can quickly enjoy the rewards!

Overcome the Guilt It is too late to feel guilty about unwanted, unused and unnecessary items. If you feel you have wasted money in the past, acknowledge your mistake and learn from it. Do not dwell on it: release the negative feelings. You are now moving on to create a better living environment for you and your family.

Identifying a Need If you have cupboards and rooms full of things you never get round to using, you simply don’t need them. Most of the things you save, even the papers you file, will never be used or looked at again. Don’t be afraid of discarding things you don’t use or need.

Ask for Help It is likely you aren’t the only one who has created the clutter that fills your home: your family will be responsible too! Involving them in the de-cluttering process will give your children a sense of responsibility. Getting others involved will make life easier for and help them to value what you are trying to achieve, which will enable you to maintain your organised home long-term.

Go Green Recycle your unwanted belongs by taking them to charity shops and recycling centres. There are many ways to recycle paperwork, unwanted clothes, toys and household items. You can explore these methods with your family, which can be fun and educational. You will not only be doing your bit for the environment and others but you’ll feel better about yourself in the process!

Keep It Up! Maintenance is a key part of de-cluttering. Ensure your family understands the importance of keeping the house tidy so you are not the only one trying to keep on top of things. A mini de-clutter at the end of each month or season is good practise to prevent the accumulation of unwanted and unnecessary items in your home.