{"id":8997,"date":"2023-11-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/?p=8997"},"modified":"2023-11-30T11:16:20","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T16:16:20","slug":"a-productive-way-to-declutter-during-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/a-productive-way-to-declutter-during-the-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Productively Declutter for the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Woman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Would you like a fresh, new, and interesting way to declutter your home<\/a> this holiday season?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you want to cut down on the amount of clutter in your home while simultaneously helping others?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Productively decluttering your home<\/a> is a refreshing way to tackle an old problem: how to declutter a living space for the holidays.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Productivity isn\u2019t always about doing things faster, being perfect, making things complicated, or forcing a project through to completion.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And especially so when things obviously aren\u2019t working out in your favor.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes you have to stop what you’re doing and take a look at the big picture.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may be surrounded by what you perceive to be clutter.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For all intents and purposes it may very well be that you’re short on storage space, have outgrown use for, or no longer need certain items.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that doesn’t mean your clutter is totally useless.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may be perfectly useful to another person.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, you’ll find an interesting way to declutter for the holidays and give others in your community a helping hand.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s right, this holiday season you can supersize your decluttering efforts by helping someone else in the process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you need to get started? All you need is your living space and your imagination.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These little projects make the decluttering<\/a> process that much more enjoyable and rewarding.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? Because you can visibly see how your work will directly impact and help someone else in need.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider dropping off your donations at a local non-profit, educational, charitable, social, or religious organization. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a good idea to call ahead and confirm your organization of choice is accepting items.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And of course, you can also contact friends, acquaintances, and neighbors, and ask if they need or know someone who would be interested in your donations.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if you’re short on time for the coming weeks during the holiday season?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set aside some time in your schedule in the first few weeks of the new year to go through your belongings.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you ready to productively declutter for the holidays?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get started!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collect clean storage containers.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Take a moment to round up several storage containers in your home. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll be using these containers to store your decluttering projects.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any large item that can hold several smaller items within it will do. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some storage ideas include\u00a0milk crates, wooden boxes, cardboard boxes, plastic containers, and shopping bags.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conduct a thorough search in your home for these items. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking for some more motivation, remember, these storage containers will also be leaving your home, thereby freeing up much needed space.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All the more reason not to hold back in your search!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Search high and low for containers in your home. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might find suitable items in your bedroom, kitchen, living room, dining room, hallway, pantry, garage, basement, or attic.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Select a decluttering project.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The next step to choose one or more of the below decluttering projects. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t let your decision get in the way of your decluttering.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re wavering between two or more projects, just select one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you finish the first project, you can move on to the second.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grab an empty container and fill it up with any or all of the items listed below. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feel free to add or subtract items as you see fit, and depending on the amount of stuff you’re interested in giving away.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

the productive decluttering projects.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

project #1. Stock up a local soup kitchen.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Go through your pantry<\/a> and kitchen. Remove any unopened and unexpired canned goods and boxed goods.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re sitting on top of a pile of cooking storage and preparation materials, you can extend your search to unopened containers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can include aluminum foil, plastic wrap, wax paper, paper cups and plates, disposable knives, forks, and spoons, straws, and tablecloths.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you’re really looking to expand your decluttering efforts, search through your belongings for any unopened kitchen utensils or appliances you wish to donate.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project #2. Help a neighborhood beautification or clean-up group.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Take a moment to go through your broom closets, storage closets, kitchen<\/a>, basement, mudroom, attic, or garage. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’re looking for any items that may be helpful to a local clean-up group.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Round up any unopened cleaning products and supplies including: brooms, dustpans, mops, dusters, paper towels, glass cleaners, dishwashing liquid, and buckets<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other large items to grab include new garbage cans, new, sealed, and unused garbage bags, recycling bags, work gloves, paint, and brushes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can even expand your donations to healthy snacks such as unopened bottles of unexpired bottled water, sealed snack packs and snack bars.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project #3. Build out an emergency kit. <\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is a good idea for any group, be it your local religious organization, school, shelter, or community group. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea here is to build out an emergency kit.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>You could also create a personal care item kit<\/a> for those in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look through your home for any unopened and unexpired batteries, flashlights, candles, lighters, can openers, first aid kits, and blankets.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also expand your search towards unopened, unused, and unexpired canned goods and boxed goods.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have some spare electronics lying around? An unused battery operated AM\/FM radio can be handy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project #4. Outfit an entire theater group.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This project will help you declutter your closet<\/a> or wardrobe in a pinch. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All items are up for grabs, as long as they are clean, unstained, and in in decent shape.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head over to your bedroom closet, wardrobe, or dresser and pluck out any clean and unused suits, dresses, ties, shoes, boots, blazers, coats, scarves, belts, hats, and costume jewelry.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you purchase too many storage organizers for your needs? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might also consider donating\u00a0unopened and unused closet, clothing<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project #5. Give the gift of reading.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This project helps free up space in your home and give some thoughtful reading material to others. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a great way to declutter and organize your books<\/a> <\/span>and table space.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look around your home for recent popular magazines and other periodicals from the past three months. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also search for new and gently used fiction or non-fiction books. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

See if you can find classic books or titles you no longer read or reference.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can expand your reach here by rounding-up unused bookmarks, bookstands, book lights, as well as any reading glasses you no longer use or have use for.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project #6. Brighten up a child\u2019s world.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Give the gift of fun and creativity! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This project is all about decluttering your home office<\/a>, living room, toy room, and more! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your imagination is your only limit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Begin by searching through your home for unused and unopened coloring books, crayons, markers, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, blank notebooks,<\/span><\/a> blank paper, rulers<\/span>, and other relevant office supplies.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, look for new and used toys, board games, jigsaw puzzles, nightlights, backpacks, and more in their original packaging.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also look for new and used children’s clothing, shoes, accessories, coats, and jackets.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another great addition would be appropriate room decorations or organization and storage products you no longer need or <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project #7. Cash in those gift cards.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You know all those clothing, department store, and big box store gift cards you have lying around? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why not put them to use?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call a trusted organization to ask if they are taking donations this year. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they are, ask them what items they are in most need of.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you call a women’s aid organization that’s currently accepting donations, you might learn they are in need of clothing, toiletries, and personal care products.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you know what you need to purchase, make a list, and go shopping with your gifts cards.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remove sales tags when you get home, place items in one of your decluttering project containers, and donate.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another quick idea is to give your gift cards to a family in need of clothing, footwear, outerwear, toiletries, bedding, and food.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn how to get organized at home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Organizing a home well requires careful thought, planning, and of course, targeted action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My organization guide will teach you how to be more organized<\/a> around the home and office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to organize your home or office so you can find what you need when you need it, then check out my productivity consulting<\/a> services. Book a strategy session with me today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How about you? Which of these projects interests you the most? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Would you like a fresh, new, and interesting way to declutter your home this holiday season? Do you want to cut down on the amount of clutter in your home while simultaneously helping others?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"

\"ImageAre you looking to cut down on the clutter in your home this holiday season?<\/p>\n

In this post, I offer an interesting way to declutter for\/after the holidays, and give others a helping hand.<\/p>\n

Every now and then, I like to challenge the idea of what it means to be productive.<\/p>\n

As I\u2019ve mentioned several times before on the blog, productivity isn\u2019t always about doing things faster, being perfect<\/a>, making things complicated<\/a>, or forcing a project through to completion<\/a>\u00a0when things obviously aren\u2019t working out.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, you have to look at productivity in the grand scheme of things. This includes being a productive, or good citizen.<\/p>\n

Sometimes you have more to give to society than you think. In particular, I\u2019m talking about items and materials you no longer want or need.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s right: clutter.<\/p>\n

Not all clutter is bad. In fact, clutter can be something in perfect condition that is no longer useful to us, but is useful to another person.<\/p>\n

This holiday season, you can turn around your decluttering efforts by helping someone else in the process.<\/p>\n

All you need is your home and your imagination.\u00a0Should you choose, you could even add this to your volunteering or goodwill hours for the month!<\/p>\n

Of course, if you are just swamped with parties, dinners, and events this month, you can choose to do so next month, when things have calmed down.<\/p>\n

I think these little projects make the decluttering process more enjoyable and rewarding, because you can visibly see how your work will directly impact, and help someone else in need.<\/p>\n

You can drop off your projects at a non-profit, educational, charitable, social, or religious organization. I\u2019d highly recommend calling ahead before you begin to confirm what items they accept.<\/p>\n

Ready? Let\u2019s get started! Here\u2019s what to do:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Collect any loose or unused containers.<\/h2>\n

By container, I mean any large item that can hold several smaller materials within it. Ideas include: milk crates, wooden boxes, cardboard boxes, plastic containers, and shopping bags.<\/p>\n

Search high and low in your home for these items. Containers could be hiding in the bedroom, kitchen, living room, dining room, hallway, pantry, garage, basement, or attic.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Select a decluttering project.<\/h2>\n

Choose one or more of the projects below.<\/p>\n

Grab an empty container and fill it up with any\/all of the items listed below.\u00a0Of course, you can add in or subtract items as you see fit.<\/p>\n

Use your discretion.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Stock up a local soup kitchen.<\/h3>\n

Go through your pantry or kitchen and find unopened and unexpired: canned goods, boxed goods, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, wax paper, paper\/plastic cups and plates, plastic knives, forks, and spoons, straws, and tablecloths.<\/p>\n

You can also look through your belongings for any unopened kitchen utensils or small kitchen appliances to donate.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Help a neighborhood beautification\/clean-up group.<\/h3>\n

Round up any unopened cleaning products and supplies including: brooms, dustpans, mops, dusters, paper towels, glass cleaners, dishwashing liquid, buckets, garbage cans, garbage bags, recycling bags, work gloves, paint, brushes, bottled water, snack bars\/food packs,<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Build out an emergency kit. <\/b><\/h3>\n

This is a good idea for any group. Put together unopened and unexpired: batteries, flashlights, candles, matches, canned goods, can opener, first aid kit, new blanket.<\/p>\n

If you have a spare battery operated AM\/FM radio or an old working cell phone with charger on hand, you might want to include those as well.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Outfit an entire theater group.<\/h3>\n

Pluck out suits, dresses, ties, shoes, boots, blazers, coats, scarves, belts, hats, and costume jewelry from your closet.<\/p>\n

You could also donate unopened and unused closet, clothing, shoe, or jewelry organizers to help your gift recipients keep everything in order in their wardrobe department.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Give the gift of reading.<\/h3>\n

Collect recent (past three months) popular magazines and other periodicals. Pull out classic books or titles you no longer read or reference.<\/p>\n

You could also round-up bookmarks, bookstands, book lights, and old reading glasses you no longer use.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Brighten up a child\u2019s world.<\/h3>\n

Grab unused and unopened: coloring books, crayons, markers, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, toys, board games, books, jigsaw puzzles, clothing and shoes, backpack, ruler, dictionary, blank notebooks, blank paper, and nightlight.<\/p>\n

Depending on where you\u2019re donating to, you could throw in appropriate room decorations or organizing products.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Cash in those gift cards.<\/h3>\n

You know all those clothing and big box store gift cards you have lying around? Why not put them to use? Begin by calling an organization and ask what they need the most of.<\/p>\n

For example, if you call a women\u2019s organization, they might need be in need of clothing or toiletries.<\/p>\n

Make a list, go shopping with your gift cards, remove the sales tags, place items in one of your containers, and donate.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Follow my blog with Bloglovin'.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

How about you? Which of these projects grabs you the most? Will you tackle any this holiday season? Do you have any other ideas for helpful decluttering projects? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!<\/i><\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,61],"tags":[1080,919,503,287,142,1166,18,19,62,741],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26439,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/26439"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theorderexpert.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}