You make the rules

One of the best perks about living on your own is that there is no one else around to complain when the small chores are left undone. Didn’t have time to do laundry yesterday? No one complained that the dirty clothes are piled up on the unused chair in the corner of the bedroom. Didn’t wash up after having dinner? Nobody noticed the sink is full of dishes. However, being an adult includes being clean, hygienic and, most importantly, organized at times. With the winds changing and the sun beginning to stay out a little bit longer, it’s about time to start thinking about a clean living space. But where to start?

The easiest way to start the cleaning process is to know you don’t have to do everything at once. I like to separate my spaces into designated areas. Each room has boundaries and each day has one goal. Chunking everything together is exactly what it sounds like: overwhelming to the extreme. Thankfully, there are many different ways to clean and all have the same guaranteed result: your space will be free of clutter and clean to the point of sparkling.

No matter what products you use, or your method of cleaning, everyone can achieve peace of mind and regain space if you are willing to take out what you’re not using. Trash or recycle, it all boils down to the same thing: declutter, throw away, donate. You can’t have it all, but you can restyle your home to suit your current and future needs. While this may sound difficult at first, the good news is you don’t have to keep everything physically. With the aid of technology, many things can be stored digitally, either online, in the cloud or simply on your computer or other personal device. This has made a huge impact in my life when it comes to organizing my papers which are mostly stored on my computer.

Once an area is designated as a “cleaning zone,” the next step in my process is to decide how you want to use the space. For instance, I originally stacked all my papers on my table instead of filing them in my desk. I decided I wanted to use my table as both a workspace and an eating area. Keeping that in mind, I divided the table in half and separated my spaces so one half is set with a placemat and silverware while the other half has my computer, my notebook and my writing supplies for work. I went through all my papers, catalogued what I needed to keep and what I could toss and moved on from there.

Now for some people, like my aunt, throwing things out is the very bane of existence. Every piece seems to have countless memories tied to it and there is no way a digital copy will ever replace the physical. Not to worry. Mark an area or devote a space to keep everything you can’t bear to throw out. In doing so, not only do you clean up your home, you also allow yourself to be alright with not getting rid of everything. If you think mentally it is okay to hold on to things of sentimental value, you will not second guess yourself or beat yourself up for keeping “trash,” because now you have made it clear that the things you are keeping are treasures, important pieces of your life.

Methodical cleaning can take some time, and occasionally we find ourselves going over the same areas or re-doing what we had already declared finished. Just like growing up, cleaning is a process that takes time to both master and complete. There are many handy apps and methods to remind yourself of what you have done and what is left to do. Microsoft offers an app called Tasks, Apple has it's Reminders app, and there are countless others out there all with the same goal: to help you keep on keeping on. No matter what methods you use, anything that works for you is the best thing for you in my book. If you have something great but don't use it, then what is it's value to you? Not a whole lot from a practical standpoint. Be your own boss and take note of what makes you feel most productive, whether it be a task list, notes, or journal. All of these are good ways to remember and remind yourself where you started and where you want to end.

But most importantly, cleaning is determined by no one else but you. Like most things in life, cleaning is tied to will power, perseverance and how you feel. Remember you are in control. Many people seem to become overwhelmed by the idea of spring cleaning. Don’t feel like you have to keep up with anyone else. Set your own pace and you will always achieve what you set out to do and feel better about having done it. You got this.