Get rid of the things you don’t need already! 

Nothing in life gives me more pleasure than throwing things out. Be it clothes, appliances or things off my phone. (Okay I admit that I hoard on books, I still can’t get myself to get rid of my Ladybird books) And nothing frustrates me more when I can’t find something. 

It’s not easy for some of you but you do need to declutter and organize your junk! 

You may think you will need it in the future, but be honest, if you haven’t worn it or used it for more than a couple of years then what makes you think you will again? And there is absolutely no guilt if you actually give it someone who needs it. 

1. Get rid of clothes you don’t wear 

Open your cupboard, and pull out all your clothes. Go through each item when putting them back in. If you haven’t worn something for more than a year, ask yourself whether you really need it or whether you will ever wear it again, and don’t lie to yourself, if the answer is no, then get rid of it! When arranging them, try and categorize them. You can colour coordinate them or differentiate casual from formal. Same applies for your shoes, handbags and accessories. 

2. Clean out your kitchen cupboards 

The same principle applies to your kitchen cupboards. If you are the kind to stock your goodies, make it a habit to go through it once in a while. If there are honey or liquor bottles that are almost over get rid of them! Check expiry dates on your soups or biscuits and use them or give away the excess. There is always that one thing you buy with good intend to make it, but then eventually forget it. You can also get rid of pots and pans and even appliances that you don’t need. 

3. File your documents 

This is a must. And something you will appreciate the next time you are looking for a document in a hurry. While doing it get rid of receipts, warranty cards, certificates etc. that have expired. And you have the added bonus of looking like an organizational pro in front of your family! 

4. Make space on your phone 

Have you ever tried to take a picture and get turned down from your phone? It used to happen to me all the time. So I took the effort to delete apps and games I don’t use. And I make sure I transfer all the photos to my laptop at least once a month. So the next time you meet someone like Sanga, you can take a selfie without your phone stopping you! 

5. Organize your laptop 

Do you have about 50 icons on your desktop? It’s common among designers or artists but that is no excuse. Does your laptop take forever to start? This means it’s time to organize your laptop. Make a few folders on a drive and save your work in the respective ones and delete the ones you don’t need.Try to have less than 10 folders so that it will be easier to search for a document. 

6. Have a first aid box 

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but try to have a box full of essentials like plasters, Dettol, some painkillers like Panadene, scissors, gauze, Betadine etc. So that the next time you have an emergency you know where to find them. Also when it’s all in one place you know what needs to be restocked. 

7. One place to keep your keys 

Are you the kind to always lose your keys? The solution to this would be to have a designated place to keep them. You can do the same with things like your wallet or sunglasses etc. 

8. Have a put back basket 

I don’t recommend it, but it can be useful. Especially if you have had a long day and cannot be bothered to clean up, the least you can do is gather all the things that need to be put back to its place to one designated basket. That way when it’s about to overflow you know you have to empty it! And if you can’t find something in its place you know it’s in that basket! 

I hope these tricks will be useful to you. And remember you don’t have to do it all in one day but make sure it gets done! 

By Jithendri Gomes