As much as people love the change of seasons, it seems like everyone is universally over this winter season! It’s only early March, but it is still cold, gray and in my area,very rainy. We are counting down the days until Spring around here (it officially starts March 20th) and hoping for at least for a little bit of sunshine. Instagram is full of influencers promoting spring clothes in bright colors and bikinis modeled in clear, blue tropical waters. I’m pale and pasty and find myself dreaming of a tropical vacation every day. The warm weather can’t come soon enough!
The end of winter seems to be a typical time to hunker down, wait for the flowers to bloom; a rebirth of sorts. The Lenten season starts today. If your faith compels you, it is usually a time for reflection, self-denial, doing penance, and giving back to others. The six week before Easter is a marked period that you can make adjustments in your life. You do you, in whichever way fits.
The past few years, I have focused my energy during this time on cleaning and clearing out. I have challenged myself to 40 bags in 40 days. I found the idea years ago on the internet and I have adapted it to my own system every time I have completed it. I find that this marked six weeks before Easter is an easy time to stay motivated and therefore more productive. It seems like Marie Kondo’s, “Spark Joy” is all the rage these days. This is the perfect time to put her practices to use!
The concept is easy…fill 1 trash bag each day for 40 days. It could be filled with trash (just not your typical trash) or items to donate or sell. You really don’t have to over think it. But, it is best to start with a plan so you don’t get overwhelmed by the process and the messy linen closet. Here are some quick and easy guidelines to make this as simple as possible:
- Determine how and who you are going to donate used and old items to.
- Do you have to drop them off somewhere? Can an organization come pick them up? Choose this first, so the bags don’t sit in the corner of your bedroom for 3 months. If you don’t know where to donate to, check out donationtown.org to find local organizations.
- Get the trash bags ready. Kitchen bags are fine, but the big black outdoor yard bags are the best. Make sure you have at least 40. Find a jar to collect loose change. You might have some extra coffee money by the end of this!
- Start small and places you don’t think of. You can ease into this endeavor better this way. Visit your nightstand…where you shove old books, magazines, receipts from the holidays and old phone chargers. Junk Drawers, Laundry room cabinets and bathroom drawers are another good starting point.
- Multiple bags in one day counts! You do you! No judging here.
- Try to do it daily for as long as you can. I don’t think I have ever made it the full 40 days, but I have had at least 40 bags.
- Tackle the bigger projects such as your bedroom closet or the kid’s clothing one drawer and one bag at a time. If you are motivated to do the entire closet, my suggestion is you take everything out. Place on tables or across your room and then sort. Make three piles: Trash, Give Away/Sell, and Keep. Once you organize out of your closet, you will have an easier time seeing how it should go back in.
- Let the kids help you! Make them fill up a bag on Saturdays or after school. Trust me, there is enough trash in their rooms to be thrown out weekly!
- Turn on the tunes and rock out as you go!
If you can succeed with the challenge this year, it will make the following year easier. If you are in need of a major pantry or closet overhaul, it is easier to put a reorganization plan in place once the clutter is cleared. This process can make you feel refreshed and ready for the spring. Yet, as we all know, this is a temporary fix. The clutter comes back and mess piles up. But March will roll around again and you can reset and redo while you wait for the warm weather and sunshine.