Fall Clearing

It happens predictably every year in the early fall. Is it triggered by the kids going back to school? Or when I notice the sun setting earlier and the air getting cooler?

Whatever the cause, I feel compelled to pare down the excess and spruce up the house, creating a more streamlined, restful space to live in.

“We don’t need this many mugs,” I announce to my husband as I peer critically into the kitchen cupboard, pulling out one with a chip and throwing it into the trash.

That evening, after I toss an extra deck of cards into the donation bag that I keep by the door and tell him that I’d like to repaint the living room, I see a look in his eyes like he’s just figured something out. “Oh,” he observes, “you’re nesting again.”

“Yup!” I laugh, “I do it every fall.” Organizing isn’t just something you do once and it stays that way forever. Things pile up, new things come into the house, and life changes. It’s rituals and routines like this fall clearing that keep me organized.

Clear the space so you can enjoy your place.

I’m not the only one in the family who does this fall nesting thing. My husband is currently making space in his art studio. He realized it’s easier to work and more enjoyable to be in the studio when there’s less excess.

This doesn’t have to mean adopting a minimalist lifestyle, but clearing space does make life easier. A pared-down space with fewer things to manage and maintain gives you more time to live the life you want.

Maybe it’s hard for you to let go of things or perhaps you just like the look of having lots of decorations and stuff around you. If so, instead of thinking you’re getting rid of stuff, focus on the fact that you’re clearing a bit so you can shine the spotlight on the things you love the most.

Here are three quick ways you can clear a little space:

1. Do something easy: Whether your hangup is books, heirlooms, or clothes, don’t start with a category of items you know you’re super-attached to. Instead, pare down something neutral or utilitarian, such as socks or pens.
2. Pare down as you go about your day: It’s not necessary to schedule time to clear things if you take the opportunity to evaluate something when you come across it during the course of your day. Grabbing a cup of coffee? See if you can get rid of a mug or two?
3. Eliminate whole categories: Sometimes you can get rid of an entire category of things, such as diapers now that the kids are all in college (LOL!). My friend and fellow organizer Kristi, who’s also doing this nesting thing now, decided she no longer needed to stock cleaning wipes because she invested in quality microfiber cloths. She’s donating the wipes to her son’s school. Now she has an empty space on her shelf and doesn’t have to keep adding wipes to her shopping list.

Finally, don’t focus only on the STUFF that you’re paring down, but consider the SPACE you are clearing.

Having too much clutter makes you unable to see the forest for the trees. It’s pleasing to be able to see not just your possessions but your home itself—the architectural details, the view from the window, the way the walls make a cozy space for you.