It’s a new year, time to set goals, change habits and reorganize our homes. But it’s often hard to know where to begin. Warm up by doing something easy and satisfying: get rid of things you don’t need or want. Pick a few from this list or all of them. It won’t take a lot of time or effort but the sense of accomplishment you feel, might just help you get motivated for more and create new habits.
Coffee Mugs
If you took all your mugs out of your cupboards, you may find that they are not cohesive or attractive. That’s fine, but most of us are wasting valuable cabinet space on mugs in sizes and motifs that we never use. Assess how many mugs you really need and take the rest to be donated. Someone’s trash is someone else’s treasure.
The Kitchen Sponge
For those of you who are vigilant about making sure you get rid of your sponges on a regular basis or you never use them, please ignore this. For the rest of you, get rid of those babies right now.
Instead of filling landfills with them, consider alternatives like reusable dishrags, which can be washed regularly or eco-friendly sponges made of biodegradable cellulose. If you come up with a good use for reusing your old sponges, please post it on Pinterest.
Unwanted Books
For most of us it is hard to give up our books, but the likelihood of them just collecting dust on your shelves is hard to deny. Those volumes could be bringing joy to others. Ask yourself this when trying to whittle down your book collection:
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Will I read or use this again?
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Does it have sentimental meaning to make it worth keeping?
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Do I want it here so visitors can enjoy it?
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Do I know someone who would like/could use it?
Based on these answers, decide what to keep and what you are willing to let go of. Give them to friends, donate to a book bin or take to your local school or library.
Old Magazines
If you haven’t read the magazine in the last year, let’s be honest, your not going to read it in 2020. Don’t feel like you might one day need that recipe, the How to, or the information. You can always look it up on the internet.
Magazines are easily recycled and if you would rather they be enjoyed by someone else first, take them to a book bin, the library or give them to a school. They can always be used to make collages and vision boards.
Equipment Manuals
If you are like my husband, you keep every manual, for every item you have ever owned, maybe the boxes too. If they are still sealed in the plastic they came in and you never registered the product anyway; get rid of it. Chances are most of the information contained in those manuals is available online. If your not sure they are available digitally, check first before recycling. Recycle the boxes too, they just take up too much space!
Your Toothbrush
Toothbrushes are often a hard item for people to throw out. If the bristles are bent, broken or frayed, it’s time to get a new one. The Canadian Dental Association recommends changing your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. If you already have a collection of “cleaning toothbrushes” recycle and rotate them. There are new eco-friendly options or those with replaceable heads.
Expired Food
Go through your fridge and pantry, make 2 piles: expired items and items you won’t use. Toss or compost the expired items (recycle boxes, plastic containers, metal cans etc) and donate the still good items you won’t use, to your local food bank or charity.
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