Podcast Episode: 3 Solid Tips To Get Your Family On Board With Decluttering, My Pregnancy Goals, and Tried and True Tips for Decluttering While You Move

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If you find yourself moving here are 3 simple tips for decluttering:

 

1. Declutter as you pack things into boxes. If you are not 100% on the items they go right into the donation bag. Nothing goes into the moving truck that doesn’t for sure have a place in your home.
2. If you are like us and cannot move into the home you bought right away- you are most likely living out of a suitcase. As a family of 5 we are currently living out of 2 suitcases. It is amazing how little you need, but it also highlights things that we really miss too. Take note of those things you don’t feel like serve your family a purpose after you live with a lot less in transition. — which leads me into the last tip
3. Purge as you unbox. We have been living with very little these last few weeks. When we get our stuff back I am going to be decluttering as I unbox. It is amazing to see what we truly can live without! I will be selling and donating what I do not want to bring into the new house. I did not pack anything that needed to be placed in the trash so this process should go very quickly.

My Pregnancy Goals:

1. Be intentionally active at least 30 minutes a day. The last 3 months I have been super sick as I have spoken about on the podcast. In these last 3 months I have not been active at all due to the illness. Today, sadly, I still am very nauseous. Yes, even in my second trimester (it feels a bit unfair and I try not to have too many pity parties with myself) but there are small pockets of time where I do not feel sick. My goal is during one of those time periods to get out and get active. Today I did lunges, a run/walk 5 minutes on 5 minutes off, as well as leg kick backs and calf raises for a total of 30 minutes. Small little increments each day will add up. 

 

1. Stay decluttered and focused on the people and relationships in the family and don’t hit the panic button about not “being prepared” enough for baby. I believe newborn babies need very little in those first few months. I have 3 boys currently. We have clothing for everyone minimally based off their age and size. We have shoes that I put through the washing machine to keep clean for the next child to wear. We have a solly baby wrap, a haakaa (for nursing) a swing that was recently gifted to us, and bassinet for the first few months for new baby. That’s about it. I need to get a back up bottle or two in case and I need to re stock my med kit… but other than that I really don’t believe that I need to go over board for this new baby coming. The gender will be a surprise which may throw a wrench in things if we do in fact have a girl, but I feel like I will handle that if that happens after delivery. The only thing to worry there are clothing really. Other than that not much more. Really just not falling into peer pressure to buying more than we actually need and just be settled in what we already have from previous babies. 

 

3 Simple Tips To Get the Family On Board with decluttering:

 

1. Make it easy for them: Too many toys- makes it really hard for children to clean up and take care of what they have. My advice is to declutter the toys and then do a toy rotation. I grab a few toys that have been out for awhile and place them in a closet and then bring them out in a few weeks. Super easy process. It keeps things fun and exciting and less cluttered. Another example: 

 

 Too many pairs of shoes/coats/ clothing is overwhelming to clean up and put away. Declutter the clothing and shoes to make laundry put away less time consuming. If you want your kids to hang up their coats but the coat racks are too tall for them- place a rack at their level so you can stop harping on the kids to hang up their coat each day. Find the pain points and make small adjustments to making it a bit easier for everyone. Teaching our kids to be responsible for their stuff/ and taking care of the items they own is important at a young age… okay onto #2

 

1. Less is more. Too much too soon sets people up for failure. Especially with kids. Small bite size chunks and baby steps helps make habits implemented. Habits usually take weeks.. So not taking on too many things is important for progress. Pick one or two things to work on and start working on those goals. 

 

1. Notice progress and make a comment. Kids love compliments. They love when they feel like they have done the right thing. Coach them, be their cheerleader, and make it known when they remembered to take their shoes off by the door instead of leave them in the living room for others to trip on.. Or when they hung up their coat after coming inside from school instead of throwing it on the floor for mom to pick up. Saying things like: great job bud I noticed you hung up your coat after school today that was really helpful of you! Small positive words go a long way. 

If you find yourself in a season of decluttering alone and feel like no one in the family really wants to jump on board to help in small ways maybe ask yourself a few questions:

• Where are the pain points and where am I always nagging- have I given them more than they can handle? Time to pair down and coach them instead of nag until we see small baby steps? 
• Have I done my part decluttering well enough around the house and with my own things to make an impact on my family. If so, are there areas I need to take a harder look at where they could potentially be problems? Example- getting resentful for cleaning up the toys solo because there are too many of them.
• Am I always nagging- or am I giving positive comments when someone actually does what I have been asking? Am I being a good coach to my family? 

 

I always love to write things down. For some reason it is an easy way for me to see the full picture without getting overwhelmed with too many thoughts in my head. It is also an easy way to get organized and prioritize which pain points need immediate attention.

 

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