Do you wish you could have that Pinterest perfect home, where everything is neat and tidy? I used to always have messes everywhere; clothes on the floor; dishes piling up in the sink. But for the last few years, I've implemented a few key habits to give myself a mess-free, stress-free environment. Here are my top 4 tips that you can use to do the same.
1. Everything should have a home.
Victor Zissou
You've probably heard the saying 'a place for everything and everything in its place.' But sometimes that's just not good enough. Everything needs a home. Put things in a container or box specifically for them. Books live on a bookshelf, not your desk. Snacks live in the pantry, not on the coffee table. This rule is especially important for things that are used often, like shoes and TV remotes. When everything has a home it's easier to see when things are out of place, and it's easier to put them back where they belong: no more haphazardly shoving things wherever they fit. And because everything goes where it belongs, you know where it is next time you need it.
2. Make your bed.
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Making my bed is the hill I will die on. Not only is making your bed a keystone habit, which is a building block for other habits, people who make their beds are statistically happier. Making your bed also encourages you to keep the rest of your room tidy. But most importantly, your bed is the focal point of your room, so a well-made bed can make a messy room look cleaner and an unmade bed can make a clean room look messy.
3. Don't have more than you need.
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I'm not saying you need to go full minimalist (although I am) but having more than you need is the easiest way to have a messy and cluttered environment. Unless you have several dinner parties a year you don't need a full set of dishes. Having fewer dishes means they will never pile up and get out of hand while simultaneously freeing up valuable cabinet space. Clothes and shoes everywhere? Try cutting down to your three favorite pairs of shoes, or better yet try a capsule wardrobe or even a daily uniform (which is what I do.)
4. Do a fifteen minute daily clean up.
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One of the most important things to do is to clean every day instead of trying to do it all at once. Set a timer for fifteen minutes at the end of the day and get as much cleaning done as possible. Put everything back in its home, make sure all your dishes are done and ready for breakfast tomorrow and do any other chores that need doing. At first, you probably won't get through much, but soon you'll have leftover time to do all the little things you forgot you were even supposed to be doing. Then all that's left to do is drift off to sleep in your well-made bed because a mess-free environment is a stress-free environment.
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