How to Declutter When You’re Too Busy to Declutter
As a New Yorker, being busy is a lifestyle we all have. In New York City, time gets eaten away by waiting and trying to get there, and once there, you find 100 other places to visit. I know for me it is very rare to go to an appointment and not survey the land beforehand for other errands to run while on the way, in the neighborhood, or trekking back home. We bundle a lot, which is my explanation for why New Yorkers are busy. So how does this relate to decluttering when busy, ah… it doesn’t. But maybe I can clue you into some things that might make it helpful to declutter when coming home from a busy day. Some of these aspirations I have for myself.
Drop Zones- some people are not “put it in its place” kind of people, and others are “put it on a surface” when entering your home. It can be difficult to structure the home or adapt to two different styles when entering the home. The drop zone is when you designate an area based on your behavior to leave something, because it makes logical sense on your trajectory.
How to put it into practice.
First: The Observation: When everyone or just you comes home, look at where they land their items. See the desire lines of where they dropped their items.
Second: Document or observe this for a week, especially in winter and summer- our accessories tend to change, but the pattern might be the same.
Third: Create drop zones- drop zones mean putting a basket, tray, or catchment unit for shoes, accessories, keys, coats, and bags based on what you want to get off first.
We are a “no shoes in the house,” and our shoes always make it 15 steps past the front door, so it is not the first item off as I would like.
Fourth: Move furniture around to see what might work best, like a bench and a basket near the door.
Fifth: Add hooks, shelves, rug, buckets, and magnets along the desire line.
Sixth: Shift items that are used with great frequency to those accessible places.
Our shoe closet is very accessible, but the door seems to be a barrier for them getting back inside. Acknowledging that several pairs will naturally live outside the closet will just have to be a reality. The shoes can have a designated spot by using a rug or tray.
Drop zones can be placed in every room. See what happens when you decide to see where you naturally place things, try to understand why you place them there, and see what is missing to shift your behavior to where things might need to go.
Looking for homework, great! Create an entryway drop zone for yourself. 1 Week Challenge.
Alright, happy decluttering to my busy New Yorkers! And if you are looking for help to create these drop zones, you can contact me directly at Bklyndecluttered.com
