deCrapping your Home

Years ago the Centers for Disease Control released a study indicating that where you live can have an impact on your mood.   It was not surprising that living in Kentucky was more depressing than Hawaii. However, ranking up there with Hawaii was Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.  

While the study outlines patterns of depression and happiness across the USA, the factors behind them are not clear.  Income and education have been noted in other studies to be factors.  Personally, I know many factors play into how happy I am.  Job satisfaction to the balance in my savings account to the weather all contribute to my mood.  In addition to those, my surroundings and it's appearance also play into my levels of happiness and crabbiness.  I'm not as cheery when I wake up to dirty dishes, crumbs on the counter and day-old coffee in the coffee pot versus when I walk into a sparkly clean a kitchen with the dishes done.  I'm more content at night relaxing on the couch when the coffee table isn't filled with mail, magazines, dirty socks and dust. 

One of the quickest way to elevate my mood is to "deCrap" my house.   This should no be confused with "deCluttering"  and good ole' Deep Cleaning.  

deCraping is a process of throwing out the CRAP in you house.  It is THE PRECURSOR to deCluttering which is then followed by Deep Cleaning.   When you deCrap you get rid of all things without purpose.  When you deClutter you have to make decisions.  Often you have to decide between keeping one of  fifteen old pairs of shoes that you plan on wearing to garden in during the summer.  When you deCrap there is no decision to make, the items you toss have no purpose.    It is mindless and it is a satisfying process.

To help you start deCraping your living space, below is a list of things to toss and assist you with making your home a more peaceful place to live.

1. Unnecessary paper that includes but is not limited to: magazines, receipts, junk mail, bills and documents.

Crinkle old receipts

2.  Things with HOLES that include but are not limited to:  socks, underwear, pants, pillows, sheets, towels, handbags, gloves. 

If there is a hole in the toe, toss it!

3.  Things that are expired that include but are not limited to food (including stuff in your freezer with freezer burn), medicine and  makeup

3 year old mascara and 5 year old blush (and the brush/blush combo thing never worked right too)

4. Things that do not work. People, your never going to fix that $10 broken cordless telephone. Just toss it. 

My sonicare that no-longer sonics

5.  Things that lost their mate. Items include but are not limited to: socks, gloves, earrings, storage containers, phone chargers.

No need to keep the container if it doesn't have a lid.

Take a room every day, spend 10-15 minutes deCraping.  Keep doing this every week revisiting each room for a month.  You will be AMAZED at how much you can get done and how it will improve your living space.