Developing Decluttering Habits
From Sarah Stabenow, Marketing Coordinator
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the clutter in your home, especially after years of homeschooling? I recently stumbled upon "Decluttering at the Speed of Life" by Dana K. White and it completely changed my perspective on “stuff.” Despite never having read a book about organization or home management, this title caught my eye, and I devoured it! I love Dana’s practical and motivating approach to decluttering, plus she brings comic relief with made-up words like "de-slobification."
What sets this book apart is its focus on simplicity and effectiveness. It's not about buying new organizational systems or storage solutions; it's about getting rid of the stuff. Dana's method is all about tackling clutter at a manageable pace, starting with the most visible areas and gradually working outward. She emphasizes the importance of loving the home you live in and introduces the revolutionary yet straightforward “container concept.”
One of the key takeaways from the book is the importance of developing decluttering habits. (We all know the emphasis Mason put on habit formation!) Dana encourages readers to ask themselves two crucial questions:
- Where would I first look for this item if I needed it?
- If I needed this item, would it ever occur to me that I already owned one?
The author guides readers room by room, providing practical advice for decluttering. She even tackles books, suggesting that when your container (like a bookshelf) is full, you must make choices about what to keep and what to let go.
If you ever find yourself overwhelmed by housework or feel like you're constantly managing clutter instead of cleaning, I highly recommend this book. However, if you already have color-coordinated systems and cute bins for everything, skip the book and share your organization tips with the rest of us. We will want those tips after we declutter!
As homeschoolers, our homes are not just where we live; they are also our classrooms, science labs, and art studios. Cultivating a home atmosphere that reflects our style of relational learning is crucial. Charlotte Mason reminds us, “Seeing that we are limited by the respect due to the personality of children, we can allow ourselves but three educational instruments — the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit and the presentation of living ideas.” (Towards a Philosophy of Education, p. 94) Atmosphere matters.
Join us next week for Office Hours as Debi Zahn, Alveary member and mom of many, shares organization tips. Join the Hive Circle Atmosphere of our Home and connect with other members. Share your favorite decluttering/home maintenance tips, books, blogs, and podcasts in this Fabulous Friday post.
Notes
1. New “Contact” Link: We have created a new form to help us streamline our process of answering your questions. You’ll find the new link in the Hive and on our website. Please refresh your browser and/or update your bookmarks.
2. Exams: Term 3 exams are available on your dashboard.
3. Alveary Ambassador Kit: Find inspiration and resources for sharing Alveary with friends in our new Alveary Ambassador Kit.
4. Practicing School Observation and Training: Join us for this three-day event hosted at Blue Willow Tutorial—an Alveary/Charlotte Mason school—located in Athens, Tennessee. See more details here.
5. RightStart Math: Use promo code MATH15 to receive 15% off your entire order when you purchase an RS2 Math Set. Offer expires March 31.
6. Employment Opportunity: Gillingham Charter School, a CMI-accredited school in Pottsville, PA, has multiple job openings. Learn more here. (To see job openings, “Click Here to Apply.”)
