Once I wrote my entire first name on a grain of rice. And years later the G|I|G Blog came to be. Yep, I'm sure this sounds pretty crazy but if you read on, I assure you, the inspiration behind this blog will make tons more sense.
Back to the Rice! Wait...What?
For the life of me, I can’t remember why I wrote my name on a piece of rice all those years ago. I think it was a kit and I didn’t even follow the directions. To that end, I believe there are intuitive moments in life where we have to diverge from the obvious path to find the clarity that eludes us.
Sucker-Punch Your Very Worst Critic (You)!
Embrace-A-Space | A Mini G|I|G Series
It's Never Too Late To Go (Clean) Home Again.
Because More Often Than Not Our Homes Don't Look Like This.
The Simple Solution
A Popular Problem
Visit a hardware store and purchase construction site caliber trash bags. The cost will range between $20 and $25 dollars, however you receive upwards of 50 huge, heavy duty bags! The cost may seem a bit steep but the peace of mind you find while doing the following is priceless:
Pick a room-any room! Just one? Yes-just one.
Unless you achieve mitosis, successfully splitting yourself in two, and your twin tackles refinishing the dining room floor while you fix the leaky sink in the bathroom...
If you're reading this it might be an accurate assessment that you weren't blessed with the compulsive cleaner gene. You're busy. Not to mention tired. And why sugarcoat it? Your living space has become a funky nest of confusion. To get along, and not become disoriented on the way to the bathroom, you hold fast to the constant that each room in the house has a sole identifier-a chipped lamp that could only belong to the living room, for instance. And with the waft of stale and startling new smells, you now have the sneaking suspicion the worse off of the rooms have probably developed their own unstable ecosystems. Don't fear. That's to be expected. But there's a way out. Here comes that chance for redemption spring is famous for!
Dedicate one free day to one room in need.
With bags in hand, break down the contents of the room into (3) simple categories:
TRASH/RECYCLE | DONATE|SELL
TRASH/RECYCLE
Grab a couple of bags for preliminary sorting of trash. For mandated recyclables like paper, cardboard, plastic and glass, consolidate into any large plastic or metal containers. As long as your receptacle of choice is marked “Recycle”, you’re all set for pick up. Resist overfilling, making sure both trash bags and recycle receptacles don’t exceed 40lbs. Noncompliance to the above can lead to trash collectors leaving your bags on the curb or even a sanitation fine.
Purging your home of unwanted clutter is reclaiming your space and that’s empowering! Need an extra nudge? Some cities even offer recycling rewards programs for residents. To learn more about recycling programs specific to your area, visit the site Recyclebank .
DONATE
Suits. Shoes. Belts and Blazers.
It’s common to purchase these items out of necessity or—let’s face it—impulse. You vow to make the most of clothes but wear articles only a handful of times then retire them to the deepest recesses of your closet. Excavating your closet, drawers and storage containers in the spring stirs a conscience-driven cocktail of nostalgia, panic and self-awareness:
This still has the tags.
How did I let it get this bad?
There’s that missing right loafer!
Whatever thoughts swarm as forgotten clothing meet daylight, take a deep breath and grab a construction bag or two. It’s time to part with your belongings and I won’t lie to you. The struggle is real. However as your closet thins out, moments of discomfort seem bearable with a renewed sense of purpose. Cleaning out a closet can show you where you’ve been and, in a modest way, inspire someone else’s future.
Spring Cleaning: For the Living Space and Sanity
While the Givin' is Good | A Mini G|I|G Series
The Neglected Closet: The Go-To Gift that Keeps on Giving
Part Three of the Mini G|I|G Series
GO THE DISTANCE
Find a nonprofit whose mission is to help people making the transition to the workforce a less intimidating one. Seek out an organization whose efforts are made possible, in part, by donations from people who could do without that black suit in the back of their closet. People who have perhaps established themselves in the workforce and have a wardrobe staple or two they would gladly part with—if it meant giving a deserving person the chance to realize their potential. Sound familiar?
Bag it up, make a visit to a local donation branch or schedule a donation pickup today!
Shout out to the Career Wardrobe headquartered in Philadelphia!
SELL
I thought it important to include this entry as an addendum to your spring organization plan of attack. I thoroughly explore the pros and cons of selling in the featured article Taking Your Garage Sale Global in The Annex. If you acquire stuff in true excess, consider organizing the items and putting them up for sale in an e-commerce store. There are plenty of niche marketplaces to explore but eBay remains my storefront of choice. Currently eBay offers three subscription packages with fixed price insertion fees as low as 5¢, free pictures, and intuitive features designed to boost your success through every stage of business growth.
If you got stuff and you’re doggedly determined to get rid of it, congrats! You have the potential to run you’re very own e-commerce store. To be sure, an e-commerce store in not an endeavor to be entered into lightly. However, with simple planning that aligns with your private sales goals or small business needs, eBay is a viable option to reach millions of potential buyers—a welcomed alternative to swatting mosquitoes and dime-toting hagglers at a garage sale!
YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES
To clarify, if a whole day seems like a tall order, commit to three hours per room. 1 hr = 1 bag. In fact, planning to clean for a set amount of hours is all at once healthier and more realistic. Make the most of the time. If you have a fitness tracking device, make the act an organized challenge. Ask friends or family to join in for a friendly competition! Going it solo? Listen to music or even your favorite movie and the hours will fly. Most importantly, stay energized and hydrated: drink water, forgo heavy meals and eat protein rich snacks instead. In the end, your body will send signals when it’s time to pack it in for the day.
It’s important not to jam a lot of cleaning or reorganizing in a single day. You may grow resentful of the act and future plans to clean or organize will suffer for it. Nobody likes it, however spring cleaning, spread across several days or weekends, forces you to reassess the things you believe are possible in broader terms. You saw the task through to the end and now the cluttered room that seemed to taunt you every time you passed it is now under control. You considered just buying more hangers but the donation pickup you scheduled is a decision that not only helps people but holds you accountable—and you like it. A systematic practice like cleaning is a gratifying spring board—pun intended—for achieving changes that benefit all areas of your life.