Lose the Weight!

Everyone is super focused on losing weight right now.  That’s what today’s blog is about, right?  Nah!  I want to tell you how to lose some internal weight.  The beginning of the year is the perfect time to purge your home and lighten your load!!  What is purging, you ask?  Purging is going through your house room by room, closet by closet, drawer by drawer and getting rid of stuff that you don’t absolutely use. Wait, wait, wait! Get back here! Hear me out first.

You will be amazed at how relieving this is.  This is something that takes time, particularly if you have never done it before.   But, good news...we are not going to do it all at once.  The best way to purge your house is to do it bit by bit, but not dragging it out to take forever.  I suggest about 30 days. You want to do it mindfully, ruthlessly and prayerfully.  You want to really think about each object you are considering.  Do you really use it?  More importantly, do you NEED it? Don't just pull stuff out and put it back in.  If you do, you are just spring cleaning, not purging.  And it's not even spring.

You have to be ruthless.  I say “when in doubt, throw it out”.  But if you are really nervous about getting rid of something, put it in a bag and stick it in the attic,  Write on your calendar in 3 months (or whatever you are comfortable with) to pitch it.  If you haven't used it, you guessed it, pitch it.  Be careful though, we are not just transferring everything to your attic!  (I have never had to go to the attic to retrieve anything, just sayin'.)

There are lots of things you can do with the stuff you want to get rid of.  You can have a yard sale or sell things online, if you are industrious.  Is there anyone you know you can bless with the things you don't want?  I have lots of friends who have kids that are younger than mine and I have given away many toys and clothes.  I love going to someone's house and seeing my girls outfits being worn or toys being played with.  And if nothing else, you can always send your discards to Goodwill.

When purging, this is a great time to either fix things or make a note of what needs to be fixed.  Are you purging a drawer whose handle is loose?  No time like the present!  Fix it.  Purging the linen closet and notice you only have 4 towels or the towels you do have may or may not be the ones you had in college (this is okay if you are 23)?  Write down things you may need to buy or replace.

Great news...rubbermaid containers and lots of  home organizational items are on sale this month.

This was the mother of all purges...my attic.  UGH!

When you pull everything out of a closet or drawer, you will look around and think, oh my gosh, I can’t believe I let Kim talk me into this, I am gonna kill her.  But once you are done, trust me, you are going to think I am the greatest thing since sliced bread.

How do you start?  'Go through your house, either physically or mentally, and write down each room and what needs to be purged in it (such as "the bookcase").  Some rooms don't really have a lot.  For example, there is really nothing in my living room to consider except for all our dvds and the remote control basket.  The kitchen, on the other hand, that's a whole 'nother story,  Here is an example of the spreadsheet I use to purge.  This won't necessarily work for you, because your house is different, but it gives you an idea of how to break it down.

Purge List

Generally speaking, I do this on the weekends.  Once you do this annually, it gets a whole lot easier and quicker.  I find that once I get going, I get motivated and usually finish a room in the same day.  I will do a few drawers, come back and do a few more, etc.  If you get really worn out, take a break.  Listen to music while you are doing it, have a girlfriend come help you.  Have your spouse join the fun.  Unless they are a hoarder.

Trust me on this.  Purging your house is a great way to make room for new blessings this year.  You will be amazed at how much lighter you feel on the inside from cleaning out things on the outside.  Holding on to things you don’t need is weighing you down, whether you realize it or not.  AND, those items you don’t really need or use can really be a blessing to someone else!  I can’t help you lose weight, but I can help you to lighten your load!  

Lighten up in 2016!

K