declutter Archives - Tammie's Take~

Shed the Party-Dust with these simple cleaning tips!

Reviews · January 13, 2021

Baking a dozen cookies, buying everyone gifts, and decorating your home for the party is the fun part of the holiday. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, many organized holiday parties at their home spent some quality time with their loved ones.

The party is over now. Everyone enjoyed it, had a blast, and got high on cookies and sugar. But what comes next is scary! It’s time to get your house cleaned to shed all that party dust on your home.

And if you are still in that fun zone, I know you would definitely be looking for some easy and simple ways to manage those after-party chores. Don’t worry! You don’t need to purchase big vacuum cleaners. With these easy cleaning tips, you can quickly get yourself out of trouble.

Let’s begin!

Look for the bigger items and de-clutter

It’s time you say goodbye to your Christmas tree, lights, and those shimmer decorative items. Declutter everything that you don’t need anymore. For example, take those extra wrapping sheets and add them to your wrapping station.

Check all the sparkling lights and throw the ones that don’t work. And every party has a guest that leaves drinking cups under the sofa, so you would have to go for that “treasure hunt” too.

It is an excellent practice to make some space before you start the in-depth cleaning (Yes, you will have to do it, no matter what!) Also, throw out the trash from the kitchen ASAP because you wouldn’t want to deal with pests later.

Get professional help for in-depth cleaning.

If you are one of those clean freaks, trust me, you wouldn’t mind getting your entire house cleaned after the party is over. You might still have those dirty tire marks on the driveway and sidewalks. According to the experts at Outdoor Extreme Clean, contacting professionals who can help you get your home cleaned has always been the best decision. They always come through for your aid. And you’ll get your backyard, patios, deck, and sidewalks cleaned perfectly.

In fact, the one thing that the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us that it is never a bad time to clean for a hygienic living. So, once you let the professionals wash up your entire house, you wouldn’t have to worry about the in-depth cleaning anymore. That was really convenient!

Don’t forget the floors.

You already knew that floors would be the most exposed part of the home when you have guests over; that’s why you probably put on rugs and mats to save it from exploitation. But that’s not enough.

After the party, it is very important to get those mats, rugs, and carpets. Plus, you would also need to clean the floor of your home with suitable cleaners to get rid of germs, dust, and party stains.

The bottom line is,

The after-party cleaning can be a daunting task, but you have to do the needful. It is not only necessary but also hygienic. With these simple cleaning tips, you can easily prioritize the chores and achieve a tidier home after your guests leave the party.

So, put on your gloves, and tackle the mess without any hassle!

10 Ways to Declutter Your Apartment

Reviews · March 10, 2020

Apartments are the homes of more than 20 percent of Americans, and although space is limited, this shouldn’t stop people from being able to put it to use. Here are some simple tactics that can help you get your apartment in order so that you can focus on more important things.

1- Decide What You Need

Not everything you own is vital to your health and happiness. Those things that are should be separated and have space made for them before you move forward with anything else.

2- Empty Out Everything

Old bins, shoe boxes, folders of random paperwork, bags in your closet- all of it. Empty them one by one and go through them to see if you need them. Sometimes we hold onto things because of a ‘maybe’ that will never come.

3- Be Honest With Yourself

Even if you love a sweater, if you know you’ll never wear it, then you’re wasting space with it. Heavily consider if you’re ever going to put it on; if not, then it needs to go.

4- Use Space You Haven’t Considered

Adhesive hooks can get applied to the inside of cabinets and closet doors. You can hang scarves, necklaces, bags, whatever you’d like, on them in otherwise unused space.

5- Organize, Keep Organized

As good as it can feel about setting up a new organization plan, you have to be sure to stick to it. If you don’t use them, then those bins and bags you bought are just more clutter on the pile. If you need to, you can schedule five minutes a day to clean, or half an hour a week to catch up.

6- Buy Sturdy Instead of Cheap

Often clutter is because we own multiples of one thing. Buy a great umbrella that will last you, so that the corner by your door isn’t a graveyard of ruined ones. If something breaks, either fix it immediately or get rid of it.

7- Make Things More Compact

Although many people are forgoing DVDs and Blu-rays in exchange for digital video- most people still have a disc collection. Go the way of CDs in the 90s, and put them into an organizer instead of keeping them in bulky plastic cases.

8- Make Some Money

We’re more likely to get rid of something if we can get something in return for them! Consider selling things you’re not sure about trashing.

9- Ask For Help

Friends are capable of a keen and unbiased eye. Invite some over and ask for their help in going through things you’re not sure about, a second opinion can often help with decision making.

10- Consider You May Need More Space

If you’ve tried all of these, and you’re still not getting any headway, consider the possibility that an apartment isn’t for you. There’s only so much you can get rid of before you start losing things vital to you. Consider the option that it might be time to research Ottawa homes for sale instead of torturing yourself over it.

You deserve to live clutter and stress-free, you have to work towards that goal.

How to Increase Your Focus and Attention

Reviews · April 30, 2019

Anyone who is looking to increase their productivity so that they can reach their goals needs to find strategies on how to achieve a better focus and a greater attention span. There are so many distractions that we are all surrounded by in the modern-day world, that it can be difficult for you to direct your attention on what matters most to you. Due to this, it’s important to find strategies that allow you to concentrate on specific tasks and achieve a better focus overall.

If you are struggling to maintain good focus, here are just a few helpful methods that could really help you out:

Meditation

Meditation is an ancient method used to boost concentration. Many successful business people have sworn by its effectiveness to calm the mind and dramatically improve focus. Studies have shown that by meditating on a regular basis, you can reduce your stress levels significantly, focus your attention on the task in hand and make decisions with clarity.

When meditating, you should be concentrating solely on your breathing, as this trains your mind to focus on one thing at a time. It’s important that you sit comfortably and try not to move a single muscle, as you should be trying to ignore your body and physical state and instead, aim to increase your concentration levels.

Once you are able to focus your mind, you could introduce a mantra into your meditation routine. Mantras are one-syllable words that may enable you to focus more effectively. While meditating, repeat the phrase on multiple occasions. Many have found that once they inhale, overwhelming thoughts can enter the mind; however, by making a sound, you’re ultimately allowing the brain to concentrate on something other than your worries.

Make lists

Making lists isn’t just a tactic used by those who struggle to get organized, it’s actually how many of the most prepared people you know get through their day. When the mind becomes overwhelmed due to a busy schedule, it can be easy to forget some of the most important tasks which can leave you feeling stressed and lacking in focus.

Writing down what needs to be done on a daily basis is a great way of analyzing where your priorities lie. Figuring out when to schedule tasks and make use of your time effectively will ensure your day is much more productive.

Here are some key tips when it comes to list-making:

· Write it out the night before

Going to bed stressed can interrupt your sleep pattern, meaning you are bound to wake up feeling drained and less focused for the day ahead. However, writing out a to-do list the night before means you wake up with certain goals that need to be achieved, as you already know what to expect. Banish chaotic mornings and regain control by planning.

· Schedule timings

Although you can never be sure exactly how much time each task will take, it may be worthwhile to give yourself some time estimates so you don’t fall behind. This way, you’ll be able to set yourself realistic goals on what you’re likely to accomplish during each day and if you do have any time spare, it’s a bonus! Building your days around timings is perfect for keeping your focus in check.

Herbal remedies

According to studies, there are many herbal remedies which can help you to keep focus, broaden your attention span and enhance memory. Researchers have discovered that herbs have been used for centuries for both the healing of illnesses and improving mental clarity. Herbs can be taken in syrup form or capsules and tablets; however, a new and innovative method is through vaping.

Terpenes from plant oils have been used for wide range of therapies and medicinal purposes, some of which have been proven to enhance focus and attention. Many vape oils now contain terpene blends and can also be added to tobacco, so if you’re a smoker or vaper, consuming these natural remedies will become part of your daily routine. You can learn more here about terpenes and their beneficial effects on the body.

Declutter

Whether you work from home or in an office, you are bound to lose your concentration and focus if your workspace feels overly cluttered and untidy. Lisa Zaslow, a professional organizer in Manhattan said: “Surveys show that the average person loses an hour a day to disorganization…think about how frantic and stressed you are when you can’t find something”.

Even though you may not be tuned in to the amount of clutter that you have allowed to consume your workspace, you are probably completely unaware of how your mind has still been affected. Your brain can only process a certain amount of information at one given time, therefore, so if it becomes too distracted by a mess and clutter in your immediate surroundings, your attention will become easily shifted.

With this in mind, it would be wise to take a look at your workspace and see if you can get rid of unwanted junk and allow for a more organized space. Don’t just throw bits and pieces into a cupboard as they’re bound to make a return. Spare some time to go through your belongings and work out what can be kept and what should be thrown into the garbage.

Take a break

You may believe that you just don’t have enough time in the day to allow yourself to take a break, however, a proven strategy to help concentration is to leave your surroundings and simply take a much-needed break.

Our brains simply cannot cope with constant concentration, therefore, allowing for a breather every now and even will improve your focus over long periods of time.

During your next study session or perhaps even at work, try and concentrate for around a 25-minute period and then allow yourself a 5-minute break. Once you have done so on several occasions, try and push yourself to concentrate for longer and you will notice a real difference in your concentration levels.