CONNECTOR.AE 48 LIFESTYLE Your Guide To Spring Cleaning: Declutter With Impact In a city that never slows down, keeping your living space calm and clutter-free can feel like an impossible task. Clutter can quickly creep in, stealing away your calm without you even realising it. However, with a clear guide and vision for getting started on your cleaning routine, your spring cleaning can be transformed from a dreaded chore into a purposeful reset. According to Shelina Jokhiya, Founder of DeCluttr Me, and affectionately known as the ‘Queen of Decluttering’ in the UAE, the secret is simple. Start small, stay consistent, and never underestimate the power of a good reset. Rebecca Lavallee, Founder of Sort It Out, suggests that you always come back to the ‘why’ question. Having clarity on why you are doing it will keep you moving forward. Both experts provide some excellent tips and suggestions to help you through this process. Here’s your essential guide to tackling spring cleaning the smart way, without the stress. Rebecca Lavallee from Sort It Out adds, “Your home should be both your launchpad and your sanctuary, a place to fuel up and decompress. That’s exactly why it’s worth carving out time to declutter and organise. A common problem with Dubai homes, both apartments and villas, is a lack of storage spaces for luggage, sports equipment and even linens. This calls for keeping the unnecessary down to a minimum as well as coming up with creative and efficient storage solutions”. Some Common Mistakes According to both experts, the biggest mistake people make is tackling too much at once and not having a clear plan. “People pull everything out, thinking they’ll organise it all beautifully in one afternoon, and then get overwhelmed halfway through and give up. I never recommend taking everything out. It’s far too much. Also, you need to be clear on what area you’re working on and what you want to achieve before you start. And finally, a lot of people get stuck because they don’t have enough boxes or donation bags ready. Always have bags ready for items to toss, donate or relocate elsewhere”, says Shelina Jokhiya from DeCluttr Me. Rebecca Lavallee from Sort It Out shares another bonus tip to keep in mind. “Resist the urge to buy storage boxes before you’ve done the sorting. You might not even need them”. CONNECTOR.AE 49 LIFESTYLE Getting Started Wondering if there is a perfect time to get started on cleaning, like the spring? While the spring season can act as an inspiration to get your things sorted, there really is no uniquely perfect time to clean. It’s always a perfect time. However, how do you know if it’s high time that you get started? Shelina Jokhiya from DeCluttr Me says, “If you feel things are getting out of hand or can’t find things easily, that’s your cue. Living in Dubai, life is so fast-paced that it’s easy for clutter to pile up without us even noticing, which can create stress. I always recommend booking a mini-declutter into your diary, just 15 to 30 minutes at a time. Treat it like you would a meeting or a workout session. You don’t have to spend hours. Start small, focus on one drawer or shelf, and build from there”. ‘‘You always come back to the ‘why’ question. Having clarity on why you are doing it will keep you moving forward.’’ ‘‘You need to be clear on what area you’re working on and what you want to achieve before you start.’’
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