Get Ready for Summer: Organize Your Home & Digital Space

Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes the urge to shed layers and embrace fresh starts.  Why not extend that refreshing feeling to your home and digital space? You may be impressed with how much peace of mind that could give you.

A cluttered closet can leave you feeling overwhelmed every morning when you browse through clothes you never wear or can’t find that one item you love. A disorganized digital world can hurt your productivity and happiness in the same way. So, here’s your guide to getting summer-ready – both physically and digitally!

Home Sweet Organized Home

Start by tackling a room at a time.  Here’s a breakdown for a room-by-room refresh ideas:

Living Room

Declutter surfaces, fold your blankets, and organize books and magazines. Consider adding storage ottomans for hidden toy havens. And clean that dust from your TV!

Kitchen

Organize your pantry by category and expiration date. Tackle that overflowing junk drawer and designate specific spots for utensils and gadgets. Think of whether you actually need 30 cups in your cupboard. Maybe three times less will suffice? The fewer dishes you have, the easier it will be to wash them once you run out of the clean ones.

Bedrooms

Fold and put away clothes, sort through shoes, and donate or sell what you no longer wear. Invest in under-bed storage containers for out-of-season items. Simple plastic boxes from Ikea are enough! Sorting your clothes so you can see them all easily can also help you save money because you’ll avoid splurges on items you already have.

Bathrooms

Clean these toothpaste stains on your mirror and organize shampoos in the shower to leave only the ones you actually use often. Discard expired toiletries and organize cleaning supplies. Pretty canisters for cotton swabs and makeup brushes add a touch of style, while a home fragrance can leave your bathroom smelling nice all the time.

Conquer the Cleaning Chaos

Spring cleaning might conjure up images of exhaustion and endless scrubbing, but fear not! Here’s how to transform it into a manageable even enjoyable) experience:

• Chunk it Up. Don’t try to tackle your entire house in one go. Divide your cleaning into bite-sized pieces. Maybe dedicate 30 minutes to decluttering your living room one day and focus on deep cleaning your bathroom the next. Small, achievable goals will keep you motivated and not overwhelmed.
• The Power of 15 Minutes. Can’t spare a whole half hour or don’t feel energized enough? Don’t worry – even 15 minutes a day can make a big difference. Set a timer and focus on one specific area: tidy the bookshelf, wipe down the kitchen counters, or fold laundry. You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in a short burst if you concentrate only on cleaning/tidying up during that time.
• Team Up for Success. Don’t do it alone! Enlist the help of family or roommates. Turn on some music, make it a cleaning party, and split up the tasks. Not only will it go by faster, but it can also be a fun way to bond.
• The “While You’re At It” Method. Multitasking can be a myth, but there are ways to streamline your cleaning routine. For example, while the kettle is boiling for your tea, wipe down the kitchen counter. Or, fold a load of laundry while your favorite show is on in the background. These little “while you’re at it” moments can make a big difference and also make cleaning up more enjoyable.
• Embrace the Music Playlists. The right music can work wonders for motivation. Create a cleaning playlist filled with upbeat tunes that get you moving. Suddenly, vacuuming and folding a mountain of laundry doesn’t seem so daunting anymore!
• Reward Yourself. Finished cleaning a particularly cluttered room? Reward yourself with a relaxing soak in the tub or a refreshing drink on the porch. Positive reinforcement keeps you motivated and makes the whole process more enjoyable.

Embrace the Power of Plants

Houseplants can bring a touch of nature indoors and offer a surprising array of benefits:

• Plants act as natural air purifiers, filtering out toxins and increasing oxygen levels in your home. So make that city life more refreshing!
• Studies have shown that spending time around plants can reduce stress and anxiety. Surround yourself with some leafy friends, and you’ll feel the tension melt away.
• Don’t have a reputation for keeping things alive? There are plenty of low-maintenance houseplants available, like snake plants or philodendrons. These beauties thrive on neglect, perfect for busy lifestyles.
• Plants are also a way to make your space look prettier and more creative. There are endless possibilities when it comes to displaying your botanical treasures. Hang planters from the ceiling, arrange them on windowsills, or group them together on a plant stand. Let your creativity flourish!

Digital Detox for a Summer State of Mind

• Declutter Your Desktop. Your desktop shouldn’t resemble a digital wasteland. Move or delete unused files, and organize the rest into clear folders. A clutter-free desktop is a clutter-free head.
• Unsubscribe from the Noise. Feeling overwhelmed by emails? Unsubscribe from those promotional lists that clog your inbox and steal your attention. Silence unnecessary app notifications, too. Reclaim your digital peace of mind.
• Social Media: Time for a Tune-Up? Take a look at your social media accounts. Are any bringing you down? Maybe you don’t need to follow that unrealistic beauty-standards-setting model who only exposes the best angles of her face and body, including loads of Photoshop on top? Consider hitting unfollow or taking a break. Curate your social media experience to be uplifting and inspiring.

Security for the Digital Organization

A secure home is essential for peace of mind, and so is secure digital space – that is a non-negotiable in the world of online scams. When you spend your time online, you’re creating a roadmap exposing your digital presence.  This makes it even more important to take steps to safeguard your information.

Here are some key security measures to consider:

• VPN. Consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when using public Wi-Fi. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it much harder for hackers to steal your information. Moreover, VPNs can help you access content you otherwise wouldn’t be able to access online – for example, you can watch Australian Survivor in the US. Even fewer worries on your mind when you want to see a specific show or a movie!
• Password Power. Strong, unique passwords are your strongest line of defense. Use a password manager to create and store complex passwords for all your accounts.
• Double Authentication. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step when logging in.

A Summer-Ready You and Your Digital Space

Do yourself a favor and take time to organize your home and digital space. Then, you’ll be creating a calm and efficient environment that sets you up for a fantastic summer and overall success. Just imagine the joy of finding that swimsuit you packed away last year or the ease of accessing important documents without a frantic search.

So, put on some upbeat tunes, grab your cleaning supplies, put away some time for the digital life organization, and get ready to solve any challenges better this coming summer!