"Your home is a living space, not a storage space". That quote jumped out at me while reading the book Soulful Simplicity recently. The beginning of the year is traditionally the time we take stock. Stock of ourselves, our health, our budgets, our homes. But it can happen at any point in your life.
Simplify Your Home
I think the reason that the quote resonated so strongly with me is that we hear from people every single day that are looking for more. More space. Bigger and more closets. More storage. More, more, more. But, I would encourage you to think about if more is really what you want and/or need.
Do you need more because your family is growing?
Totally understandable. We can help you find a bigger home here.
Do you need more because you have too much stuff?
That's a different conversation. If you've got so much stuff that you're considering moving to a larger home or renting a storage unit, maybe it's time to consider simplifying your belongings.
Recommended reading about simplifying
This is by no means an exhaustive list. All you have to do is google simplifying your home and you'll find page after page of advice - some that's practical and some that will make you shake your head (like we did with Marie Kondo's suggestions for clothing storage in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing - which includes very specific instructions on how to both fold and honor your clothes).
The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life
Simple Ways to Be More With Less
Clutter Free: Simplify Your Life
Recommendations for places to donate your stuff
There are a number of places to drop your donations in New Orleans. Whether you opt to sell or donate, here's a list to help you get started. One of our favorites is PickUpPlease, run by the Vietnam Veterans of America, which allows you to schedule online and just leave your items on the porch for pick up.
Where to recycle electronics, batteries, and tires
In New Orleans, there is a monthly recycling drop off on the second Saturday from 8am-1pm at the Recycling Drop Off Center, 2829 Elysian Fields Avenue. Get the details here. In Jefferson Parish, you can drop off cellphones, computer hardware, DVRs, external hard drives, fax machines, laptops, MP3 players, printers, tablets, telephones and video game players at one of two locations. 400 David Drive in Metairie and 6440 Lapalco Blvd in Marrero are open 10am-6:30pm Tuesday through Sunday. Proof of parish residency is required.
Do you prefer a list to a book?
Check out this 31 days to a clutter free home checklist.
Have you decluttered your home and reclaimed your space? Tell us about it in the comments - we love to hear your stories.
This story was originally published at Crescent City Living
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