Kitchen cabinets are often the source of hidden clutter. Let's take a look and see what we can find!
You'll
be working with one cabinet at a time. Open the first cabinet and take
everything out and put it in one place, either on the floor or on a
empty table. It's important to take the items out of their hiding place.
When we see our things in one big lump, it's either too much and we
can't face it. Or we are so used to seeing the chaos that it can seem
normal.
Spread the items out so that nothing is on top
of or obstructing anything else. Have three trash bags next to these
things. One bag is for trash. Another is recycling. The last is for
donation. Think of the bags as fans on the sidelines. They are
encouraging you to make decisions. They are on your side.
Pick
up the first item. Ask yourself, "Am I using this glassware?" "Do I
love these plates?" "Would I buy this skillet today?" "Do I no longer
eat this?" "Am I done with these paper plates?" "Can I let this spice
go?" It's good to be the matter-of-fact part of yourself during this
process. The "yes" or "no" part of you. Your time is valuable. You're
looking to separate out the things that are no longer a part of your
life so you can move them out of the way of what's actually essential.
I
was working with someone recently who came across some old food in the back of a cabinet
that no one in her family was eating. She could see and decide that this
food was clutter because it was no longer obscured by a bunch of other things
in the cabinet. She simplified how she looked at things and it
was clear. That's what you're doing as you continue to go through each
item at a time.
When you see that something is clutter,
put it in the appropriate bag. Each time you do that, you'll feel a
little better. There are no 'maybes'. Maybe usually means, "I don't need
this anymore, but I don't want to let it go." I sometimes have a client
use something that they are stuck on. They pretty quickly see it
doesn't have a place in their life anymore and they let go of their
hold.
As you go through each item from your kitchen
cabinet, set aside the things that you actually do use and love. When
you are done, clean out the bottom of the cabinet. It will make you feel
better about that cabinet space. Then place the items back in the
cabinet in a way that feels right to you.
(This has been a clutter busting repost blast from the past!)