Here in our little nest, I usually end up spending the month of January as a cleaning month. After the Christmas decorations come down, I get into this mood to get ready for Spring. I go on a cleaning spree in the Winter so that I can spend Springtime outside enjoying the weather.

First, I prioritize on which rooms I want to tackle and in what order. I purpose my day and get into my “cleaning” mode and focus on the task at hand. And then I “prune” the room – getting rid of STUFF.

Here are some of my tips for a simple and clean home in 2015:

Donate, donate, donate. Don’t ponder too long on stuff when you are going thru it. If you haven’t touched it 2 years, you likely aren’t going to miss it if you give it away. Even if you have some emotional ties to an item, think about real quick if you have another item that has the same tie. Choose one. It’s just stuff and the real important ‘stuff’ is the memories in your head! Let it go, let it go! (do you hear the tune of the popular song in your head?!)

Fill the bags. I don’t care if it’s garbage bags (black or white) or those plastic grocery bags. Start filling them up. Depending on how willing your husband is to this task, you may have to do this when he is GONE. Odds are, if it’s something of his, he won’t miss it. Mine hasn’t

A place for everything, and everything in it’s place. I love baskets & containers but the key for me using them successfully is to label them. Which leads to my next point.

Label. Labeling just makes things easier. I may remember exactly where everything goes, but if I have things labeled it makes it easier for someone else (husband, grandchildren) to help with the clean up. It just looks more organized.

Continue the Purge. I had a friend suggest to me to remove 27 things a day from your home. WOW, 27? Is that even possible. YES, YES it is! I think most of us have a little bit of a hoarding gene. So, I find myself going through the magazine stack, the famous kitchen “junk” drawer, the fridge, the storage containers, the pen drawer…anything. And every day I make sure to throw away 27 items. It’s actually starting to make a visible difference and I LOVE it!

Team effort. If you have a husband and grandkids, see if you can get them to join in the “fun”. Try encouraging your husband to go through some of his stuff. Or likely, he may get in on the fun just watching you do some of your tasks.

Make the work FUN. Maybe it’s putting on some music, or turning on a favorite show and having it play in the background. Make the experience FUN. I’ve also been diffusing a blend of orange scented oils and it helps set the mood with a peaceful and lovely scent.

Count your blessings. No matter how large or small your nest is, no matter how messing or organized, it all comes down to your attitude and heart. Choosing gratitude and thankfulness is the key to a delightful heart. Be thankful for all you have, no matter how large or small “all” is. I am thankful for every square inch of our little cottage that I have the blessing and honor to clean and organize. I am truly blessed beyond measure!

I hope you are inspired to take the rest of your January and wipe away the cobwebs, straighten the nest, organize and clear out the clutter. Find whatever works for you and your family and just do it!

Hugs and feathers from the nest~~()~~

Kim Steadman is the COOP (Chief Online Operating Person) for The Re-Feathered Nest. A place of encouragement for moms entering the Empty Nest Zone who are ready to RePurpose and ReDesign according to God’s purpose for their lives now that the kids have flown the coop. Kim can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheRefeatheredNest and on Google+ at +Kim.