A TIDY HOUSE,

a tidy mind

Last week I had a visit from an old colleague, Carolien Griep. Carolien (Griep for those close to her) was an editor at newspapers and magazines but found a calling in tidying up. Other people's mess, of course. With the site griepruimtop.nl she is for many the hope in anxious times, the light at the end of the tunnel, the handsome anesthetist just before your operation and the Brazilian sun during dark Dutch winters.

Now, I’m not material for an RTL5 program about people with a collecting disorder, but I do have those kinds of issues. Those baskets in my bedroom, for example. They are all full. All of them. But I never look in them, have no idea what’s inside, and every day it bothers me more. Well, that’s where Griep comes in.

Because I can imagine that you also have some problem areas and are looking forward to a tidy, spring-ready house, we will now gradually declutter the bedroom, the hallway (another dragon), the kitchen, your bathroom, and your toiletry bag.

Before we get there, let’s proclaim the gospel of Griep in 8 themes.

You first have to make a mess to tidy up.

Just grab that pile, it’s not scary

Make three options. Store it here, store it elsewhere, or throw it away.

Set small goals. While you’re watching TV, just do a drawer or a shelf or a stack. Tomorrow is another day.

Don’t think that buying boxes solves everything.

You can use boxes well for the children’s drawings you want to keep or cards you received after the birth, for example.

Drawer dividers are handy. You buy them at Ikea and they prevent everything from walking into each other in that drawer.

Shelf dividers, another thing you’ve never heard of but can’t live without from now on. You can clamp them vertically between your shelves, keeping your stack of shirts upright or the right toys together.

Know where things are supposed to be. If you know where something belongs, you just have to pick it up and it’s sorted.

A tidy house prevents arguments and saves you time and energy.

With a tidy house, you have control over the situation.

I say amen Griep. Tonight I’ll start. But really.

Want more Griep? Check her site or griepruimtop on Facebook

Image credits:

amazone.com & lorilangille.blogspot.ca