Welcome to September
I always have mixed emotions as the summer comes to a close and September rolls around. With the return to school and routine, I miss the long lazy days of summer, days with no school alarm set, relaxed and unstructured.
On the other hand, September always feels like a fresh start to me. Like New Year but without all the pressure. It brings new energy and I want to get organised and sorted for the months ahead. I see the arrival of September as a real opportunity to think and plan for the next few months, to review old goals and set new ones. To put in place routines that simplify and benefit my day to day life. As soon as I can smell the crispness in the air I know it's time to get organised and on track for Autumn and Winter.
An Autumn Reset
In the same way that Spring has me throwing open the windows, decluttering my wardrobe and swapping to lighter fabrics, September has me getting back to basics and refocussing on the home, clearing, cleaning and simplifying in preparation to welcome all the cosy touches that come with Autumn and Winter.
Room by room I work through the house identifying items that are no longer wanted, always with an eye to simplifying. Those that have been outgrown, those that are worn out, those that are unnecessary, those that aren't used and those that aren't appropriate to Autumn and Winter and need storing until next year.
A full on cleaning session follows the decluttering, again, room by room, with attention to every surface, moving furniture and belongings as necessary. Dusting, hoovering, washing or cleaning fabrics, nothing is overlooked. Once the room is decluttered and stripped back, it's time to move on to the organising.
In my own home, organisation is all about practicality and making my everyday life easier. If an item doesn't have a home, it will likely become clutter, so its essential to find a proper home for everything.
Items needed on a daily basis and particularly those needed for the morning routine are organised to ensure they are practically stored and easily accessible. After the long summer school break, it's essential that we make our mornings as easy as possible for the new term.
Planning ahead
Come September, following the holidays, I'm also returning to planning and list making. Quiet Sunday mornings are my favourite time to plan and make sure I'm as organised as I can be for everything going on in the coming week. Sessions, consultations, school events, activities, meetings and social events. It all needs to be juggled, so I start with a weekly plan every event for each person in the house. I use a calendar app to track appointments and events, but I wouldn't be without my handwritten weekly planner which is my main point of reference at home.
I'm also convinced of the benefits a meal plan to save both time and money and to ensure I'm prepared if my week is extra busy. Being able to plan ahead if I have a longer decluttering session booked is invaluable and means that I'm not shopping at the last minute when I'm tired and hungry and likely to make choices I wouldn't when I have more time and energy. My shopping lists are easily prepared from the meal plans, meaning I'm more focussed when I'm in the supermarket, avoiding impulse purchases and saving me time and money.
Welcome to an organised September!
Nikki
Dunmow Decluttering Essex Professional Organiser offers a friendly and professional decluttering and home organising service in the areas surrounding Great Dunmow, Bishop's Stortford, Saffron Walden, Sawbridgeworth, Ongar, Chigwell, Colchester, Chelmsford, Braintree, Witham, Maldon and further afield in Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk (Sudbury & Haverhill areas). Don't hesitate to get in touch to discuss your decluttering, organising, moving or unpacking needs or for any questions about working with a professional organiser.
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