5 Things Tidying Method
You know that moment when you stare into your space and there are things absolutely everywhere and it feels too overwhelming to even think about tidying your space? Well, this post is for those moments (no matter how frequent). There are so many reasons why your space can feel unmanageable - you’re physically ill, you’re depressed, you have ADHD, you’re really busy, you’re caretaking, you’re grieving, and on and on. No matter the reason, it’s ok that your space is the way it is. Licensed Professional Therapist and author, KC Davis writes about a method to make tidying feel less overwhelming - 5 Things Tidying Method (click here for video of KC showing the method in action).
The 5 Things Method is looking at a space and identifying that there are only 5 things in a given space: trash, dishes, laundry, things that have a place, and things that don’t have a place. From there you tackle each item one at a time.
Trash - gather your trash in a trash bag and then set trash bag to the side (don’t leave the room to throw out the trash, it will be easy to get distracted)
Dishes - Gather dishes and put off to the side
Laundry - Gather laundry and put off to the side
Things that have a place - put them in their place
Things that don’t have a place - find a place for them, which should be easier now that the space is more tidy
It might seem a little simplistic, but it can help to break things down into categories, instead of just looking wide-eyed at a room that feels too out of place to know where to begin. KC Davis offers this, plus so many more tips on how to make care tasks (the tasks we do to care for ourselves, others, and our space) a little bit more manageable when everything is too much in her book “How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing.” I highly recommend this book, if you’re struggling with care tasks. It is a quick read and super accessible. You can also check out her website for more videos and resources!
As always, take what is helpful and leave the rest. I hope you have the week you need.
