Overwhelmed by the Little Things?

Does it ever feel like life’s little tasks keep piling up?

You’re not on your own! Whether it’s the never-ending laundry, trying to get out of the door smoothly, or just staying on top of the kitchen chaos, it’s so easy to slip from “I’ll do it later” to “this will never get done.” It can soon feel like an overwhelming mountain of stuff that’s just too big to deal with.

Want the good news?
You don’t have to spend a fortune to get on top of it! With a few clever, budget-friendly strategies, you can start reclaiming your space (and your sanity) today.

Let Me Tell You about a Recent Project…

I recently helped a client who’d been struggling to make her morning routine anything but chaos. Each day she was losing valuable time just trying to get out of the house with the kids, hunting down missing gloves, searching for matching shoes, tripping over bags, and wrestling with an understairs cupboard stuffed to the brim with “everything but the kitchen sink.” Sound familiar?
Together we tackled that cupboard to make some impactful changes for her daily exit. Maybe you could do this too?

Here’s what we did:

1. Take Everything Out. It’s amazing how much had been hidden away in that small space over time. First we pulled everything out. Shoes, jackets, gym bags, picnic blankets, swim noodles, you name it! It not only helped us see what was in there but also gave us a clean slate to work from.
2. Sort What’s Still Useful. When sorting we checked if items were still needed & in use, checking that kids’ & adult shoes still fit the wearers. Anything that wasn’t needed went into piles for different purposes:
   – Hand-me-downs for friends
   – Donations to the local charity shop or via Freecycle pages. We donated a huge bag of shoes to the local Scope charity shop.
   – Items to sell on Vinted (because a bit of extra cash is never a bad idea!)
3. Reorganise to Suit Your Needs. With the clutter gone, we could make the space work better. No splashing out on fancy storage – we simply used what they already had! Spare tote bags are perfect for keeping sports gear together, and we created a “ready-to-go” bag for the youngest child. Those surplus “Bags for Life” worked wonders as holders for cycling helmets and knee pads. We even found some spare hooks in the DIY cupboard, meaning that the bags can be hung up on the vertical wall space, creating even more floor & shelf space.
4. Cut the Visual Clutter. Less stuff in the space means less visual clutter to handle, ultimately making it easier to find things quickly and making mornings less frantic. Now that cupboard is less chaotic with designated zones for their needs.

Quick Tips to Start Organising Right Now

If you’re feeling inspired, you could try some of these straight away:

• Designate a Bag for ‘On-the-Go’ Needs: Whether it’s sports kit, car journey kit, or essentials for kids, and keep it near to your front door.
• Use What You Already Have: Tote bags, reusable bags, and even old shoeboxes can be lifesavers for sorting things.
• Set up a Donation Bag: Keep a bag in the cupboard for items to donate as and when you spot them – no more waiting for a full declutter to pass things on. Just remember to drop it off every couple of weeks and keep things moving.

Reclaiming your space doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of rethinking and a few smart ideas. So why not give it a go? Your future self will thank you for those easy, stress-free mornings.

Ready to get started? Remember, even small steps make a big difference.