Why wait for spring to arrive when today — or any day, for that matter — is the perfect day to start fresh and declutter your space? With the new year comes the opportunity to start off clean and tidy.
But cleaning is hard. The average person will clean for 12,896 hours in their lifetime. This translates to 1.5 years (77 weeks). And sometimes, even that isn’t enough. Sometimes you need help. Try calling an expert like Hayli Thorpe, who makes a living helping folks be tidy, offering advice and even assisting with the big clean.
When Thorpe was a kid and her siblings cleaned their rooms, she was given extra chores since hers was already spotless. With parents who weren’t particularly neat, she knew she wanted a clean, organized home as an adult — one where she could entertain without last-minute cleaning marathons.
In 2015, after receiving a copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up from her mom, Thorpe was hooked. “It took enormous willpower to not start tidying the Airbnb where we were staying,” Thorpe says. “I couldn’t wait to get started.” Now, as the owner of Mindful Tidying with Hayli, Thorpe is helping others learn to be better organized with planning, shopping, donating, returning and, of course, tidying.
But Where To Start?
It’s simple — declutter. But that’s easier said than done. According to Thorpe, the hardest part of maintaining an organized home is tackling the initial massive decluttering task. With decades of accumulated belongings crowding valuable space, facing these items can be both emotionally and physically exhausting. But once you get going, you won’t want to stop.
“The difference in strategy was groundbreaking,” Thorpe says. “I filled up my Corolla three times with items that no longer ‘sparked joy’ — zebra print club clothes from college, kitschy kitchen appliances that only do one thing and stacks upon stacks of unread books.”
Decluttering not only simplifies cleaning but also feels like a gift to your future self. Thorpe recommends setting a 15-minute timer at the end of each day and having everyone in the house pitch in to put things away. Alternatively, establish a “closing routine” with simple tasks like wiping down counters, tidying common areas and washing dishes to keep your home organized and ready for a fresh start the next day.
Problem Areas
The messiest areas of a home are often garages, closets and entryways. Garages become dumping grounds for items that don't have a designated place inside the house. Closets spiral into chaos because we tend to collect far more than we need. Entryways can quickly turn into clutter zones when routines and organization systems aren’t in place. Where do backpacks go? What about the incoming mail?
“The process is also time-consuming, with no quick-fix option,” Thorpe explains. “But once someone has sorted through all of their possessions and intentionally decided what to keep, maintaining an organized home becomes much easier. It’s always easier to keep up than catch up!”
You, Too, Can Be Tidy
Some people naturally thrive in organized environments, while others find it more challenging to maintain order in their spaces. Thorpe believes that while some people are naturally more tidy, it’s a skill that anyone can develop.
“Some people are disorganized because they grew up in a disorganized household and no one ever taught them how to keep a tidy home,” Thorpe says. “On the other hand, I’ve met plenty of people who grew up in a messy, cluttered household that caused so much distress that they now have immaculate homes.”
Thorpe suggests that anyone eager to bring more order to their home can kickstart their journey by attending an engaging presentation, diving into an insightful book on the topic or booking a transformative session with a professional — like her — to make it happen.
Embracing a tidy lifestyle doesn’t just streamline your daily routine, it brings a sense of ease and clarity to your entire life.
To learn more about Thorpe’s services, visit www.mindfultidyingwithhayli.com.
Five Tips for Staying Organized From Hayli Thorpe:
- Don’t purchase an item without a clear plan for where it will live in your home.
- Don’t fear the trash can. It is your friend.
- Don’t make decisions for other people. What’s unnecessary to you may not be unnecessary to them.
- Don’t start by decluttering sentimental items. It’s easy to feel guilty about getting rid of them.
- Don’t buy any organizing products (bins, baskets, etc.) until you have finished decluttering the area. Once you get rid of things, you’ll know how many products you actually need.
This article was originally published in Local Profile's latest magazine — check it out here.
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