To clean out your kitchen, first sort out yourself.

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Cluttered kitchens are very challenging because we spend so much time there, facing our failures. Permanent mess makes it impossible to fulfil our highest vision of how we want to care for our family or ourselves. It leaves us feeling frustrated and disengaged.

As you open that overflowing cutlery draw or fight your way through the hundreds of plastic containers falling out of the cupboards, I want you to think about the possibility of sorting out yourself.

Find the momentum to change.

It's time to clear away a few habitual behaviours. Everyone is different and only you will know the ones that are holding you back. Now's the time to raise the care factor and do something about them. Changing behaviour requires getting out of autopilot mode, however, the problem is, change feels uncomfortable and unnatural. Willpower isn't enough; we need momentum to really change. And to find that momentum (or motivation) we must have a clear idea of what the results will be and the difference they will make. We must REALLY want it.

So, assuming you do want to come out of that clutter once and for all, a slight attitude adjustment might be all it takes to make a major, lasting change.

So while we're practising new habits, lets begin with a few simple steps that will have an immediate impact.

clean your kitchen

Trust there is hope.

Yes, no matter how bad things are, there is hope. Everyone has hope.  Everyone has to have hope.  Even the most crammed, unsorted kitchen can rise above the debris to light the way.

5 things that will make an immediate difference

  • Put away whatever you can and wipe down the kitchen benches
  • Clean out and shine the kitchen sink. Make this something you do every evening before bed.
  • Designate a recycling space - a bag, a bin, a box. Decide on a permanent space for it.
  • Put all the rubbish in the rubbish bin and all the recycling in its new spot
  • Zone your fridge. A zone for dairy. A zone for meat. Condiments and drinks in the door. Make it so you can always put your hands on what you need.

Cheese and honey sandwiches ARE a thing

You have a crying baby, a toddler clinging to your leg, a husband who's working nights. You really don't have to worry about preparing a freshly milled, organic grain salad with grass fed, perfectly grilled tournedos right now. It's important to release some pressure and manage your expectations. There are times a cheese and honey (or pickle) sandwich will do just fine.

Plug into your own power

Take some time to reflect on what a difference the above steps have made. Yes, there are many more areas to resolve in the kitchen and we will continue our good work as the year goes on. However you have made a brilliant start. Stay tuned into my daily #10MinuteTidyUps for some extra motivation and guidance.

We all have our idea of the dream kitchen just as we've had our own way of cluttering it up. When I work with individual clients I remember they are exactly that. Individuals. We always work out a plan designed for them - the way they think and manage their time and energy. You will know what works for you and I encourage you to use your intuition, practise breaking the habits that are holding you back and work to your strengths.