This is a strange time, in lockdown with nowhere to go, and much less to do. For me, it is a time of introspection, a time to think, a time to re-evaluate how I live and what I do with my time.

So here we are in lockdown, and for South Africans it’s week THREE. Cabin fever has set in and our dogs are digging their way to Australia!

“It’s a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack” Lyrics by 4 Jacks and a Jill way back in 1968, but so pertinent right now. When we come out of this, and we will, we will have learnt lessons, we will have identified the important, we will have regrouped and reconnected. So let’s get ready…

My work week is spent assisting Seniors in their homes. Sometimes it’s about helping a Senior client declutter and reorganise their retirement home. At other times I am assisting with the downsizing and moving process to a smaller home. There is always a discussion on what to keep, what to throw away or recycle and what to donate. Here are some tips to help you when you are ready to do this:

Moving is stressful at the best of times. Packing boxes, moving them and unpacking at the other side is tedious and time consuming. One of the ways to make this easier is to declutter before you move and only pack what you use and love. I encourage clients to start with 6 areas that will make a huge difference in your new home.

It’s nearly September, and for those of us I the Southern Hemisphere this means Spring is around the corner.

When I think of Spring I think of longer days, with warm sunshine intermingled with rain clouds and cold mornings and evenings. I think of the beautiful carpets of veld flowers up the West Coast and I think of the promise of summer!

AND THEN I think of Spring Cleaning. Cleaning house from top to bottom, packing away winter woollies, and having my home sparkling and ready for the summer ahead.

Please don’t leave me your clutter!

A few month’s ago I worked with a young woman who had lost her mom, and needed to clear out her home. She had called me in as her time was limited, and she needed to get the house sorted as quickly as possible. Even though she had visited her mom on a weekly basis, and been inside her home regularly, she was not prepared for the onslaught of stuff in cupboards, under beds, in boxes in top cupboards and the garage, along with paperwork and memorabilia in all corners of her mom’s home.

Decided to sell your house? Now what?

I am working with a couple who have made the decision to make their last move into a small retirement home. Over 28 years they have filled their large family home to the brim. It is a daunting task, and they called me in to help get their home ready to sell. It is a lovely home, with lots of light, and lots of space, but completely lost under all the stuff. So, armed with a plan, along with boxes, bags, bins and a large van to fill with recycling and donations, we are moving mountains (well almost!)

Moving house is a stressful time! So once you have made the decision to move, take time to think about everything that needs to get done before the moving truck arrives. Make lists and have a schedule of all the things that need doing and by when. To help you with this process here is a schedule I share with clients to help them make this transition as easy as possible.