As the country starts hunkering down and limiting social outings during the novel COVID-19 pandemic, you may find yourself wondering what to do with the extra time you have at home. These DIY Home Organizing tasks will help you funnel your coronavirus angst into productive & creative outlets around your home without having to spend a penny.

1. Rehab Your Junk Drawer

   For an immediate gratification boost, start with the junk drawer. Discard trash, old receipts, expired coupons, business cards, extra pens, pencils, random screws, rubber bands, shopping lists, etc.; relocate any items that shouldn’t be there to their proper homes. Use this time to rethink how you are using this space before deciding what you want to put back in.

2. ORganize Family Photos

What better way to spend a few hours (or days) than by reliving fond memories with loved ones? You may be practicing social distancing, but you can engage with friends through texts and social media when you post those unearthed gems from your childhood (Why, hello there 1995. I blocked out that fashion era altogether!)

3. Swap Out Your Seasonal Clothing

Spring is right around the corner, so let’s swap out your Fall & Winter clothes and set your sights on the brighter days ahead.

4. Sort Your Holiday Decorations

If you need a little something to cheer you up, pull out your holiday decorations, sort them into categories (Fall, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc.) and discard anything that is broken, missing pieces, falling apart or no longer brings you joy. Neatly pack the items you decide keep and label the bins.

5. Create Your own “Power Spot” 

A “power spot” is an area of the home that inspires you and reminds you of your core values. It could be a favorite chair with a book of your favorite poems nearby or a shelf with your favorite photos, quotes or figurines. This is where you go when you need to calm your mind and reconnect with yourself.

6. Organize Your Hobby/Craft Supplies

These storage areas of the home can quickly become difficult to manage. Purging any supplies you never use or that have expired (paints, markers, etc.) will free up space for the items you do use. 

7. Complete a Creative Project 

Put those newly organized supplies to use by completing unfinished projects or beginning one you have been putting on the back burner. Focusing your energy on a creative task will give your brain a break from compulsively checking COVID-19 updates on your phone or television. 

8. Get Caught Up on Paper Filing 

Okay, so this one may not be joy-sparking at first, BUT you will feel a sense of pride when you finish filing and shredding that last piece of paper. 

9. Check off Your Reading list

For book lovers especially, you likely have piles of books stashed all over the house. Now is the time to gather, assess and get those piles off the floor. Create a special area for books you have been wanting to read & start enjoying them.

10. Reorganize the pantry

If it’s been awhile since you have seen the back of your pantry, go ahead and pull everything out. Check expiration dates. Take inventory of what you have. Search online or browse through your cookbooks to find recipes using what you already have “in stock”. When you are ready to put everything back remember that just like with all organizing tasks: visibility and accessibility are key.

This list should give you plenty of tidying tasks to redirect some of that cooped up or unsettled energy you may be feeling. If you decide to tackle one of these projects, be sure to email or tag @seasidestyling on social media with before and after photos— I love to see the transformations clients and readers make in their homes!

Most importantly, be safe. Be cautious. Be kind to one another.

Until next time,