April 2019 issue

10
Administraon Office — 519‐837‐5696
De-Cluttering Tips
Spring is finally here! Take advantage of the melting
snow and longer days to get started on a special kind
of spring cleaning: de-cluttering. We all accumulate
items over time, whether it’s the newspaper at our
door every morning, or picking up a few extra things
at the dollar store or supermarket. We save items because
they’re useful, beautiful, or sentimental – and
sometimes all three! Reducing the clutter in your
home is a great step towards making your home safer,
healthier and more comfortable.
Here are a few tried, tested and true ways to reduce
clutter:
1. Schedule time to declutter. When are you at
your best? Are you an early bird or a night owl? Pick
a time that works for you and make it part of your
routine.
2. Sort items into three categories: keep, toss, and
donate. Sorting into too many categories can be overwhelming
and can complicate decision-making.
Make sure you find a home for the items you are
keeping.
3. OHIO: Only Handle It Once. Try to make a
decision the first time you look at an item.
4. Pick a small, clearly-defined area. This could be
a shelf, box, table or something a little bigger, like
your kitchen cabinets. Having a reasonable goal that
you can accomplish can help you stay motivated.
5. Set a timer. If decisions about what stays and
goes are stressful, boring, or you have trouble staying
focused, set a timer for 5, 10, or 15 minutes.
6. Reward Yourself. When you are finished your
sorting session, reward yourself (not with buying
more items!). A small tasty treat, a chat on the phone
with a friend, a soak in the tub – whatever works for
you!
7. Ask yourself: does this spark joy? If the answer
is no, then out it goes.
8. Display Treasures. Give the items you love a
place of pride on your walls or shelves.
9. One In, One Out Rule. Every time you bring
home a new item, something you already have has to
go!
10. Enlist Help. Know what your limits are and
what you need help with. Reach out to a reliable,
non-judgemental support when you need to.
There are many benefits to having less clutter in
your home: firefighters and ambulance personnel can
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get to you quickly; there is less chance that you will
trip over items on the floor; a clear pathway of one
metre will also allow emergency services to maneuver
a stretcher; and you will likely spend less time
looking for things – like your keys!
For the month of April, the Wellington Guelph
Hoarding Response has information about keeping
your home healthy, safe and comfortable on display
at the Community Support Service white board in the
Evergreen Seniors Community Centre. There are also
some resources that you can take home with you
next to the display. You can also get more information
about ways to reduce health and safety risks
in your home on our website:
www.wghoardingresponse.ca.
The Feeling Better Move Well program is
pleased to announce the opening of a new gentle
exercise class at Dublin St. United Church at
68 Suffolk St. W. The class will run on Tuesdays,
except the first Tuesday of the month, from 12:30-
1:30 p.m. starting on April 9, in the Hallman Room.
The 60-minute class - cardiovascular, balance,
strength training and stretching - is led by trained
volunteers in a structured, safe and fun environment.
Older adults (55+) of all fitness levels (chairs
are always provided) are encouraged to attend.
Registration will be on-site starting April 9. The
class is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.
For more information, please call Margaret in the
Community Support Services office at: 519-822-
1260 x2747.
Food Tasting:
Registered Dietitians Melanie and Lee will be in
the front lobby on Friday, April 26 (10:30 - 11:30) to
share nutrition information and free food samples. If
you’re at the Evergreen, make sure you stop by for a
snack and say hello.
The Diabetes Support Group welcomes new
members to our group who are living with diabetes
or pre-diabetes. We meet on the second and fourth
Tuesdays of each month in Room 2 from 9 to 10
am. The group is facilitated by a Registered
Dietitian and builds on the wealth of knowledge
from group members who are living with diabetes.