If the mere thought of tidying up your home makes you anxious, you're not alone. For many people, the clutter becomes so overwhelming that it's hard to know where to start. In fact, in the process of trying to organize everything, they often end up creating even more chaos.
But a method that's taking TikTok and social media by storm promises to make the whole process a whole lot simpler. It's called "CORE 4," and according to thousands of users, it helps make cleaning and organizing your home no longer seem like an impossible mission.
The method was created by Kayleen Kelly, an organization professional who works primarily with people who have chronic struggles with clutter or ADHD . Her idea is simple: instead of trying to do everything at once, break the process down into four clear steps and focus on just one room at a time.
The CORE 4 method consists of four stages: cleaning, categorization, elimination, and organization.
1. Remove everything that doesn't belong in that room
The first step is to clear the room of any items that don't belong there. According to Kayleen, every object in the house should have its own place.
She suggests using bins or boxes for each room in the house. Instead of running from room to room organizing things, gather up items that don't belong in the space you're in and set them aside to organize later.
This helps you avoid distractions and maintain focus.
2. Categorize everything you have
Once you've removed unnecessary items from the room, it's time to see what you really own.
Take the objects and sort them by category: books, beauty products, documents, clothes, electronics, etc. This process helps you understand how much stuff you have accumulated and where it should be placed.
In addition to creating more clarity, this step makes it much easier to eliminate unnecessary items.
3. Say goodbye to things you don't need
This is the most difficult stage for most people.
The idea is similar to Marie Kondo's philosophy: keep only those things that you really need or that bring you pleasure.
If you haven't used something in over a year and know you won't need it anymore, it's time to get it out of the house. As for items you've been hesitating about for a long time, Kayleen suggests a simple rule of thumb: if it takes you more than a few seconds to decide whether to keep it or not, you probably don't need it at all.
4. Organize and put everything in its place
Once you've eliminated the clutter, all that's left is organization.
Put each category in its own space and try to maintain separation between items. This not only makes the house look tidier, but it also helps you find everything you need in your daily life more quickly.
The secret to the CORE 4 method is that it doesn't allow you to get overwhelmed. Instead of thinking about the entire house at once, you focus on just one step and one room. And that's exactly what makes the process much more manageable.
In the end, you not only gain a cleaner and more functional home, but also a sense of peace of mind that is often missing amidst the clutter.
