WHAT IS DECLUTTERING?

I love organizing and keeping an uncluttered space, but not everyone is like me.  It can be truly painful for some.  Decluttering is the activity of removing things you do not need from a place, in order to make it more pleasant and more useful.  Now, if you’re thinking, “But I like my stuff!  Why would I do this?”    Read on and you shall see the benefits of decluttering.

WHY SHOULD YOU DECLUTTER?

Improved Mental Health

It’s not only harder to physically function in a cluttered environment, but clutter is a form of visual distraction.  It bombards the mind with too much stimuli and can make it more difficult to focus.  Addressing clutter and developing systems for keeping essentials like your keys, phone, and wallet are vital to managing your day.  Eliminating piles of paperwork and laundry helps to calm the mind.

More Energy and More Space

The more items we own, the more we have to clean, organize and manage. We spend more time looking for the things we need. Getting rid of items we don’t use creates more space and breathing room, allowing us to focus on the important things.

NOW LET’S MAKE IT FUN!

Just a Spoonful of Sugar…..

• Put on your favorite playlist and let the good times roll.  If you need the inspiration, how about "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel or "Goodbye to You" by Michelle Branch or "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson?  See what I did there?😂

Think Big, Start Small

• Avoid looking at the big messy room.  Start with a closet, a drawer or even a shoebox.  This will allow for frequent moments of feeling accomplished and will build momentum.

I Pick Things Up.  I Put Them Down - ONCE

• Try to pick up an item only once and decide what you’re going to do with it right away.  Have 4 boxes nearby with KEEP, DONATE, TRASH, RELOCATE.  Once you fill the box up, take it away.

Making Room One Room At a Time

• Don’t be like the mouse in “If you give a mouse a cookie”.  Stay the course once you start with a room.  The payoff will be quicker if you keep your efforts focused in one room at a time.

Room for Two (or Three)

• Many hands make small work.  Grab family members or friends and invite them over to help.  You’ve already got the music going, now you have a party.

Make It a Game

• I love this idea – set a timer.  See how many items you can declutter in 15 minutes.  See who can fill up a box first.  Laugh and be proud of yourself all at once.

Put All Your Eggs In One Basket (If You Have To)

• I hesitate with this because buying things to store other things seems counterproductive to me.  However, if you don’t have much storage space, putting your items in an attractive basket might solve two problems.

Digital Declutter

• Don’t leave out purging old emails, texts, files etc.  Seeing so many notifications on your devices can be stressful as well.  When I get to this point, I break that job up into about 10 minutes at a time.

Maintenance Mode

• You could implement the rule of – Bring something in, something else leaves.  With clothes I make it two things leave!  In the end it’s a zero-sum game, or better.
• Deal with mail as it comes in.  Decide right away what is going to the recycle bin.

Celebrate Your Success

• Reward yourself whenever you want and  in any way you want.  It’s your house, your stuff and your game!

Conclusion

Decluttering can be fun and manageable if you follow the steps above.  Remember, less stuff equals less stress.  Start today, I'll be cheering you on!!  

Watch this video on tips for decluttering!