Imagine living in a home, that looks and feels like a dump, excessive and unnecessary belongings everywhere. Never being able to find what you’re looking for. Stuff Piling on and on, ultimately even leading to lethargy and resignation. Imagine spending a small fortune on needless things every month not knowing how or when to stop. You wouldn’t want to live like that now would you?
Now I’m pretty sure most of us have probably gone through these issues in life and maybe found solutions and changed for the better. But for those of you, who are thinking “Wow, that’s the story of my life”, you need not fear, all you have to do is ‘De-clutter’. We’re going to tell you everything you need to know about de-cluttering and how to make it a permanent part of your life. Firstly though, we’re going to state some of the benefits.
If you have finally gotten down to de-cluttering your house, you might also feel the need to renovate after the de-cluttering process is complete. You don’t need to hire an interior designer for a completely new look. You can change the way your home looks just by doing small things like redoing one of the walls, changing the colour tone, changing the general ambiance. You can add candles to give a romantic and mysterious feel to your home. Maybe buy some new plants and put them indoors. Frame some old photos of your family. Use more colours. Actually, use more of your favourite colour. These renovation techniques are simple, cheap and, will save you a lot of money, but before you can even start thinking about giving your home a new look, you’ll need to de-clutter.
If you’re feeling extremely lazy and lethargic and have resigned from moving any forward in life, whether it has to do with your married life, social life or your work, you need to take a break and de-clutter your home. De-cluttering your home will also help de-clutter your mind and soul, and will free you of stress. It will liberate you and you’ll feel lighter and much happier, like a load has been taken off your back and shoulders. You’ll feel more positive and optimistic, eager to get on with life, dealing with everyday problems with a clear and calm mind. Hence, de-cluttering is a great way to heal oneself and relax when life gets too much.
While revamping the house you will come across different types of belongings. Possessions that need to be disposed and those that are still considerably new. Then there is stuff which you own but can’t recall purchasing and things which you’ve used for a good amount of time. Now normally you put up some sale banners and hold a garage sale to get rid of all the usable stuff you don’t need. Not only does this help in de-cluttering your home but earns you a nice sum of money at the same time, if the items you are selling have reasonable value that is. Of course if this seems like too much work, you can always go on eBay and sell your belongings. It could be anything from antique grand pianos, to old stamp collections, to used army gear. So basically de-cluttering will also benefit you financially.
There’s a good chance, while you’re de-cluttering, you might come across stuff you’ve bought while on shopping sprees, trying to overcome anxiety or other psychological problems. This is obviously a form of clutter and once you realize most of it, you dint need in the first place, or haven’t even opened yet, with the tags still intact, you will get a reality check. This type of de-cluttering leads to finding other ways of releasing pressure and discovering another outlet for all your stress related problems. It could be a simple walk in the park. You have to revaluate your expenses and lifestyle. There’ll probably be a lot of stuff you don’t need to buy, because you already have it, so cross these things off of your shopping list. Charity can be another good way of giving away unwanted things and make you feel good about yourself at the same time. There will always be people who’ll need the belongings you want to get rid of.
De-cluttering inside and outside your home
Some people have the clutter bug. They can’t help but be that way. It’s a state and it needs serious attention before it gets worse.
Albert Einstein: “Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; from discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
Recycling is a vital component of de-cluttering your house. From water and organic waste to recycling building materials and packaging, recycling will minimise the production of garbage and landfill. The options available to house owners for reducing the impact of their homes on the environment are growing daily and range from something as simple as choosing reusable cloth bags over plastic at the supermarket to solar water heaters, signing on to green power sources, even selling solar- powered electricity back at the local grid.
When running an well-organized home and regularly de-cluttered house, the finances you save can go to use on other things like piano lessons or vacations or in a larger house it can make sure you make ends meet. There are several ways to save money, here and there, from turning off the refrigerator when you go on vacation, repairing leak pipes and taps, choosing energy-effective appliances, and shopping in bulk orders. Planting a few vegetables around your garden will not hurt either.
When your storage space has overtaken your work space, it’s a good indication, that you should start de-cluttering. There is generally an abundance of pens and paper in many houses. Unless you’re a sketchbook collector or an artist/painter, you will not need so much paper. Selling paper will not fetch you anything significant, but sketchbooks and a nice box of pens could still be valuable. You will often find yourself putting something down rather than properly putting it where it belongs. This is a sure shot way of cluttering your house.
A fast and effective way to make an impact or at least feel like it is, organising your clothes closet. Go through the entire collection of clothes you own and make a two separate stacks. One for the clothes you will keep and one for all the clothes you haven’t work in the last few years. Throw out stained clothes or those that need stitching. The considerably usable clothes should be given to shelters and charity shops or people in need. Carefully inspect the clothes that you want to keep. Divide the long and short hanging clothing items with regards to colour. Space left under the short hanging clothes after having been hung, should be utilized for keeping boxes of shoes and other accessories.
Buying a completely new wardrobe might not be an option for you, but tie and belt holders is an cheap alternative to keep your accessories in order. Organising clothes is an important part of de-cluttering, especially when it comes to your room. It will look neat and you’ll easily be able to find what you’re looking for next time.
Now to put in order, the rest of the house. Make a shelf for all the books you own, in case you already don’t have one. Some of these books must have been a treat to read. Cherish those times by making a proper place for them, so that they’re easily traceable and you can show them off to guests, if you have an impressive collection. If you have a study or a small library room, make a list of all the books you own, and keep regular checks making sure they are in their proper place. Setting them up in alphabetical order in the shelves will make it easier for you to find the books you’re looking for.
Your work desk should only have those items which you use for work purposes and not unnecessary stuff which has nothing to do with what you work on. Keep a pen holder, or a pen cup and/or stationary box in case you have a lot of stationary.
Store items in an efficient and fitted way. Make the space occupied as minimal as possible. Your store room might be a place for all the stuff you don’t want out in the open, but it should not look like a war zone. It should be given regular visits so that things don’t get out of hand and you’re left hiring the services of professional disposers and movers and paying their bills. Your garden shed, garage or attic can also be utilized as a storage place for items you don’t normally use. Make sure all these places are nicely kept.
Make sure you allot a special place for all those important papers. They could be house papers, birth certificates, anything personal. Keep them under key-lock so others can’t access them and you’re not worried every time you leave home. Even your bills should be kept in a particular place so you don’t lose them. Buying a ‘home file’ will help you in dealing with that.
Getting stackable storage boxes will further help you in keeping things tidy. You can now buy nice looking ones which go with the general feel of your house. Look around for ones which follow the same colour scheme, so they compliment your home and don’t look out of place, even if you place them in the living room. Same way you can keep a storage box for your children’s toys, so they’re not just everywhere: It’s a problem we all face as parents.
Keep your family members and house mates in check. If you see them take something out of a drawer, remind them to make sure it goes back. If everyone in the house will make a conscious effort and be disciplined, there will be less pressure on you to keep things tidy.
Keep things that are actually pretty to look at. We all have our family decoration pieces, which have come a long way since our great grand fathers first, bought them. But if they are too many in number, taking too much space and stick out like eyesores in their surroundings and you never liked most of them to begin with, then put them away. Simplicity is the key to a clean and de-cluttered environment at home. Only have stuff on for display which compliments your home.
Make it a habit to de-clutter for 15 minutes everyday. This will ensure you have a tidy house and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how much you can do in small doses like that.
Before bringing in new stuff, think about everything you already have. There’s no point getting something which you wont use and will just add to the living space. Whether you are done de-cluttering or have just started, put your foot down and stop getting new stuff. Even if you don’t de-clutter, not getting additional items will help you avoid clutter issues, so it’s a good habit to have. Take it one step at a time if that is your pace. Just keep in mind, eventually you will need to de-clutter. It’s like going on a diet without any exercise, even though it will help you lose some weight; you still need to work out, so you can completely get rid of the fat and keep the weight from coming back.
If you feel like you’re wasting the stuff you’re getting rid of, just donate. You will feel good about yourself and won’t regret giving it away.
Create a chart for a regular schedule. The de-cluttering should be carried out either everyday or around three times a week. Make a note for when you do de-clutter. You’ll feel like you’ve done something worthwhile. It will give you a sense of satisfaction.
When de-cluttering, begin at one end of the room and move forward from there. Do the floors and surfaces first. Remove trash from the can. Do it again, but the next time, make more effort, open your drawers and closet.
Giving yourself incentives will always give you encouragement and drive. Tell yourself; if you manage finishing sorting out the garden, for example, you’ll treat yourself to your favourite dessert.
Put on music if it helps you enjoy your de-cluttering session or even focus for that matter. Some people work better while listening to music.
Conserve time. If you’re making tea, and you’ve put water in the kettle to boil, don’t waste time waiting for it. In the meantime, go fix your living room. It might be just a few measly minutes but it will help you stay aware and have better time management. You will eventually make a habit out of it and one day thank me.
Don’t let empty storage containers go to waste. Even though we’re minimalizing space used, it’s important however that the storage space you have allocated is utilized to its fullest. If that’s not where you’re storing your belongings then that means you’re still cluttering. Keep this in mind, next time you see a half empty container. Either get rid of it completely or utilize well. Furthermore, allocating extra storage space will lead to you filling it with extra stuff. When you’re allocating that space, keep in mind everything you own, what needs to be where and how often you use some of those things. There’s a thin line between overstating and understating. Keep your storage space just right.
Ever heard of the famous “one in two out” rule? It applies perfectly to the de-cluttering process. When getting something new, get rid of two or several old items. And no, stationary will not do. Think big, and you’ll find yourself having more space and less stuff to deal with.
If you own clothes you haven’t used in what seems like years, get rid of them right away. Either give them away or put them up for sale. Pawn shops and yard sales will help serve that purpose. You can also put clothes or items which you don’t think you’re sure about getting rid of and think you might use someday, in a box and put it away in your storing area, for lets say a year. When you finally find the box, there is a good chance you wont even recall what it contained. Give it away now! Do not open it. This is a great exercise to counter indecisiveness.
Do one room at a time. Don’t get ahead of yourself. If you think you can multitask, that’s great, but multitask in the same room, whether it involve fixing drawers, cupboards, stuff under your bed, etc, etc. Once you’re done doing that room you can move on to the next. Remember once you’re done doing that one room you’ll be delighted with yourself and what you just achieved. It will motivate you to do more and make the rest of the house look as good.
Make a list of all the things that you think you want to buy, even if they be fantasy, not affordable or viable or completely out of your financial reach. Now next time you’ve gone out to the mall and you come across something you want, put it down on the list along with everything else. This will keep you in check in a way and make sure you hesitate long enough to change your mind. Look at this list from time to time so you know what you almost bought thanks to an itch.
Telling yourself that most of the stuff you own does not any significant value in your life and that by providing for the homeless and the less fortunate, you’re doing a good deed will also help you give away your belongings without thinking about regretting it. Also having a friend or a family member, someone who has no sentimental value for your stuff, go through and discard whatever’s unnecessary and keep whatever’s not will make it easier for you.
Some of this stuff can also be used as presents like old books or comic books for example, or your grown up children’s old toys. You don’t need these things anymore.
Someone famous once said: “We don’t need to increase our goods nearly as much as we need to scale down our wants. Not wanting something is as good as possessing it.”
It’s not easy de-cluttering a house, which hasn’t been sorted out for ages. It can be quite a lengthy and energy draining ordeal. Like I’ve stated before, you need to take one thing at a time. If you have a really busy schedule like most of us do, and barely get time from work and your social life and even when you do have time you would rather prefer relaxing and recharging for another busy week ahead, then make an effort to do just 15 minutes everyday. It might not make much of an obvious difference to the way your house feels but hey, at least you’re starting. Rejoice when you do make that first five minute de-cluttering difference. Then make another 15 minute effort the next day and then another the day after that, till you make this a routine. Wouldn’t that be a great habit to have? This way you could eventually accomplish a lot. The kitchen, a few rooms, the store, maybe even the whole house, on your own, thanks to those 15 minute de-cluttering sessions. Sounds great doesn’t it? But for you to properly utilize those 15 minutes, I’m going to give you some helpful tips in more detail.
Paper can be a major part of our clutter like I mentioned earlier. It’s often unaccounted for and once lost you go through much difficulty finding the important piece of paper you were looking for. It can be seen almost everywhere in our homes. On tables, in cars, in drawers, etc. Why not emulate your internet email service and make a physical inbox for your home. It could be an ordinary drawer compartment for that matter, but now at least you’ll have a place to put all the paper that comes into the house. Anything from receipts to notices, to mail. What a simple solution for such a major problem. And it’ll hardly take any time.
Clear an area of the house and label it the de-cluttered zone. It doesn’t have to be a big space, just a small spot next to the kitchen will do. Extend this area with every 15 minute de-cluttering session and you’ll find you’ve covered half the house, just by making sure nothing is placed in the de-cluttered zone. Make sure your family members aren’t directly affected by this routine though. Ask them before displacing their belongings or you might get an earful. The even-levelled surfaces should all be cleared off one by one. Leaving a few necessary items, remove everything else. After doing flat surfaces you can do shelves. If you have a large book shelf, just do one at a time. Clear unnecessary items and leave the ones you need behind. Put all this in storage containers, or the store room. After you’re done clearing off enough stuff, you will be able to see the difference, which will be of enormous proportions. Maybe when you have enough stuff, you can go to the local charity office and submit it there in one of these 15 minute sessions.
You can also plan a de-cluttering weekend, with family members and friends, making sure everyone takes time out to help with the house. Thanks to your 15 minute efforts, you’ll already have done enough, this will prove to be a final clearing out or even if you don’t end up doing the whole house, you can finish off slowly on your own, knowing that a huge chunk has been completed and you’re almost there.
Pick out 7 things which you don’t think are in the suitable place and make a separate space for each of them. Make sure these things are currently in use of the house. Re-assess how they look and if they fit in the next 15 minute session and find another place if you’re not entirely happy or satisfied. This can be made into an enjoyable activity if you put your mind to it. Also show the new placements to your family members or housemates, so they don’t displace them again. Of course this could apply to everything you own.
In one of the 15 minute sessions, look around a specific room and imagine how you wanted it to look like, how what should have been where, what important decoration piece should have been better highlighted, what furniture shouldn’t have been there to begin with. Then start working accordingly. Also look at what needs repairing and get down to it immediately, before it gets worse and you have to throw it out.
Another point I think is essential in keeping your house de-cluttered is training your children. Children can be a real pain when it comes to cluttering and leaving stuff just everywhere. Of course you’ll have to lead by example, because unless you’re making sure you’re keeping the house clean and uncluttered, they’ll follow suit. It will not happen overnight though, because well, they’re children and its takes time for them to understand, so you’ll have to bear with them and keep a lookout for anything cluttering business they’re involved in. But with time, dedication and awareness your children can become a part of your cause.
In fact even roommates and family members can have a drastic effect on your living space. Maybe they are the ones cluttering more than you think you are. Take some time analysing this theory. Once it’s confirmed, have a talk with them. Tell them, this is how you feel about cluttering and that you’re trying your level best to bring a change. If you’re careful with what you say and not hurt their ego, they’ll understand and be happy to help. Be encouraging rather than critical, even if they make mistakes or take a while to get used to this new change. Cooperation from family and roommates is essential to a better living standard.
Learn to be decisive when it comes to knowing what to throw away and what to keep. Take a pile of paper for example, start at the top, and quickly scan through, keeping important papers in your inbox compartment and throwing the rest away. Snap out of keeping any unnecessary paper for later.
Medical cabinets can prove to be a big problem for many people. Most of us have outdated and expired medicines and ointments in our medical cabinets. Maybe some old used bandages and facial creams that are almost as ancient as the house. Throw all these things out! You only need a few essentials, which you use with regularity. The rest is unnecessary clutter.
Drawers need special attention, because, well, they’re contain all our private belongings. You should sort of drawers in 3 steps. The things that need to stay in the drawer should stay in the drawer. The things that aren’t supposed to be in the drawer, take them out and find another place for them and then lastly the things that don’t belong anywhere in the house and should be thrown out. Make neat stacks and if clothes, fold them properly.
Don’t forget all the equipment and de-cluttering gear you’ll need for your clutter-free mission. You will need everything from trash bags to markers to dusting material to container boxes. These boxes will need to be marked so you don’t forget, what you threw where and which ones need to be thrown out, given to charity, sold and which ones you’re keeping.
You can also have a cheerful song to get you in the mood for a long day of de-cluttering and the entire family can sing along to it. Make an event out of it.
Remember, get rid of ALL the things that don’t make you happy.
With a new uncluttered look to your house, comes a new attitude. You have to live this lifestyle now. Learn to endorse it. Make it a way of life. No cluttering from here on.
Now I’m pretty sure most of us have probably gone through these issues in life and maybe found solutions and changed for the better. But for those of you, who are thinking “Wow, that’s the story of my life”, you need not fear, all you have to do is ‘De-clutter’. We’re going to tell you everything you need to know about de-cluttering and how to make it a permanent part of your life. Firstly though, we’re going to state some of the benefits.
If you have finally gotten down to de-cluttering your house, you might also feel the need to renovate after the de-cluttering process is complete. You don’t need to hire an interior designer for a completely new look. You can change the way your home looks just by doing small things like redoing one of the walls, changing the colour tone, changing the general ambiance. You can add candles to give a romantic and mysterious feel to your home. Maybe buy some new plants and put them indoors. Frame some old photos of your family. Use more colours. Actually, use more of your favourite colour. These renovation techniques are simple, cheap and, will save you a lot of money, but before you can even start thinking about giving your home a new look, you’ll need to de-clutter.
If you’re feeling extremely lazy and lethargic and have resigned from moving any forward in life, whether it has to do with your married life, social life or your work, you need to take a break and de-clutter your home. De-cluttering your home will also help de-clutter your mind and soul, and will free you of stress. It will liberate you and you’ll feel lighter and much happier, like a load has been taken off your back and shoulders. You’ll feel more positive and optimistic, eager to get on with life, dealing with everyday problems with a clear and calm mind. Hence, de-cluttering is a great way to heal oneself and relax when life gets too much.
While revamping the house you will come across different types of belongings. Possessions that need to be disposed and those that are still considerably new. Then there is stuff which you own but can’t recall purchasing and things which you’ve used for a good amount of time. Now normally you put up some sale banners and hold a garage sale to get rid of all the usable stuff you don’t need. Not only does this help in de-cluttering your home but earns you a nice sum of money at the same time, if the items you are selling have reasonable value that is. Of course if this seems like too much work, you can always go on eBay and sell your belongings. It could be anything from antique grand pianos, to old stamp collections, to used army gear. So basically de-cluttering will also benefit you financially.
There’s a good chance, while you’re de-cluttering, you might come across stuff you’ve bought while on shopping sprees, trying to overcome anxiety or other psychological problems. This is obviously a form of clutter and once you realize most of it, you dint need in the first place, or haven’t even opened yet, with the tags still intact, you will get a reality check. This type of de-cluttering leads to finding other ways of releasing pressure and discovering another outlet for all your stress related problems. It could be a simple walk in the park. You have to revaluate your expenses and lifestyle. There’ll probably be a lot of stuff you don’t need to buy, because you already have it, so cross these things off of your shopping list. Charity can be another good way of giving away unwanted things and make you feel good about yourself at the same time. There will always be people who’ll need the belongings you want to get rid of.
De-cluttering inside and outside your home
Some people have the clutter bug. They can’t help but be that way. It’s a state and it needs serious attention before it gets worse.
Albert Einstein: “Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; from discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
Recycling is a vital component of de-cluttering your house. From water and organic waste to recycling building materials and packaging, recycling will minimise the production of garbage and landfill. The options available to house owners for reducing the impact of their homes on the environment are growing daily and range from something as simple as choosing reusable cloth bags over plastic at the supermarket to solar water heaters, signing on to green power sources, even selling solar- powered electricity back at the local grid.
When running an well-organized home and regularly de-cluttered house, the finances you save can go to use on other things like piano lessons or vacations or in a larger house it can make sure you make ends meet. There are several ways to save money, here and there, from turning off the refrigerator when you go on vacation, repairing leak pipes and taps, choosing energy-effective appliances, and shopping in bulk orders. Planting a few vegetables around your garden will not hurt either.
When your storage space has overtaken your work space, it’s a good indication, that you should start de-cluttering. There is generally an abundance of pens and paper in many houses. Unless you’re a sketchbook collector or an artist/painter, you will not need so much paper. Selling paper will not fetch you anything significant, but sketchbooks and a nice box of pens could still be valuable. You will often find yourself putting something down rather than properly putting it where it belongs. This is a sure shot way of cluttering your house.
A fast and effective way to make an impact or at least feel like it is, organising your clothes closet. Go through the entire collection of clothes you own and make a two separate stacks. One for the clothes you will keep and one for all the clothes you haven’t work in the last few years. Throw out stained clothes or those that need stitching. The considerably usable clothes should be given to shelters and charity shops or people in need. Carefully inspect the clothes that you want to keep. Divide the long and short hanging clothing items with regards to colour. Space left under the short hanging clothes after having been hung, should be utilized for keeping boxes of shoes and other accessories.
Buying a completely new wardrobe might not be an option for you, but tie and belt holders is an cheap alternative to keep your accessories in order. Organising clothes is an important part of de-cluttering, especially when it comes to your room. It will look neat and you’ll easily be able to find what you’re looking for next time.
Now to put in order, the rest of the house. Make a shelf for all the books you own, in case you already don’t have one. Some of these books must have been a treat to read. Cherish those times by making a proper place for them, so that they’re easily traceable and you can show them off to guests, if you have an impressive collection. If you have a study or a small library room, make a list of all the books you own, and keep regular checks making sure they are in their proper place. Setting them up in alphabetical order in the shelves will make it easier for you to find the books you’re looking for.
Your work desk should only have those items which you use for work purposes and not unnecessary stuff which has nothing to do with what you work on. Keep a pen holder, or a pen cup and/or stationary box in case you have a lot of stationary.
Store items in an efficient and fitted way. Make the space occupied as minimal as possible. Your store room might be a place for all the stuff you don’t want out in the open, but it should not look like a war zone. It should be given regular visits so that things don’t get out of hand and you’re left hiring the services of professional disposers and movers and paying their bills. Your garden shed, garage or attic can also be utilized as a storage place for items you don’t normally use. Make sure all these places are nicely kept.
Make sure you allot a special place for all those important papers. They could be house papers, birth certificates, anything personal. Keep them under key-lock so others can’t access them and you’re not worried every time you leave home. Even your bills should be kept in a particular place so you don’t lose them. Buying a ‘home file’ will help you in dealing with that.
Getting stackable storage boxes will further help you in keeping things tidy. You can now buy nice looking ones which go with the general feel of your house. Look around for ones which follow the same colour scheme, so they compliment your home and don’t look out of place, even if you place them in the living room. Same way you can keep a storage box for your children’s toys, so they’re not just everywhere: It’s a problem we all face as parents.
Keep your family members and house mates in check. If you see them take something out of a drawer, remind them to make sure it goes back. If everyone in the house will make a conscious effort and be disciplined, there will be less pressure on you to keep things tidy.
Keep things that are actually pretty to look at. We all have our family decoration pieces, which have come a long way since our great grand fathers first, bought them. But if they are too many in number, taking too much space and stick out like eyesores in their surroundings and you never liked most of them to begin with, then put them away. Simplicity is the key to a clean and de-cluttered environment at home. Only have stuff on for display which compliments your home.
Make it a habit to de-clutter for 15 minutes everyday. This will ensure you have a tidy house and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how much you can do in small doses like that.
Before bringing in new stuff, think about everything you already have. There’s no point getting something which you wont use and will just add to the living space. Whether you are done de-cluttering or have just started, put your foot down and stop getting new stuff. Even if you don’t de-clutter, not getting additional items will help you avoid clutter issues, so it’s a good habit to have. Take it one step at a time if that is your pace. Just keep in mind, eventually you will need to de-clutter. It’s like going on a diet without any exercise, even though it will help you lose some weight; you still need to work out, so you can completely get rid of the fat and keep the weight from coming back.
If you feel like you’re wasting the stuff you’re getting rid of, just donate. You will feel good about yourself and won’t regret giving it away.
Create a chart for a regular schedule. The de-cluttering should be carried out either everyday or around three times a week. Make a note for when you do de-clutter. You’ll feel like you’ve done something worthwhile. It will give you a sense of satisfaction.
When de-cluttering, begin at one end of the room and move forward from there. Do the floors and surfaces first. Remove trash from the can. Do it again, but the next time, make more effort, open your drawers and closet.
Giving yourself incentives will always give you encouragement and drive. Tell yourself; if you manage finishing sorting out the garden, for example, you’ll treat yourself to your favourite dessert.
Put on music if it helps you enjoy your de-cluttering session or even focus for that matter. Some people work better while listening to music.
Conserve time. If you’re making tea, and you’ve put water in the kettle to boil, don’t waste time waiting for it. In the meantime, go fix your living room. It might be just a few measly minutes but it will help you stay aware and have better time management. You will eventually make a habit out of it and one day thank me.
Don’t let empty storage containers go to waste. Even though we’re minimalizing space used, it’s important however that the storage space you have allocated is utilized to its fullest. If that’s not where you’re storing your belongings then that means you’re still cluttering. Keep this in mind, next time you see a half empty container. Either get rid of it completely or utilize well. Furthermore, allocating extra storage space will lead to you filling it with extra stuff. When you’re allocating that space, keep in mind everything you own, what needs to be where and how often you use some of those things. There’s a thin line between overstating and understating. Keep your storage space just right.
Ever heard of the famous “one in two out” rule? It applies perfectly to the de-cluttering process. When getting something new, get rid of two or several old items. And no, stationary will not do. Think big, and you’ll find yourself having more space and less stuff to deal with.
If you own clothes you haven’t used in what seems like years, get rid of them right away. Either give them away or put them up for sale. Pawn shops and yard sales will help serve that purpose. You can also put clothes or items which you don’t think you’re sure about getting rid of and think you might use someday, in a box and put it away in your storing area, for lets say a year. When you finally find the box, there is a good chance you wont even recall what it contained. Give it away now! Do not open it. This is a great exercise to counter indecisiveness.
Do one room at a time. Don’t get ahead of yourself. If you think you can multitask, that’s great, but multitask in the same room, whether it involve fixing drawers, cupboards, stuff under your bed, etc, etc. Once you’re done doing that room you can move on to the next. Remember once you’re done doing that one room you’ll be delighted with yourself and what you just achieved. It will motivate you to do more and make the rest of the house look as good.
Make a list of all the things that you think you want to buy, even if they be fantasy, not affordable or viable or completely out of your financial reach. Now next time you’ve gone out to the mall and you come across something you want, put it down on the list along with everything else. This will keep you in check in a way and make sure you hesitate long enough to change your mind. Look at this list from time to time so you know what you almost bought thanks to an itch.
Telling yourself that most of the stuff you own does not any significant value in your life and that by providing for the homeless and the less fortunate, you’re doing a good deed will also help you give away your belongings without thinking about regretting it. Also having a friend or a family member, someone who has no sentimental value for your stuff, go through and discard whatever’s unnecessary and keep whatever’s not will make it easier for you.
Some of this stuff can also be used as presents like old books or comic books for example, or your grown up children’s old toys. You don’t need these things anymore.
Someone famous once said: “We don’t need to increase our goods nearly as much as we need to scale down our wants. Not wanting something is as good as possessing it.”
It’s not easy de-cluttering a house, which hasn’t been sorted out for ages. It can be quite a lengthy and energy draining ordeal. Like I’ve stated before, you need to take one thing at a time. If you have a really busy schedule like most of us do, and barely get time from work and your social life and even when you do have time you would rather prefer relaxing and recharging for another busy week ahead, then make an effort to do just 15 minutes everyday. It might not make much of an obvious difference to the way your house feels but hey, at least you’re starting. Rejoice when you do make that first five minute de-cluttering difference. Then make another 15 minute effort the next day and then another the day after that, till you make this a routine. Wouldn’t that be a great habit to have? This way you could eventually accomplish a lot. The kitchen, a few rooms, the store, maybe even the whole house, on your own, thanks to those 15 minute de-cluttering sessions. Sounds great doesn’t it? But for you to properly utilize those 15 minutes, I’m going to give you some helpful tips in more detail.
Paper can be a major part of our clutter like I mentioned earlier. It’s often unaccounted for and once lost you go through much difficulty finding the important piece of paper you were looking for. It can be seen almost everywhere in our homes. On tables, in cars, in drawers, etc. Why not emulate your internet email service and make a physical inbox for your home. It could be an ordinary drawer compartment for that matter, but now at least you’ll have a place to put all the paper that comes into the house. Anything from receipts to notices, to mail. What a simple solution for such a major problem. And it’ll hardly take any time.
Clear an area of the house and label it the de-cluttered zone. It doesn’t have to be a big space, just a small spot next to the kitchen will do. Extend this area with every 15 minute de-cluttering session and you’ll find you’ve covered half the house, just by making sure nothing is placed in the de-cluttered zone. Make sure your family members aren’t directly affected by this routine though. Ask them before displacing their belongings or you might get an earful. The even-levelled surfaces should all be cleared off one by one. Leaving a few necessary items, remove everything else. After doing flat surfaces you can do shelves. If you have a large book shelf, just do one at a time. Clear unnecessary items and leave the ones you need behind. Put all this in storage containers, or the store room. After you’re done clearing off enough stuff, you will be able to see the difference, which will be of enormous proportions. Maybe when you have enough stuff, you can go to the local charity office and submit it there in one of these 15 minute sessions.
You can also plan a de-cluttering weekend, with family members and friends, making sure everyone takes time out to help with the house. Thanks to your 15 minute efforts, you’ll already have done enough, this will prove to be a final clearing out or even if you don’t end up doing the whole house, you can finish off slowly on your own, knowing that a huge chunk has been completed and you’re almost there.
Pick out 7 things which you don’t think are in the suitable place and make a separate space for each of them. Make sure these things are currently in use of the house. Re-assess how they look and if they fit in the next 15 minute session and find another place if you’re not entirely happy or satisfied. This can be made into an enjoyable activity if you put your mind to it. Also show the new placements to your family members or housemates, so they don’t displace them again. Of course this could apply to everything you own.
In one of the 15 minute sessions, look around a specific room and imagine how you wanted it to look like, how what should have been where, what important decoration piece should have been better highlighted, what furniture shouldn’t have been there to begin with. Then start working accordingly. Also look at what needs repairing and get down to it immediately, before it gets worse and you have to throw it out.
Another point I think is essential in keeping your house de-cluttered is training your children. Children can be a real pain when it comes to cluttering and leaving stuff just everywhere. Of course you’ll have to lead by example, because unless you’re making sure you’re keeping the house clean and uncluttered, they’ll follow suit. It will not happen overnight though, because well, they’re children and its takes time for them to understand, so you’ll have to bear with them and keep a lookout for anything cluttering business they’re involved in. But with time, dedication and awareness your children can become a part of your cause.
In fact even roommates and family members can have a drastic effect on your living space. Maybe they are the ones cluttering more than you think you are. Take some time analysing this theory. Once it’s confirmed, have a talk with them. Tell them, this is how you feel about cluttering and that you’re trying your level best to bring a change. If you’re careful with what you say and not hurt their ego, they’ll understand and be happy to help. Be encouraging rather than critical, even if they make mistakes or take a while to get used to this new change. Cooperation from family and roommates is essential to a better living standard.
Learn to be decisive when it comes to knowing what to throw away and what to keep. Take a pile of paper for example, start at the top, and quickly scan through, keeping important papers in your inbox compartment and throwing the rest away. Snap out of keeping any unnecessary paper for later.
Medical cabinets can prove to be a big problem for many people. Most of us have outdated and expired medicines and ointments in our medical cabinets. Maybe some old used bandages and facial creams that are almost as ancient as the house. Throw all these things out! You only need a few essentials, which you use with regularity. The rest is unnecessary clutter.
Drawers need special attention, because, well, they’re contain all our private belongings. You should sort of drawers in 3 steps. The things that need to stay in the drawer should stay in the drawer. The things that aren’t supposed to be in the drawer, take them out and find another place for them and then lastly the things that don’t belong anywhere in the house and should be thrown out. Make neat stacks and if clothes, fold them properly.
Don’t forget all the equipment and de-cluttering gear you’ll need for your clutter-free mission. You will need everything from trash bags to markers to dusting material to container boxes. These boxes will need to be marked so you don’t forget, what you threw where and which ones need to be thrown out, given to charity, sold and which ones you’re keeping.
You can also have a cheerful song to get you in the mood for a long day of de-cluttering and the entire family can sing along to it. Make an event out of it.
Remember, get rid of ALL the things that don’t make you happy.
With a new uncluttered look to your house, comes a new attitude. You have to live this lifestyle now. Learn to endorse it. Make it a way of life. No cluttering from here on.
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