Decluttering

Decluttering can be tough work. We spend years collecting and accumulating more and more. We shouldn't be surprised then, if it takes considerable time to make decisions about what to keep and what to remove. Throughout the course of life, situations change. People move, get married, start families, downsize or become ‘empty-nesters’ and much more. These events bring new responsibilities and “stuff” into your life.

Possessions can weigh us down and add extra burden to our lives. Let me help you through this process to let the things that are important take center stage. There is a lot more to decluttering than simply getting organized. It can make you happier, more productive and best of all it will free up space for the important things you want to achieve.

So, how do you begin the editing process? There are MANY books, articles, posts available at our finger-tips, thanks to this internet thing called Google…but, actual starting is hard. Many times, you get caught up in the emotional aspects of clearing out mementos, toys, gifts given to you, family heirlooms, etc. You must remember that decluttering can be a very freeing process and sometimes all you need is a quick decluttering technique. If you can focus on a task for a short amount of time, you can clear out the unnecessary stuff. Some great tips I’ve learned along the way are:

• Use a 4-box method that will force a decision, item by item. Get 3 boxes and 1 large trash bag or can. Label the boxes ‘Put Away’, ‘Give Away/Sell’ and ‘Storage’. Things to be thrown away go into the trash bag.
• Start in a room. One at a time, pick up each item of clutter. Ask yourself, ‘Does this bring me joy?’ or ‘What do I want to do with this?’ Don’t put the item down until you’ve made a decision and put it into the appropriately marked box. At the end of each room, empty each box. Put away things in that box. Give away/Sell items should be moved to an area to be donated or get ready for a yard/garage sale. Label the Storage box and place in storage. Empty the trash bag quickly to keep from changing your mind.
• Limited time? Try the box and banish method. This is ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and a drastic, clear it all out effort. It’s simple, really. Gather all clutter from room and place it into boxes or bags and put it somewhere outside the living area. Later, open each box or bag one at a time and use the 4-box method to sort things at your pace. This can create motivation and fast results. The draw back of this method is that it does nothing to change the underlying problem and won’t lead to the permanent changes you need to keep clutter down.
• Use a timer. Using a timer can keep you on task and can remove quite a bit of clutter in a small amount of time. This method is great to incorporate children to help in the process. Start the timer for 15minutes. Focus on one room or go room to room removing items and trash that you no longer want or need. When the timer rings, tie up the bag and place it in a trash can. DO NOT reopen the bag.
• Get Organized. Choose a space to declutter. If you find clothes, books, shoes or trash on the floor, start by gathering all of the clothes into laundry baskets. Move quickly and continue for a set amount of time or until the items in the space are organized in groups together.
• Keep Order or what to keep. Important memories, things you have used in the past 3 months, things you have a definite plan to use in the near future and spare materials you will need for maintenance of your home ie, paint, tile etc. Unless you use it regularly, a 2nd or 3rd set of anything in your kitchen can be a big source of clutter. Figure out what you really use, keep enough for when you host gatherings. Donate or sell the rest. Remove toys your child has outgrown. Set those aside to give away/sell or store. If there’s a lot of similar toys, remove enough so what’s left can easily be stored and enjoyed.

One of the advantages of decluttering is that you’ll be able to see your possessions with a new eye. Look around your home and grab a few of your favorite items to repurpose them and fall in love with them all over again. With a wealth of experience and the ability to look at your belongings with a neutral eye, I can easily help you take your worst mess and get decluttered. I love finding ways to refresh rooms/homes without spending any money. Click on CONTACT ME to let me help you make small changes that equal BIG impact.