Unless it is your favorite thing to do, for most of us, cleaning and getting rid of clutter can be a nightmare of a process that can be put off for years. Accumulating items and getting used to what your clutter looks like is much easier than having to do the work of getting rid of those unnecessary items. Regardless of if you have not had the time, the resources, the energy or have been avoiding that scary closet of yours for six months, it is never too late to start reducing clutter. If you are overwhelmed with clutter or are simply looking to get more organized and create a more breathable living space, look no further than these top five tips to help you get started!
Clutter Tips – Begin With One Area or One Room
When it comes to cleaning and removing clutter, do not try to tackle everything at once — you’ll overwhelm yourself way too fast! Instead, focus on an area of space or one room in your home/apartment that you want to deal with. Narrowing down your choice of what to de-clutter will help you have a sharp mind and clear goal which will keep the process moving smoothly!
Clutter Tips – The Six-Month Method
One method I utilize when I want to organize and reduce clutter is what I call, “The Six Month Method.” For example, go into your closet or drawers and evaluate what you have. If you have not seen it, worn it, or touched it in six months, truly ask yourself if it is worth keeping. I can’t tell you how many times this has helped me when I was clearing out clothes and unnecessary clutter! Doing this helps you to not only get a grasp of the items you have but also to visualize how much you can physically get rid of!
Clutter Tips – Set Goals
To help organize your process, set goals for yourself! I suggest purchasing a dry erase board to help visualize what you wish to accomplish; as you progress, you can adjust and change your goals! Most importantly, go at your own pace, whether that means doing everything in one day, one week, one month, or one year! Remember, this process is about you and your journey, so take as long as you need.
Keep a Greater Cause in Mind
As humans, we want to do our best to help each other and get help in return. According to RealSimple.com, “getting rid of things will be easier if you can picture someone else benefiting from them (instead of how they just signify wasted money for you). Pick an organization to donate to, and learn as much as you can about it.” The more you can imagine your progress benefiting a greater cause, the more you’ll feel better about what you’re doing!
Make a 30-Day List
Even though lists are not for everyone, they can be super helpful with visualizing and holding yourself accountable for your goals! To help with this, Zenhabits.net suggests the 30-day list which advises you to, “take a minute to create a 30-day list, and every time you want to buy something that’s not absolutely necessary (and no, that new Macbook Air isn’t absolutely necessary), put it on the list with the date it was added to the list. Make a rule never to buy anything (except necessities) unless they’ve been on the list for 30 days.” The purpose of this list is to reduce the number of excessive items you bring into your home, thus reducing clutter!
