admin How can decluttering be easy? It can be easy if you follow some simple steps.
How many times have you heard the words ‘I have decluttered my house in 1hr!’ Upon hearing these words, you might feel demotivated because you might think you are doing something wrong. Keep in mind the following:
- These people might be at a different stage in their decluttering journey than you;
- They might be confusing the meaning of the words decluttering and tidying up;
- Their lifestyle is different from yours and what for them might be clutter, for you might bring joy.
I know the feeling, so before diving further into this blog post, you need to understand the difference between decluttering, tidying up and organizing. They are three different matters and one does not necessarily depend on the other. In my blog post ‘Difference between decluttering, tidying up and organizing‘ I go into the details. Click here to read it.
If you have never done a decluttering session or if it’s been a while, then continue reading.
Decluttering is not a one time task, but an ongoing process.
However, if you take time to declutter properly the first time, it would be easier the subsequent times. When you start your decluttering journey, you need to take decisions you have been postponing for a long time. You need to make a conscious decision of what stays and what goes.
Why wasting time watching a movie that you don’t like? The same principle applies to clutter.
The hardest part of the process is taking the decisions. Some might find it easy, whilst others find it hard to let go of things.
"A year from now, you will wish you had started TODAY" - Karen Lamb
Stop procrastinating. Start one small thing at a time!
Want to clean a cluttered kitchen?!
Start by washing and putting away the dishes.
Here are some tips and tricks on how to make decluttering easy.
1. Make a Plan
Write down the areas that need most work. Score from 1 -5 the rooms that need most work (5 means it needs lots of work). Start working one room at a time and set yourself goals. Keep it realistic so you don’t get overwhelmed. Set a date by when it has to be ready, however keep in mind that some areas might take longer than others.
2. Set up a Sorting System
For each space you are going to declutter, set up a sorting system. The sorting system will need to be composed of at least 3 boxes (you can even use laundry baskets) and label them as THROW AWAY, KEEP, PUT IN STORAGE. As you start going through the items, decided whether to throw away, keep or put in storage. The more you do it, the easier it comes to take decisions. How to decide what stays and what goes is another subject in itself. However the next tips will help you take the decision.
3. 80/20 Rule
Have you ever heard of the 80/20 rule? This rule is used in various aspects of life even in decluttering. For example we only wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. Therefore your mission is to get rid of the 80% you don’t use in your life. Initially this can be difficult, but as you go along it will get easier.
4. Does it Actually work?
It is useless keeping stuff that does not work or that we hope to fix one day. So anything that does not work needs to be tossed away immediately. If you are adamant to fix it, set it aside put a time frame, and if still not done, then throw it away. Take Action!
5. Start Small
You cannot start running before you learn how to walk. Therefore instead of starting from a whole room, start from a drawer. These small wins will boost your confidence.
6. Deal with it immediately
Do not leave your boxes lounging in your entry way for days. Throw away what needs to be thrown away immediately. Take items that need to be stored, into your storage area immediately. If you leave it there, in your entryway for days on end, it might have as well stayed were it was.
No matter how big of small your decluttering project is, always move clockwise. It helps you keep on track of where you have arrived and again, those small wins will give you the motivation to conquer bigger projects.
If you need guidance in starting your decluttering process, please feel free to contact me either on info@strugglingmum.com or message me on Facebook or Instagram. During COVID-19 can do a virtual decluttering session.
Love,
Strugglingmum xxxx
[…] The solution to this is to remove clutter. Decluttering can be hard and overwhelming. Make conscious decisions. Donate or sell items that you no longer use or love. If you would like to know how to make decluttering easy read the blog post Decluttering made easy. […]
[…] one of my recent blog posts – Decluttering made easy, I share some simple steps to make decluttering less overwhelming. You cannot organize clutter, […]