Have you ever felt like your life is just one big mess? That everything in your house and office has accumulated to the point where it’s no longer manageable? If this sounds familiar, then don’t worry – you’re not alone. But if things are starting to feel a little overwhelmed, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t hope for decluttering! In this blog post, we’ll discuss 15 simple ways to help you begin the process of clearing out the clutter from every area of your life.
Decluttering helps us in many ways. For instance, decluttering has been proven to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. This is due to less mess occupying our minds. Less clutter around us also means more space for creativity, inspiration, and productivity.
Decluttering also helps our physical health. When you declutter, your house is less likely to become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria because there are fewer surfaces in contact with the outside world (such as furniture). Decluttered spaces can lead to more natural airflow and lower energy costs. And lastly, it’s been shown that decluttering can lead to higher self-esteem and personal satisfaction.
It’s important to think about your “why” for decluttering. Why are you decluttering? What goals or reasons do you have in mind for doing this task? Answering this question will help clarify your intentions and make the process easier. Among other things, it can serve as motivation when times get tough.
So, now that you know the many benefits of decluttering your life, there’s no reason not to get started! Below are fifteen easy ways to start tackling this task.
1. First off – do a quick assessment of what needs to be done.
This is one of the most important steps in the process, as it is where you’ll identify what areas of your life need decluttering. You don’t want to tackle a room that doesn’t need cleaning, for example, when other rooms have not been touched yet. At this point, you can also start by quickly writing a “to do” list for each room or area. Creating a “to do” list is important because it will ensure that you progress and not forget anything. It’s also helpful in terms of seeing how far along you’ve come with the decluttering process, as well as what areas still need attention.
2. Sort your items into four piles – keep, donate, sell, and trash
We all have items that are no longer of any use to us. The question is, what do we want to do with these items? Waste them? Throw them out? Or donate them? And if you donate, where will they go? It’s a good idea to sort through your belongings and figure out what you need (and what you don’t). Get rid of the clutter so you have more space and less stress in your life.
3. Don’t do it all in one day
When tackling a big task like decluttering your life, you want to pace yourself. Give yourself time to complete the tasks or goals that are on your list for each room/area of your life – don’t try and tackle them all at once! There’s no need to push through this process when it’s more likely to cause you extra stress and frustration.
It’s okay to take breaks! You don’t have to work nonstop at this process, as long as you’re getting something done each day on your list. For instance, if one of the items is sorting through a drawer in your home office, break up that task into two steps – sorting and organizing. Write the steps on your “to-do” list, break those tasks into two sets of time blocks, and then work at them one at a time!
4. Don’t start with what’s easiest
It can be tempting to jump right in by tackling whatever seems to be the least difficult task first when you’re getting started on a new project. However, this can actually be counterproductive and have you feeling like you don’t get anything done because the “easy” task was completed first.
Instead of jumping in with what’s easiest, start by tackling one of the bigger tasks that will take time to complete or where there is more uncertainty involved – for example, decluttering your wardrobe.
5. Don’t forget to take pictures!
It can be difficult to remember what you’ve done if you don’t have a record of it, and documenting the progress that you’re making is important for motivation. Take some photos so that you can look back at how far along your journey has come – or even to keep reminding yourself of which tasks still need completing.
6. Now that you know how to declutter your life, it’s time to get started!
Start by doing a quick assessment and then start tackling the areas of your life where clutter needs attention! The process doesn’t have to be stressful – in fact, it should help make your life more peaceful, relaxed, and productive!
7. Start small by decluttering one area of your space at a time.
If you’re accustomed to tackling large projects all at once, decluttering your life might sound overwhelming for the same reason. Instead, start small by focusing on one area of your space at a time. This way you’ll be able to take things slowly and tackle areas that may need more attention instead of going around a room collecting clutter with no intention of where it should go. You could start by tackling a small space or starting with one thing in each room. For instance, it might be your room, your office, or the dirty dishes in the sinks. Take 10 minutes to get rid of the clutter and you will feel more relaxed after doing so!
Decluttering can be overwhelming, so it’s best to begin with one particular area of your life – preferably an area that isn’t as important or critical. Think about what areas of your life seem manageable. For example, if you have trouble sleeping at night, try focusing on taking care of your bedroom before worrying about the kitchen.
8. Purge, purge, purging!
We’ve all heard it before – but what does that actually entail? In short, the goal of this step is to identify and remove anything unnecessary from your life. As you go through each area (your house or office), ask yourself one simple question: “Does this item bring me joy?” If the answer is no then consider donating/trashing/selling said item. This doesn’t have to be an exhaustive process – just a few small steps at a time will make a world of difference in how quickly you’re able to declutter.
9. Donate anything that is in good condition but no longer usable to someone who will use it
I often come across clothes that I no longer fit or wear but are still in good condition. I donate them and feel better about getting rid of them. This may seem like a small thing, but they are really helping the world by donating an item that someone can use. I also have some clothes that are broken or stained with food and other stains. I donate these to thrift stores and know they will be sold for someone who needs them.
10. Sell any clothes that are still in good condition on websites like Poshmark or eBay
If you’re not sure about the quality of your clothes but think they’re still in good enough condition to be sold, try listing them on sites like Poshmark or eBay for a quick sale. This can help you clear out your closet and even make a little money off of them.
11. Throw away items that are broken or unused and clean up the area where they were stored
Many people procrastinate when it comes to decluttering because they are worried about throwing anything away that is still in good condition. While many people have sentimental attachments to broken or unused items, there is no need to keep them if all you are going to do with them is store them. The key is just not to get attached and declutter for the sake of decluttering, even though you may find yourself picking up an item or two that you can’t bring yourself to discard.
Don’t worry about getting rid of something you’ll need “tomorrow”. You’ll never know what tomorrow will bring, so just get rid of the things that you don’t need. You’ll probably be surprised at how much stuff was just sitting there gathering dust!
12. Find a place for everything you love
Many people have enough stuff to fill their living space but can’t find anything. The key is to take the time to find a place for everything you love. If it still doesn’t have a place after that, take the time to figure out what you can do without in the meantime. It might be hard at first, but you’ll eventually be able to see where your belongings go and that will make organizing so much quicker!
13. Find things that you love and return them to their place every day
It’s easy for clutter to accumulate in your home because it just never gets put back into its designated place. The key is finding items that you really want or need, such as a favorite coffee mug or bowl, and returning them to their home at the end of each day. You’ll find that decluttering your home is far easier than you thought because it’s just a matter of returning items to their appropriate space.
The key to the whole “declutter” thing is not to get too caught up in what other people think about it – do what makes sense for YOU and your family!
14. Reward yourself after every successful week
Give yourself some motivation to declutter your life by rewarding yourself with something fun or relaxing after every successful week. Give yourself a goal, such as decluttering one room or tackling one closet per week. This way, you will feel accomplished and motivated when you take that bath, go out for coffee, or read a book before bedtime!
15. Declutter at least once per month (or more often if needed!)
It’s important to declutter your home on a regular basis. This will allow you to keep getting rid of the things that are just taking up space and make room for new items or memories! Create a monthly routine to give yourself time to declutter at least once per month, but if it starts feeling like too much work, go ahead and do it more often.
Extra Tips
Declutter your finances:
Take a look at what you’re spending money on and make sure it’s worth the time, effort, or expense – especially when it comes to subscriptions for services that may not be necessary anymore! Also consider if there are any items (e.g., clothes) that take up too much space in your closet and could be donated.
Declutter social media:
Give yourself some time each day to unwind, by spending a little less time on sites like Facebook or Tumblr – or disconnecting completely! It’ll help you feel more rested and focused upon waking up the next morning so that you can tackle other tasks for the day.
Organize your thoughts:
If you have a lot of ideas floating around in your head, take the time to write them down so that they can become actionable items – and then tackle those tasks! It’ll help make sure nothing falls through the cracks again. And if it’s taking too much effort at first, start by capturing the ideas in one place, and then take it from there.
Decluttering your home might seem daunting, but it’s possible with a little time and effort. The key is to take it easy and not get too caught up in what other people think about how you live. Decluttering your living environment will help you achieve zen living and help you feel more organized and less stressed.
To live a more organized life, you need to find things that make sense for your lifestyle and start living with less clutter. Decluttering is the most effective way of getting rid of items that don’t belong in your space or add value to your life. You can declutter by removing unwanted clothes from the closet, unsubscribing from services and products (or at least considering whether they’re worth it), organizing thoughts into actionable tasks, and finally taking time each day to relax!
The idea of decluttering can be overwhelming, but by following these fifteen easy steps you’ll quickly start to see a difference in your life. Not only will it help you achieve zen living, but it will also provide an opportunity for self-reflection and mindfulness – two things that are crucial when trying to live our best lives!
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