For many years, I was a packrat, clinging to possessions like a safety blanket, like trophies, like you might cling to the past. My life was filled with clutter – from my closets to my living room to my countertops to my desk at work. That changed about a decade ago when I realized that I simply had too much stuff. I was owned by my possessions, and they were no longer making me happy. I wanted to conquer my clutter. And so I did, one heap at a time.
I think I saved the closets for last because they were way too intimidating. But slowly, I made progress, and simplifying my possessions was – and is – an ongoing project. Today, I’m pretty happy with the way I’ve simplified my home and workspace. I’m pretty minimalist, and while clutter still does accumulate when I’m not vigilant, I tackle it head-on every now and then to keep things fairly clutter-free.
I’m not saying everyone needs to be as minimalist as I am. Take my minimalist workspace for example – I don’t expect anyone to reduce clutter that much, nor do I think they’d even want to. Everyone has their ideal level of simplicity – what matters most is keeping what’s essential to you and getting rid of the rest. And so today, I’ll take a look at how you can conquer your clutter, no matter what your goals are or how bad things are now.
Why Should You Simplify?
Well, nothing, if that’s the way you like things. Everyone lives differently, and I’m not saying the decluttered lifestyle is better than the cluttered one. However, I’ve found some benefits of decluttering from my decade or so of experience with this issue.
Fundamental Simplicity Principles
Before you tackle your clutter, there are four basic steps to decluttering to keep in mind. Let’s take the example of decluttering a single drawer. These are the fundamental steps:
- Gather: Gather everything from the drawer and place it on a surface, like a table or the bed.
- Sort: Sort the items into categories – keep, donate, sell, or trash.
- Purge: Get rid of the items you don’t need or want – donate, sell, or trash them.
- Organize: Put the remaining items back in the drawer in an organized manner.
This process is repeated for every drawer, shelf, tabletop, countertop, floor, closet, or any other area you’re trying to declutter.
10 Ways to Get Started
When you first decide to tackle your clutter, things can be overwhelming. Don’t let that intimidate you. Just get started and tackle one small thing at a time. Don’t worry about the entire mess – focus on one area. It could be a countertop, a drawer, or just a little corner of a room. It doesn’t matter what you choose – just start small.
Here are some different strategies for getting started – choose one and give it a try. If it turns out to be too hard, try another. It doesn’t matter which one you choose – what matters is starting.
- The 12-12-12 Challenge: Find 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to be returned to their proper place.
- The 30-Day Minimalism Game: Get a friend or family member to join you, and each day, you both get rid of the number of items that corresponds to the day of the month (1 item on the 1st, 2 on the 2nd, and so on).
- The Drawer-a-Day Declutter: Tackle one drawer a day, following the fundamental decluttering steps.
- The Trash Bag Challenge: Commit to filling a trash bag with items to get rid of every day for a set number of days.
- The Wardrobe Purge: Start with your closet, trying on each item and keeping only what you truly love and wear regularly.
- The Paper Purge: Sort through and get rid of any unnecessary paperwork, files, and documents.
- The One-In, One-Out Rule: Whenever you bring a new item into your home, you have to get rid of an existing item.
- The Sentimental Items Challenge: Tackle those hard-to-let-go sentimental items by taking photos of them before donating or discarding.
- The Garage/Basement Blitz: Dedicate a weekend to sorting through those forgotten spaces, starting with the easiest areas first.
- The Mindful Shopping Challenge: Before making any new purchases, ask yourself if it’s truly necessary and where you’ll store it.
The Next Steps
Once you’ve gotten a start, here are some other steps you can take to keep your momentum going:
Create a Decluttering System
Develop a system for regularly decluttering your home. This could be a weekly or monthly routine, or it could be triggered by specific events, like the change of seasons. The key is to make it a habit, so that clutter doesn’t have a chance to build up again.
Establish Donation and Recycling Routines
Set up designated areas or containers for items to donate or recycle. Make it easy to get these items out of your home and into the hands of those who can use them. This will help prevent the clutter from creeping back in.
Invest in Storage Solutions
If you’re struggling with limited space, consider investing in some smart storage solutions, like vacuum-sealed bags, stackable bins, or wall-mounted shelves. These can help you keep your home organized and free of clutter.
Develop a Mindful Shopping Habit
One of the best ways to keep your home clutter-free is to be more mindful about what you bring into it. Before making a purchase, ask yourself if it’s truly necessary and where you’ll store it. This can help you avoid impulse buys and unnecessary clutter.
Enlist Family Support
If you live with others, get them on board with your decluttering efforts. Explain the benefits and ask for their cooperation in maintaining a clutter-free home. This can make the process much easier and more sustainable.
Celebrate Your Progress
As you work through the decluttering process, take time to celebrate your successes, no matter how small. This will help keep you motivated and inspired to continue your journey towards a more organized and peaceful home.
Remember, conquering clutter is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. By incorporating these strategies and making it a regular part of your lifestyle, you can transform your home into a haven of simplicity and tranquility.
And who knows, you might just discover that the less you have, the more you can truly appreciate and enjoy what’s most important. So why not give it a try? Your future, clutter-free self will thank you.
If you’re ready to take the next step and hire a professional cleaning service to help maintain your decluttered home, we’d be happy to lend a hand. Just let us know how we can help make your life a little bit easier.
