Start by making a decluttering plan. Walk around each room of your home with a notebook in hand. What makes you unhappy or causes you stress? These are the things that you need to take care of. It will probably take a few weeks to clear the entire house, and that is okay. It’s okay if it takes you a year, as long as you are working towards the end goal. Do one room each week (or month) and include your partner, children, or a trusted friend. You will need containers for sellable items, boxes for items to be donated, and trash bags for everything else. Gather the items that you do not need/want and get rid of them. Take to the trash, donate them, or list them for sale on social media.
Do you need it or just want it? Does it bring you comfort or a form of satisfaction? Do not keep something out of guilt. If you received it as a gift and it is not your style, it’s alright to get rid of it. If you cannot bring yourself to get rid of these items, box them up, and put them out of sight. Revisit in 3 months, set an alert on your phone.
- Storage spaces in your home tend to be the catch-all for things you want to avoid. You need to decide if the drawings from kindergarten are worth saving. Maybe you can pick a few and frame them. Or take a picture of them and have a large collage made. There are many ways of saving all the memories of our children’s childhood memories without clutter. Ask adult children if they want these drawings and art projects. This may help you decide to clear out these items.
- Your office or work area may be difficult to keep organized as projects are sometimes added before the current one is not yet completed. Finish the tasks you are working on, do not leave until the next day (whenever possible). At the end of each workday, file the papers, toss the garbage, a quick cleaning. Write important reminders down on your calendar and throw away the sticky notes. When you start the next workday with a clean, organized desk or workspace, it will help you feel less stressed or overwhelmed.
- When you refuel your car, do a quick cleanup of the car, throw out all the fast-food wrappers, tissues, and soda cans. Use a reusable trash bag or small container to hold the trash and empty this at each fill-up. Wipe down the interior monthly or if you have young children, weekly. Purchase a seat mat to place under child car seats to catch fallen snacks. Have a small tote to store toys or gadgets, have the children tidy up before getting out of the car. Use a mat when traveling with your pets to help with the cleanup of the hair, dirt, etc.
You should never feel guilty about spending time accumulating things, wasting money on them, or letting things get so out of hand. I’m sure you do not feel guilty about the time and energy you gave to people who are no longer in your life. The same holds true for physical items. These items served their intended purposes, it’s okay to let them go. It’s time to move onto the next chapter in your life.
To keep everyday items from adding to the clutter, put things away after you’re done using them. After the laundry has been folded, put in closets or dressers.
Do whatever you can, EVERYDAY, even if you can only devote only 10 minutes of your time. You can accomplish a lot in just a short amount of time. Have daily clarity by starting with baby steps.
- Make your bed.
- Wash the dishes.
- Plan dinner for the week.
- Pick up the things that don’t belong and return them to their home.
When you simplify and declutter your life, you will find it is less stressful, more meaningful, and much more fulfilling. Once you have your physical spaces organized, you will need to work on your mental clarity.
