10 Decluttering Tips To Clear The Clutter
- Publish Date
- Wednesday, 18 September 2013, 12:00AM
It's spring cleaning time! If you're looking to spring clean your home, to make things a little easier, we have put together some decluttering tips to help you get the job done and keep your house in tip-top shape. Here are our easy ideas to spruce up, clean up, and get your house in order this spring, or any time of year...
1. Stop the flow of stuff coming in.
Decluttering is a waste of time if you simply replace the old stuff with new. You’ll need to begin by slowing the flow of things entering your home. Determine today to buy less. Trust us, you won’t regret it. The freedom from desire to acquire is a beautiful thing.
2. Declutter at least one item a day.
Decluttering does not have to be a mad frenzy that disrupts your entire household. Over time, your home can become minimalist by simply choosing one item a day to declutter.
3. Declutter the easy stuff first.
There is no need to make things difficult by trying to declutter the hardest things first. Most likely, it will simply deter you from the task altogether. Instead, start with the easy stuff and then as you strengthen your will to reduce, the harder decisions will become easier.
4. Put a disposal plan in place.
Before you begin, investigate selling, recycling, donating and give away options for the items you choose to declutter. The more prepared you are for the task, the simpler it will be… and the more likely you will be to follow through. Trademe, Freecycle, and our local thrift store will become favorite disposal options. However there are endless others to explore.
5. Decide to not keep things out of guilt or obligation.
Your home should only contain the things you love or use. Don’t let incorrect thinking or other people dictate what you should keep or give away. Remember, if the items are yours, it is your choice to decide what to do with them.
6. Do not be afraid to let go.
The urge to hold on to items you think you might need someday can be eliminated simply by being realistic about what need really is. Many items in our homes may be useful, but they are not particularly necessary to our happiness, well-being, or the functionality of our homes. Seek to understand the difference.
7. Gifts do not have to be material.
There are so many ways to honor loved ones without giving gifts that end up as clutter. Encourage people to follow this concept when buying gifts for you. Some alternative gifts are gifts of experience or adventure, a gift of time spent together, even cash gifts are appropriate in some instances.
8. Do not over-equip your home.
A home does not need enough linen, crockery, cutlery, or pantry supplies to serve as a hotel. Be realistic about your true needs. In the rare event an unusually large number of guests arrive on your doorstep, you can always borrow from friends, family or neighbours.
9. Do not declutter things that are not yours without the owner’s permission.
Everyone should have a choice about their own belongings, even small children. Honour them by allowing them to choose. You can encourage hoarding tendencies in others by ripping things away from them before they are ready to let go.
10. Do not waste your life on clutter.
Every item you own takes time out of your life: time to manage it, clean it, repair it, and maintain it; time to choose between objects of a similar category; time spent shopping for it… and that doesn’t even mention the time spent earning the money to pay for it in the first space. Decide to sacrifice less of your precious life on the pursuit and ownership of stuff.
1. Stop the flow of stuff coming in.
Decluttering is a waste of time if you simply replace the old stuff with new. You’ll need to begin by slowing the flow of things entering your home. Determine today to buy less. Trust us, you won’t regret it. The freedom from desire to acquire is a beautiful thing.
2. Declutter at least one item a day.
Decluttering does not have to be a mad frenzy that disrupts your entire household. Over time, your home can become minimalist by simply choosing one item a day to declutter.
3. Declutter the easy stuff first.
There is no need to make things difficult by trying to declutter the hardest things first. Most likely, it will simply deter you from the task altogether. Instead, start with the easy stuff and then as you strengthen your will to reduce, the harder decisions will become easier.
4. Put a disposal plan in place.
Before you begin, investigate selling, recycling, donating and give away options for the items you choose to declutter. The more prepared you are for the task, the simpler it will be… and the more likely you will be to follow through. Trademe, Freecycle, and our local thrift store will become favorite disposal options. However there are endless others to explore.
5. Decide to not keep things out of guilt or obligation.
Your home should only contain the things you love or use. Don’t let incorrect thinking or other people dictate what you should keep or give away. Remember, if the items are yours, it is your choice to decide what to do with them.
6. Do not be afraid to let go.
The urge to hold on to items you think you might need someday can be eliminated simply by being realistic about what need really is. Many items in our homes may be useful, but they are not particularly necessary to our happiness, well-being, or the functionality of our homes. Seek to understand the difference.
7. Gifts do not have to be material.
There are so many ways to honor loved ones without giving gifts that end up as clutter. Encourage people to follow this concept when buying gifts for you. Some alternative gifts are gifts of experience or adventure, a gift of time spent together, even cash gifts are appropriate in some instances.
8. Do not over-equip your home.
A home does not need enough linen, crockery, cutlery, or pantry supplies to serve as a hotel. Be realistic about your true needs. In the rare event an unusually large number of guests arrive on your doorstep, you can always borrow from friends, family or neighbours.
9. Do not declutter things that are not yours without the owner’s permission.
Everyone should have a choice about their own belongings, even small children. Honour them by allowing them to choose. You can encourage hoarding tendencies in others by ripping things away from them before they are ready to let go.
10. Do not waste your life on clutter.
Every item you own takes time out of your life: time to manage it, clean it, repair it, and maintain it; time to choose between objects of a similar category; time spent shopping for it… and that doesn’t even mention the time spent earning the money to pay for it in the first space. Decide to sacrifice less of your precious life on the pursuit and ownership of stuff.
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