What is “clutter” and “decluttering”?
Clutter is defined as a collection of things you’re keeping that don’t add value to your life while decluttering is defined as removing unneeded items in your home and making room for those that really matter.
Why get rid of the clutter?
Well, first of all, clutter brings problems in a lot of ways. It doesn’t just make cleaning your home more difficult and time-consuming; it also causes you to feel anxious and stressed as it creates the sensation that a place is very messy. It also allows rodents and insects to hide in such spaces and gives them the things they need to create their nest.
This is why decluttering from time to time is important. Doing it improves the quality of your life and also increases the value of your home or property. Here are some more benefits of removing clutter from your home.
BENEFITS OF DECLUTTERING
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Improves your mood
- Improves sleep
- Improves concentration
- Help you find lost treasures
- Safety
DECLUTTERING STRATEGIES
Asking the Right Questions
To start with decluttering, ask yourself questions and evaluate your clutter so you can decide on your plan as you move forward.
“Do I really need it?”
A lot of people tend to hold onto things they don’t really need. One of the main reasons is that they associate the objects with memories and sometimes feel that they would also be throwing the memory away if they throw them away. This why people should realize that objects are not memories. Memories last a lifetime; the objects, however, do not.
Some people still keep the objects because they might be of use to them someday. If you already decided on decluttering, it’s best to assume that an item that hasn’t been used in a whole year is no longer needed.
Make to-do Lists
Once you’re done evaluating your clutter, the next thing to do is make a to-do list. First, divide your space into sections, and make a list of things to do for each of them.
Next, determine how much time you think you’ll spend finishing every section. You can spread your to-do lists throughout the year. By the end of it, each section of your home should already be decluttered.
Create a Sorting System
As you go through each section of your house, make sure to set up a sorting system for the objects you find. You can start by creating your own sorting method, or, if you wish, you could also employ the Three-Box Method. This method pushes you to decide by going through each item and putting them in three boxes or storage bins that are labeled “Keep,” “Get Rid Of,” and “Put In Storage.”
KEEP items that are useful in your day to day activities.
After finishing a section, empty this box and put the items in their new assigned space. Ideally, these things should be stored neatly in a container or drawer and labeled.
GET RID OF items that you no longer use.
After completing each section, empty this box and then decide on what to do with the items. Whether you’ll throw them away or donate them. Any items you’ll be giving away or selling can be kept in the vehicle to be used for transporting them or a storage bin in your garage.
PUT IN STORAGE sentimental or seasonal items.
After finishing each section, empty this box into labeled storage containers. Neatly stack the containers in an assigned storage area.
Creating a Routine
The decluttering routine you created should not be exhausting. Create a daily decluttering routine and do deep-decluttering from time to time throughout the year.
Daily Decluttering
Determine which parts of the house are easily cluttered and be efficient in cleaning those areas every day. Remember to look through your mail daily and only keep what you need and recycle what you don’t.
Quarterly Decluttering
Take time to deeply clean a section of your home once every three months. The sections that often need to be decluttered are:
- Attic
- Basement
- Closets
- Garage
- Spare rooms
- Storage areas
Create a schedule at the start of the year to make sure that the sections in your house that often need decluttering will be decluttered as desired. If doing quarterly decluttering is not enough, do them monthly until every section of your house is clean and organized.
Clutter can badly affect both your physical and psychological health. For those who plan to sell their homes, clutter can make it harder for you to sell them. It can even reduce the overall quality of your life.
There are a lot of benefits of decluttering and living a minimalistic life to your general well-being. Make time to practice even just a few of these tips every day to see improvements in your life.