If you feel the need to cut some clutter out of your life but you’re not sure exactly how to go about accomplishing it, don’t worry - there are many approaches you can take to decluttering. For a few different ways to think about reducing your household and personal belongings, check out the following five ways to cut down on clutter.
TIP #1: Change your (possibly crazy) outlook.
If you think about it, it’s slightly absurd to keep collecting things you don’t need and probably won’t use much.
Yet for many people, that’s a normal part of everyday life. Luckily, it’s not that hard to replace the desire for more stuff with the wish to live a more minimalist lifestyle. Read a bit about what it really means to be a minimalist (it’s not all about extremes or deprivation) and maybe you’ll be inspired to see extra stuff in a whole new light. You won’t fill up your house with items that eventually end up as clutter if you don’t even want those items in the first place.
TIP #2: Ban shopping, at least for a little while.
If your clutter comes primarily from your love of shopping or acquiring new things, try this experiment. Think of it as a reset: For a period of time - a month, two months, six months – commit to not spending money on anything aside from food and other necessities. Also resolve to not take home any free item that would usually cost money (e.g. if you see a free piece of furniture on the sidewalk, do not take it home.) In the meantime, try to repurpose or rediscover items you already own.
Make a list of everything you want to buy during this time. When the spending ban is over, you’ll probably find you don’t really need all that stuff at all.
TIP #3: Go slow.
If what’s preventing you from decluttering is a fear that it’s all or nothing, start slow and small. You can declutter your entire home going room to room at a pace that’s comfortable for you. You can even start with smaller sections of rooms, or with areas like your desk or one kitchen cabinet. Any decluttering you do is better than doing nothing at all, and starting somewhere, anywhere, will probably spur you to continue organizing over time.
TIP #4: Low-hanging fruit method.
If you can’t be bothered to deliberate over what should be done with every one of your belongings, start with the low-hanging fruit. Throw out things that are easy to be rid of, like these 35 items you can get rid of right now. If you’re paralyzed by making decisions about what to do with stuff you’re discarding, give yourself permission to donate items instead of taking the time to sell them, or to throw away items no one would want. You don’t have to do everything perfectly when you start decluttering, you just have to embrace the idea of letting things go.
TIP #5: Get new role models.
So much of what we read, watch, and simply absorb is all about selling us products in one way or another. Make an effort to switch up the media you consume, even just for a while. If your guilty pleasure is haul videos on YouTube, add in some videos on minimalism. If you like reality shows about real estate and decorating, watch the ones about tiny houses, not giant McMansions. If you love the beauty of fashion photography, look for stunning nature photos instead. And if you have personal goals that clutter will impede – travel, for example, or moving from the country to the city – research those in your spare time instead of scanning Pinterest for new outfits and table settings.
Would you like to receive organizing tips and decluttering information every week? Sign up for your free organizing newsletter here!
TIP #1: Change your (possibly crazy) outlook.
If you think about it, it’s slightly absurd to keep collecting things you don’t need and probably won’t use much.
Yet for many people, that’s a normal part of everyday life. Luckily, it’s not that hard to replace the desire for more stuff with the wish to live a more minimalist lifestyle. Read a bit about what it really means to be a minimalist (it’s not all about extremes or deprivation) and maybe you’ll be inspired to see extra stuff in a whole new light. You won’t fill up your house with items that eventually end up as clutter if you don’t even want those items in the first place.
TIP #2: Ban shopping, at least for a little while.
If your clutter comes primarily from your love of shopping or acquiring new things, try this experiment. Think of it as a reset: For a period of time - a month, two months, six months – commit to not spending money on anything aside from food and other necessities. Also resolve to not take home any free item that would usually cost money (e.g. if you see a free piece of furniture on the sidewalk, do not take it home.) In the meantime, try to repurpose or rediscover items you already own.
Make a list of everything you want to buy during this time. When the spending ban is over, you’ll probably find you don’t really need all that stuff at all.
TIP #3: Go slow.
If what’s preventing you from decluttering is a fear that it’s all or nothing, start slow and small. You can declutter your entire home going room to room at a pace that’s comfortable for you. You can even start with smaller sections of rooms, or with areas like your desk or one kitchen cabinet. Any decluttering you do is better than doing nothing at all, and starting somewhere, anywhere, will probably spur you to continue organizing over time.
TIP #4: Low-hanging fruit method.
If you can’t be bothered to deliberate over what should be done with every one of your belongings, start with the low-hanging fruit. Throw out things that are easy to be rid of, like these 35 items you can get rid of right now. If you’re paralyzed by making decisions about what to do with stuff you’re discarding, give yourself permission to donate items instead of taking the time to sell them, or to throw away items no one would want. You don’t have to do everything perfectly when you start decluttering, you just have to embrace the idea of letting things go.
TIP #5: Get new role models.
So much of what we read, watch, and simply absorb is all about selling us products in one way or another. Make an effort to switch up the media you consume, even just for a while. If your guilty pleasure is haul videos on YouTube, add in some videos on minimalism. If you like reality shows about real estate and decorating, watch the ones about tiny houses, not giant McMansions. If you love the beauty of fashion photography, look for stunning nature photos instead. And if you have personal goals that clutter will impede – travel, for example, or moving from the country to the city – research those in your spare time instead of scanning Pinterest for new outfits and table settings.
Would you like to receive organizing tips and decluttering information every week? Sign up for your free organizing newsletter here!