Organize your world: 9 decluttering tips!

Organize your world: 9 decluttering tips

What is decluttering? According to the Cambridge English Dictionary: “To remove things you do not need from a place, in order to make it more pleasant and more useful.”

How do you begin decluttering?

1. Eliminate misplaced items. Items that belong in your kitchen or garage definitely don’t belong in your office! Place them in a bin or box just outside the space you were working in and put them in their appropriate homes later.

2. Pick out the trash. Don’t go through piles of paperwork, but do put those in a stack for later. Pick out things you don’t need and are clearly supposed to be in the garage.

3. Move clockwise. Declutter your space in a clockwise direction. This helps you see the progress you’ve made as you go.

4. Allow yourself to donate & discard. Work through the space item by item & acknowledge what you do and don’t love. Keep things you truly love and don’t keep things out of guilt. Whatever Cynthia gave you for Easter 15 years ago is probably inconsequential at this point and you already thanked her for it! It’s really OK to let it go to the donation box.

5. Create categories. Group items together into categories and put them out of sight if possible. Place writing implements together in an office drawer. File your bills and important papers in a filing cabinet with labels. You get the idea :-)

Once you have initially decluttered, be aware that it’s a continuous process. You have to work to maintain the necessary items. In our society of instant gratification, we are constantly bombarded by social media and advertisements to buy new things.

6. The one-in=one-out rule. To help curb the accumulation of items, I highly recommend the one in/ one out rule. If you buy a new T-shirt, you have to get rid of one old T-shirt. I apply the same rule for every space in my home.

7. A quick tidy session. Another expert tip is to regain order in your space and tidy up for 5 to 10 minutes. Pick up things and put them away where they really belong.

8. Keep flat surfaces clear. The kitchen table is not the dumping ground for the mail. Make sure when you bring in the mail you immediately put everything that isn’t important into recycling and then put the bills into the office.

9. Put things away quickly after you use them. When you come home with the groceries you don’t leave them on the counter. (I’m guessing here) you put them away. Make a habit of putting belongings away with regularly used items.

Regular decluttering can help your home feel more organized and welcoming. I hope these tips are helpful to you!