My posts are filled with recommendations of areas and items to declutter. I often recommend decluttering an area before cleaning or organizing it. But how do you actually declutter? Often, we are taught to make purchases, clean, and organize. Yet, no one tells us how to get rid of items in our home that no longer serve us. Decluttering can be difficult at first, but the benefits are completely awe-inspiring! The concept of decluttering has changed my entire life. It's about so much more than "stuff". It's the process of finding peace in your surroundings and getting your time back. Since decluttering is such an important part of simple living, today I'm sharing concrete steps for you to follow if you need help starting or continuing on your decluttering journey.
1) ALWAYS HAVE A "DONATABLE" DONATION BOX READY
If you're ready to get items out of your home, but you find them constantly floating from one flat surface to the next, you need to find a place to keep a donation box. Whether it's in your closet, garage, or the trunk of your car, you should always have a box ready to fill with items that are no longer serving you. After all, decluttering is a lifelong journey. Items continually come into your home, so items need to continually go out as well. I also find it best to use a box that you don't mind getting rid of, such as a cardboard box or an old storage container you no longer need. When dropping off donations, you don't have to worry about getting the box back since it isn't important for you to keep it.
2) BE HONEST ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU USE SOMETHING
If your closet is full of clothes that haven't fit you for the past few years, it's time to let them go. That doesn't mean you won't ever fit into them again. However, you deserve new items if you work hard to lose weight. So, let them go and buy a few pieces that fit you well for the current season of your life. If you're keeping an item simply because you paid money for it, keeping the item isn't going to bring your money back. It's best to donate the item and allow someone else to actually use and enjoy it.
3) CREATE A HOME FOR EVERYTHING, AND ONLY KEEP WHAT FITS THERE
Everything you own should have a home where it lives. If items are spilling out of drawers and cabinets, chances are you have too many possessions for your physical space. Decide where your items will live, and make sure they fit. If you have two shelves for bath towels, only keep what fits comfortably on those two shelves. If you have a shoe rack that holds ten pairs of shoes, keep your ten favorite pairs and let the rest go. Often, the items inside our drawers and closets aren't actually used that much. The things left on the counters and tables are the items we actually use and need to find a home for.
4) FOLLOW THE ONE-IN, ONE-OUT RULE
When you start to get your home simplified, follow the one-in, one-out rule. When you purchase a new blouse, remove an old one. When you get a new piece of decor for your birthday, remove an old one. If you want to keep your home from getting cluttered again, you must remove old items as new items come into your home.
Now that you know more about how to declutter, click the link below to grab all of my decluttering checklists.
Free Decluttering Checklists: https://www.sierrassimplehome.com/declutter
Leave a comment below, and let me know what area you're going to declutter first. Thanks so much for reading!
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