Living in a cluttered and disorganized home can be extremely overwhelming and can prevent you from achieving optimal productivity. It can also lead to feelings of unease and make it more difficult to stay focused on what’s important. To begin your decluttering journey, it’s important to start with a plan – and that plan could include the following steps.
When decluttering, it’s important to think practically - what items do you use regularly, and what do you no longer need? If you haven’t used an item within the last year, it may be time to get rid of it. Dedicate some time each week to clearing out items that are no longer serving you, or are just taking up space.
Organization is key when it comes to clutter-free living. You may find it helpful to organize items into categories and give each category a designated area. This way you can quickly pick up after yourself and put things away in the appropriate spaces. For instance, all clothes should be in your bedroom closet, magazines in a bookshelf, and cleaning supplies can be stored in the laundry area.
Sometimes you may need to make room for additional storage. This could include bringing in additional shelves, cupboards, boxes or bags. Making use of underutilized spaces within your home can also help provide additional storage. This could include using the back of your bedroom door for a shoe rack or the space between your washer and dryer for supplies.
It’s important to keep your home in a clutter-free state by regularly sorting through items that accumulate. Take the time to tackle one room at a time, and use the process of elimination to keep your home from becoming cluttered again. You should also make use of organizational strategies. For instance, use box labels to identify items that you need to keep.
You may find that some of the items that you no longer need or use can be of benefit to others who need them. To make sure that these items go to those who need it most, set up a donation system. You can donate items such as furniture, clothes, toys, and books to your local charity shop or to someone who’s in need.
