No one likes to do it, and in many homes, the “d” word is a daunting idea that makes you perspire without exercising. We are, of course, talking about the dreaded task of decluttering your home.
Like many of us, you are most likely busy with work, home, and family life. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with life demands while trying to stay organized.
Do you still have crates and chests of things you never touch? Sentimental possessions from centuries gone by or your grandmothers’ old quilts and sweaters? Or maybe stuff in your garage that you cannot make yourself get rid of because you feel like it may serve a purpose one morning? Let’s face it, if you have not used it in the past 2–4 years, you probably will never use it again. In this blog, we will give you the best tips to bring abundance and serenity to your life by decluttering for good.
Breaking free from clutter forever
The art of decluttering your home means being brutally honest with yourself and developing an effective decluttering mindset. Relating your consumer habits to larger picture issues, including finances, savings, and purging the binge-shopping cycle, can help you eliminate your cluttered urges and start living better today.
Stop buying stuff.
Many of us have some weak points when it comes to purchasing stuff. For some, it’s dresses or purses; for others, kitchen utensils or sports memorabilia. We call it our hobby and allow ourselves to buy any amount of fishing tools, crochet needles, sports shoes, or guitars. Or buying too much technology: laptops, tablets, phones, smartwatches.
As long as it is kept under reasonable control and regularly culled, collecting things is totally fine. But there comes the point where enough is enough. Remember the saying, “you can only wear one pair of shoes at a time”? The more you think about that famous saying, the more sincere and potentially life-changing it becomes!
So, keep it simple – the space in your home is limited, and too much stuff takes up space. The solution? Stop buying so much stuff.
Decide whether to sell, give away, or throw away.
Got a pile of old possessions ready to get rid of? Now is the time to add to it – and decide whether to sell, give away or throw away.
- Give away. The wisest and easiest way to get your stuff out of your home is giving it away to charity. This way is probably the best bet if you have a hard time letting go of things. Knowing that your clutter will benefit someone else can help you part with emotional items. All you need is little courage, and your mess is gone. And in some cases, you can get a donation write off for taxes.
- Sell away. Be realistic – if you have a lot of things to get rid of, you may not have time to sell everything. You can cherry-pick your best items, then set a timeline and donate the rest to lessen your load. Explore places like Facebook marketplace, Poshmark, Mercari, LetGo or any other online resources or apps that make it easy to sell your things.
- Throw away. A new rule of thumb: each time you purchase a new item, get rid of a similar older one. For example, if you buy a broom or mop, get rid of the old one instead of throwing it in the garage. Cycling through items reduces clutter created by things you no longer use.
How can decluttering your home improve your life?
Less time to clean.
Cleaning is already enough housework, but having to tidy things you have no emotional attachment to makes cleaning the house much more stressful.
Less time to organize.
Finding misplaced things suddenly becomes simpler. Things don’t just disappear anymore. You can actually move around your home and enjoy every bit of space instead of moving around items that are blocking your way.
Less stress.
Looking around at the clutter is an anxiety-inducing sight. Wouldn’t it be nice to go home to a place you love that’s comfortable enough to rest well?
Less debt and worries.
Shopping less for material possessions and piling into the clutter means your wallet and bank account remain fuller, your credit card statements are lesser, and your home doesn’t get filled with expensive things you don’t need.
More financial freedom.
Decluttering your home can help you save money – both by selling the things you no longer need and by not purchasing more things that just add to the clutter. If you’re trying to sell your house, decluttering first can help make the sale.
The Bottom Line
No matter which decluttering methods you choose to get started, you just need to take the first step! Make your first move in decluttering your life with enthusiasm behind it, and don’t stop there!
There is a wonderful world of freedom and fresh breathing hiding behind that clutter. Deciding how to declutter your home is up to you.
If you’re selling your house and starting to declutter, we have top-notch professionals ready to support you in any way possible.
We would love to discuss with you exciting opportunities. Contact us, and we will help you determine your next steps.