'Starting small like this will build your confidence in tackling bigger tasks, such as clearing out the attic or garage, for example, making for a more efficient – and enjoyable – experience overall’, she says. It will only take you 10 minutes or so, but you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment. ‘Start by setting yourself small challenges that can be crossed off quickly, such as reorganizing your spice rack, organizing a desk or organizing a drawer. It may feel like a good idea to tackle your biggest decluttering challenges head-on, but according to Catharina Björkman, Scandi lifestyle expert at Contura, starting with the easier tasks is a much better way to build momentum. Starting with the hardest decluttering tasks ‘Some folks find it easier to use a timer – give yourself 20 minutes a day to tackle decluttering, so you make progress across short sharp bursts’, says August Gawen, founder of Minimalist Living. To make it feel more manageable, break it down into rooms, then into areas of that particular room – a bedroom closet, or kitchen drawers, for example.
Trying to take it all on in one go would be extremely overwhelming, and you’d likely find yourself giving up before you’d even begun. Tackling too much at onceĭecluttering an entire house is a massive undertaking, particularly if it's not something you’ve tackled in a while. Unused items can sometimes be donated to shelters or local charities (as long as they’re sealed), while there’s plenty of good causes that can make use of old items, so be sure to research options in your local area. As well as food, items such as skincare products, makeup, medicines, paint and cleaning products all have these. Take the time to assess whether they can be recycled or reused by somebody else, first. If you know you’re going to be throwing away a ton of items, it’s worth hiring a waste removal company in advance, but don’t make the common decluttering mistake of consigning everything you don’t want to the garbage. Throwing away items that can be reused or recycled If you’re unsure of something, you can always set it aside for a while to ensure it won’t be missed. While it can be frustrating, try not to push them too hard – it can be emotional for adults, let alone little ones! Try to work in small bursts to stop them from becoming too overwhelmed.Īn exception to this rule is children under the age of three – while they may think they know best, you know what they truly love to play with. If they’re struggling to let go, suggest they take pictures of the things they’re not keeping, and emphasize the importance of donating and sharing. Let them know that those items aren’t going into the garbage – that’s a recipe for a meltdown – instead, they’re being donated to others who will love and play with them’, she says. ‘Children need to have a say in what toys or books they no longer want.
#DECLUTTERING ADVICE PROFESSIONAL#
Professional organizer Brenda Scott of Tidy My Space emphasizes the importance of involving them in the process.
#DECLUTTERING ADVICE FULL#
Decluttering for children without involving themĭecluttering for others full stop is a big no-no, but children in particular can find it very stressful if their things are taken away without their knowledge. If you start one of these every time you declutter, you’ll often find it’s the biggest of the lot and you’re no better off than when you started! 4. It may be tempting, but try not to create a ‘maybe’ pile. That should help you to be selective about what you really want to hold on to.
Try to limit yourself to just one storage box per room for those items you can’t bear to part with. ‘Keep in mind that your home is not a museum and memories are not in physical objects, so you should be able to remove them from your home without feeling guilty’, say the decluttering experts at The Classy Home. Decluttering doesn’t mean you have to get rid of absolutely everything, but you do need to be a little strict with yourself, and keeping more than you can house is one of the top decluttering mistakes you can make.
Whether it’s an heirloom coat or a cherished childhood toy, we’ve all got items that we no longer use but couldn’t bear to part with, and that’s okay.
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