It’s hard not to sink into a pit of despair when staring down a mountain of clutter.
According to Chinese Feng Shui, having too many “things” in a home blocks good energy and lowers the spirit. At best, clutter is a distraction and, at worst, a health hazard. The bottom line is that clutter is bad. But homeowners don’t need an ancient Chinese belief system to tell them they have too much stuff. One look around confirms that suspicion.
However, not everything needs to find its way into a dumpster. There is a method to decluttering or downsizing effectively.
Take it slow
It’s hard not to sink into a pit of despair when staring down a mountain of clutter. But, like anything new, it’s best to take it slow. Try tackling one room or corner (depending on the amount of clutter) and go for five minutes. The key here is not to get disheartened, hence the baby steps.
Take the time to gain momentum and steadily increase the time spent on the clutter.
Make a checklist
Listmaking isn’t for everyone, but for homeowners who can’t live without them, now’s the perfect time to get organized. Start with quickly cluttered areas like the kitchen, office, entertainment room, or bathroom. Consider those little used coffee mugs in the back of the cabinet, those magazines years out of date, and old prescription bottles no longer needed.
To sell or not to sell
Many unused items can go to online marketplaces to make some extra cash. However, consider the time it’ll take to sell items and reserve commerce for items with real market value. Otherwise, donating items or repurposing them are possibilities.
When in doubt, think of the item in terms of the 20/20 minimalist rule: if an item is replaceable for less than $20 and you can get another in 20 minutes or less, you don’t need it.
See your space through relocation eyes
For homeowners still hesitant to part with hard-earned collections, try getting into a moving mindset. Most households don’t take everything they own to a new location. Look around the space and narrow down what would go to the new home and what would be left behind. Items that don’t make the “come with” category can go to a donation bin, regifted, or sold.
Remember, it costs more to keep more
Keeping clutter around costs valuable time, time cleaning around the objects, space in the home, and energy remembering its location. Contrary to popular belief, keeping more around the home costs more.
Practice the 90/90 rule
Minimalists like to say that if a person uses something in the past 90 days, odds are they’ll do it again in the next 90-day cycle. Homeowners can use this rule, or something similar, to get an idea of what’s necessary and what can go to a donation bin.
Get help decluttering
The journey to declutter a home is a long and often emotional one. But homeowners don’t need to go it alone. Enlisting friends and family can help ease the discomfort of letting go and donating when the time comes. Depending on the amount of clutter in a home, a family sedan might not be enough to get old clutter to a donation center and back. Call a professional mover to help with the load at such times.
