Decluttering is something we could all stand to do a little more often - but there’s plenty of ways to do it wrong, or even overdo it, too.
Sometimes people get too excited and just start pitching away everything, some people don’t make a schedule and wind up tackling more projects than they can handle...whatever the case, there’s a lot of ways to make decluttering a bigger hassle than it needs to be.
If you’re thinking about decluttering and want to know what to do to make the whole thing easier on yourself, or if you’ve already hit some roadblocks with your home organization and need to know what you can do better, here’s five things to not do the next time you get bit by the decluttering bug:
Declutter first, THEN buy storage: We know the temptation to bring in a million different storage bins and new shelves when decluttering is strong, and while it’s never a bad idea to bring in some backup it’s also very, very easy to go a little...overboard with the whole thing. Make sure you throw out everything you want to get rid of before you start bringing in the new organization gear to prevent making a bigger mess than you need to.
Don’t work without a plan: As anyone who has needed to do chores around the house has learned, it’s a lot to tackle all at once. When the time comes to get down to decluttering, make a few checklists in preparation so you know what to do in what order. Schedule time, label all your boxes, and really clearly define what you want to accomplish so you know what to do and when to do it. You’ll feel a lot less overwhelmed this way.
Don’t do it all on your own: Let’s face it, there’s no way that every single thing in the house is yours, and if the mess belongs to someone else it’s only fair (and easier) to bring them in to help. Work with your kids to help get rid of outgrown clothes and toys they no longer want, talk to your spouse or partner to see what they want to get rid of, and just make it a team effort. It’ll go much faster that way.
Don’t let yourself half-finish it: A lot of times, during decluttering, we’ll find ourselves taking little shortcuts or putting things away to “sort out” later - there’s a box of stuff you’re totally gonna sell one day, there’s some stuff you don’t know if you want to keep...and it can pile up. Whatever you want to do with it, do it right then without leaving anything unfinished. Take all your bags out to the curb, get everything you want to sell listed on Craigslist or eBay as soon as you can, and everything that needs to be donated needs to go right into your car to get driven to Goodwill asap. This will help you feel more productive and more accomplished, which in turn will get you in the mood to get more done!
Don’t aim too high: It sounds counter-intuitive, but hear us out. A lot of people think when they declutter that their house has to look like a model home in a catalog or on one of those Instagram feeds where it looks like someone spends their entire life organizing their closet. You’re not getting ready for HGTV to come through and film your house, you’re just trying to get rid of some clothes and bric-a-brac you don’t need and free up some room. Just so long as your spaces are clean enough to live in and have enough room for the stuff you’re keeping, you’ve done a great job.
Follow these tips and try not to get too stressed out, and you might be surprised at just how well everything goes.