How do you find time to declutter? Decluttering doesn’t have to be an all day chore, short decluttering sessions really add up. Organizing guru FlyLady recommends spending 15 minutes a day decluttering. You don’t need to do the 15 minutes all at once, and over a month, that 15 minutes equals 7 hours spent simplifying your space and your life. The clutter will be gone, never to bother you again.
Three quick ways to work decluttering (and organizing) into your life.
- Choose a number of items to remove from your home / office: FlyLady has subscribers get rid of 27 items at a time. If you have boxes (from a move or in storage) go through one box a day.
- Choose a room. Spend 5 minutes (or even less) in one room. You could declutter your bathroom sink for a few minutes when you brush your teeth.
- Choose a problem. Clothes, toys, books and paper are common clutter in our home. For example: do the kids have to many toys? Toys they don’t like or play with? Instead of just picking up toys, take a few minutes and fill a box with toys to donate to others.
Gather supplies: a basket, a box and a bag.
It will be best to have at least 3 containers for sorting clutter, trash and keepers that need put away.
- A laundry basket / tub or a box for items to put away later. Personally, if my basket fills up, I will put the items away rather than let the basket overfill (which usually means I procrastinate and don’t put the items away).
- A large box for items you don’t need, but are good enough to give away.
- A trash bag.
- Optional: Another box for items to sell. Remember that selling takes time, make sure the hassle and time spent selling is worth the amount you will make. Unless it is a high dollar item, I recommend donations.
- Optional: An additional bag for recycling.
How to identifying if an item is clutter.
As you sort through your stuff, some items will probably fall into a gray area: is it clutter or is it important to you life? If you aren’t sure ask these questions:
- Does it work? If it doesn’t work, get rid of it or send it out to be fixed. If you “can fix it yourself” be very honest - will you? If its been sitting, broken for over a month, realize you probably don’t have the time, money or desire to fix it.
- Does it fit? If it doesn’t fit your body or your life right now, give it away (or sell it) to someone whom it does fit.
- Do you use it?
- Does it make you money?
- Do you have to many of this item? Do you need 15 sweaters? Do your kids have more toys than they can play with?
- Do you love it? Does it bring enjoyment? Somethings, like knick knacks, may fail the above questions. Only you can decide if these items are keepers or clutter.
If you really can’t decide, put the questionable items in a box and date it. After a year, take anything still in the box to charity.
The more items and less space you have, the more careful you need to be about what to keep. If you have a small office or home, it is even more important to choose to keep ONLY what you love.
In the next article, I will list several great things you can do with your clutter.
