Reducing clutter in your house is a great way to start off the year. It might seem daunting, but the impact on your mental and physical health are well worth it. So set aside some time and start clearing out your home. Easy, right?
Not for everyone. Removing stuff from our lives isn’t always as clear cut as the gurus make it out to be. Here are some tips that will make it easier to say goodbye to clutter.
IMAGINE OPEN SPACE
Instead of focusing on the negative (getting rid of), think about the positive aspects. Your house automatically gets bigger by the square footage occupied by all that extra stuff. Whether it’s as big as a piece of furniture or as small as a stack of papers, the space will open up as soon as extra items are out the door.
TAKE NOTE OF WHAT YOU USE
It’s no use throwing out stuff you know you’ll need or are currently using, unless you plan to use another tool for the same task. At the same time, it’s easy to hold on to things for “possible future use” or “just in case”. Before you start decluttering, make notes of what your family frequently uses.
LET GO OF GUILT
Guilt may be one of the things holding you back from getting rid of loose items in your home. Even as you try to clear your home, you may feel guilty about holding on to items, as much as you feel guilty about getting rid of anything. If you are clear on what you need and want, release the guilt holding you back.
SOMEONE ELSE CAN USE IT
Instead of thinking of it as getting rid of your stuff, consider the fact that someone else will actually make use of items that have been sitting in the bottom of your drawer. If it helps, think of it as a gift of your generosity. Instead of holding on to three coats, give one to someone who would otherwise struggle during winter.
LET GO OF THE PAST
Mementos are sometimes the hardest things to remove from our lives. Touching them seems to bring back the warm fuzzies of that time when we were young, the kids were little or life seemed easier. Instead of keeping baby toys belonging to your eighteen year old, consider taking a photo or commissioning a small painting for really special items.
Once you get into the right mindset, removing clutter from your home will become easier and you’ll enjoy your home even more.
