I hate clutter! When I see a space that’s full of stuff, it distracts me! Clutter makes me anxious. Clutter does not a calm me. When things are a mess and I organize and reorganize the area, and there is too much stuff to create a calm atmosphere, I know it’s time to reduce the clutter. My plan?  I follow these easy ways to reduce clutter: prepare mentally, start slowly, and follow the decluttering steps.

Prepare Mentally to De-clutter

Decluttering creates calm by reducing stress and benefit your mental health by making you feel calmer, more in control, and happier. Orderly spaces link with healthy choices, better relationships, increased self-esteem, improved lifestyle and well-being, higher productivity, better focus, and lowered risk of allergies and asthma. The key to de-cluttering is to keep in mind these benefits as you go through the process. 

Things that make de-cluttering hard:

• Trying to be perfect in the process
• Struggling with time management
• Getting sidetracked
• Procrastination
• “People persons” are people who spend a lot of time doing things with and/or for others. They may need to have a buddy to help them or hold them accountable. 
• Older adults may have unneeded items and need help with the physical effort of removing excess items.
• Hoarding disorder

You can take the time to start the process and daily make progress, even if you must set a 10–15-minute timer to motivate you. 

Start Slowly

Start slowly by tackling one area. I recently did this in my office. The top drawer of my file cart had gotten overwhelmingly full of stuff. I decided to get my mind back and by reducing the clutter in the drawer so there would be a place for everything. It worked! I feel much better when I open the drawer now! I can easily find what I need.

Focus on one room at a time. Start by creating one clutter-free room where all the items are the ones you use and love. 

Choose another room to tackle and, before you knot it, your whole house will be clutter-free and an enjoyable place to live.

De-Cluttering Steps

Step 1. Build in deadlines for decluttering. For example, if you invite someone over for dessert after church, it could motivate you to have the kitchen or living room decluttered. 

Step 2. Have three boxes or bags: trash, donate; and “belongs elsewhere.” Look at each item in the area and put them in one of the boxes. If they don’t go there, put “keepers” in a “zone” in the room where you are working. More on zones in Blog 91 “Making Your Kitchen Work for You,” Blog 85 “Living Room for Relaxation,” and Blog 79 “Organize Children’s Bedrooms.”

Step 3. If you don’t know if you are ready to part with an item, try storing it in a box in the garage. If you haven’t gone looking for it in a month or two, go ahead and give it away to someone who can use it.

Action Step

Plan now to win the war against clutter. Your mental, emotional, and physical wellness will thank you!

May God bless you on your wellness journey!

Joni

P.S. What helps you de-clutter?