Decluttering can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re naturally disorganized or feel like no one ever taught you how. But don’t worry! Breaking it down into some small, easy steps can make the process much more doable. We like to joke “How do you eat an elephant?” One bite at a time! Here’s some easy steps for decluttering that we recommend:
Start small
- Choose one area: Begin with a small area like one kitchen drawer, a single side table, or a corner of the garage. Focusing on a small space makes the task less mind-boggling and helps you prove to yourself that you can do it!
- Finish one area before moving to the next: If you get distracted with what you’re doing, and wander around doing a little bit of everything, it may be hard to feel like you accomplished anything! Focus on one thing at a time!
- Set a timer: Plan on a specific amount of time to declutter each day, even if it’s just 15 or 30 minutes. This keeps the job doable (and less painful)!
Sort like items together
- Gather: If you’re focusing on one small space like a drawer, collect all the pens that are also on the counter. If you’re tackling a larger project, collect all similar items from around your home. We call this the “scavenger hunt.” For example, find all papers or all shoes and put them together.
- Categorize: Create categories for your items and subcategories if that helps you. (Writing utensils could be further sorted into pens, pencils, and markers.) This will help you see exactly how much of each type of item you have, make easier decisions about what to keep, and allow you to see what type of storage containers, if any, are needed.
- Tackle one category at a time: Rather than trying to declutter an entire room, focus on one category of items at a time within that space. For example, as you are ready to make decisions, start with clothes, then move on to shoes, then purses, etc.
Make decisions on each item
- Ask key questions: For each item, ask yourself, “Do I use this often?,” “Does this item make me happy?” and “Is this item worth the space it takes up?” If the answer is no to any of these questions, consider letting it go.
- Start with two piles: What do you want to keep and what can you let go that is no longer useful for you? Once you’re on a roll, you can further sort your “go” items into donate, trash/recycle, gift, sell, etc.
Decluttering might seem like an overwhelming task, especially if it doesn’t come naturally to you. But it’s also a skill we believe everyone can learn and improve on, no matter the starting point. Remember, every small step you take is a step toward a more organized, stress-free space. Keep going—you’ve got this! (But it’s OK to ask for help if you need it!)
Work hard and be kind, clutter-tackling team!
Love,
Your friends at Cut the Clutter RVA