Clutter has a tendency to spiral out of control. If you work a busy schedule or spend a lot of time out of the house, it’s easy to let items build up. These end up filling whole rooms, blocking hallways and making your home a less pleasant place to be. Decluttering isn’t easy, but with a few straightforward steps, you can make the process a little more painless.
#1 Dedicate 10 minutes per day
Most people put the decluttering process off because it feels like a big, time-consuming job. Rather than tackling the whole house at once, pick a small area and dedicate just 10 minutes to removing clutter. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference this makes. The following day, dedicate another 10 minutes and then keep going. Before you know it, the house will be clear.
#2 Think about utility
Sentimentality is one of the main reasons that houses become cluttered. As you work your way through items, ask yourself when you used them last. If you haven’t touched or even looked at an item for several months, then the chances are that you don’t need it anymore. Be ruthless and don’t let emotion get in the way of a good clear out.
#3 Hold a yard sale
If you have a lot of clutter, a yard sale can be a great way to clear the house and recoup some money. Yard sales are easy to hold. Simply set up some tables outside and sell the things that you don’t need anymore. You can use social media to advertise the sale in your local area, bringing in more customers. Be reasonable about pricing, though, and remember that even once-expensive items are now second-hand.
#4 Consider external storage
There will, of course, be some things that you can’t throw away but that take up too much space in your home. That’s where external storage comes in. Self-storage lockers like those offered by https://thestoragelocker.com/ are a brilliant way to store items that you don’t need to keep in your house but are too important to throw away. Storage lockers offer round-the-clock access, layers of security and a clean environment to keep your valuables.
#5 Get help
Decluttering is hard work alone, and not just because there are a lot of items to shift. Sentimentality plays a big role and can lead you to hoard things that you no longer need. Bringing in a fresh pair of unbiased eyes will help. A third party will look at your items and offer you advice on what you truly need to keep, making the process much easier.
#6 Use a “maybe” box
As you sort through your possessions there will be moments of indecision. You might find yourself torn over whether to keep an item. Rather than simply holding onto it, put it in a “maybe” box and promise to check in again after three months. If you haven’t thought about or missed the item in that time, then the chances are that it doesn’t play a big part in your life and can be thrown out.
