5 Decluttering Mistakes to Avoid

Conquering the clutter in your home always starts with the best intentions, but if you don’t begin with the right strategy and tactics, you can easily get overwhelmed. Prevent these common mistakes with these smart tips!

Start Small

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed and feel the urge to give up if you tackle too much at one time. So just start small. Pick one area in one room, and begin by clearing that one spot: a desktop, a drawer, a closet, etc.

Make the Time

It’s important to set aside time on your calendar to tackle your decluttering project. Depending on the size of the task, you ideally should block out 2-4 hours for decluttering. Stay focused on the task at hand, and minimize distractions like TV. Be realistic with how much time it will take to complete the task. Don’t start, then realize you have another commitment, and then leave everything in a pile.

Don’t Dive in Without a Plan

Starting without crafting a decluttering plan endangers you to simply shift your clutter from one area to another. Get three boxes and label them: Keep, Donate, and Trash. Sort through everything and determine which box it goes in. Only keep what you really use or need, and toss the rest in the “donate” or “trash” boxes. Once you finish, immediately remove the “donate” and “trash” containers from your home to prevent the urge to retrieve anything.

Hold Off on Buying Storage Supplies

Many people fall in love with the idea of buying colorful containers and trendy storage supplies before decluttering and purging. However, this could result into poor efficiency, wasted time, and frivolous spending. Two items you should invest in, however, are labels and markers. Labeling boxes and containers will help you remember where you re-homed your items.

Let Go of Emotion

If you can live without it, then it is best to let those items go.

Here are a few questions to ponder while sorting through everything:

• Do I love it?
• What’s the special story behind it?
• Do I have the space for it?
• Am I using it?

Of course, it is never easy to part with things, but allowing yourself to get rid of the clutter will make both your home and life so much more productive and manageable.