Many of us get overwhelmed or stressed out living in a messy or cluttered place. It triggers a feeling of uneasiness and sometimes puts unknown pressure on us. Decluttering or removing unnecessary stuff from the surroundings can be a healthy, smart move if you feel uncomfortable in loaded spaces. Many studies have shown that people feel much lighter in tidy, organized surroundings than in cramped ones. A clean environment not only calms the mind but also has many other health benefits, such as decreasing the chances of pests or mold formation.
However, decluttering could be a bit challenging as you have to decide what to keep and discard and, most importantly, where to store the stuff you do not need right away. The following tips can help you to declutter your place in an easy and controlled manner.
1. Get Rid Of Unnecessary Things
Organizing your home gives you a chance to enjoy a change of mood, and putting away unnecessary stuff is the best way to do so. But decluttering doesn’t mean you have to throw away everything you are not using at the time.
The best way to get rid of things you don’t use is to store them. You don’t have to fill your garage with everything either; all you need is to find a storage unit where you can keep your things safe. There are plenty of storage units near us for this very reason. So, for example, if you live in Houston, just search “storage Houston” online, and you can find a storage unit near you. Use such storage units for safekeeping your things and get them out whenever you like.
2. Check Your Things & Make A List
Mapping or jotting down helps to keep every plan focused and organized. Decluttering could become an out-of-hand mess if you do not plan it, as there is so much organization and handling to do throughout the process. That’s why the best way to start the whole process of clearing out is to check your stuff before you start moving anything. Make a list of everything, such as things you use or need all the time and cannot simply live without, stuff that you use from time to time, items that you can live without for some time, and things you need to discard. Make a category for stuff you don’t know what to do and decide in the end. Use post it to mark your items according to the assigned type. Following a step-by-step method to declutter is always preferable to just diving straight into it.
3. Try To Donate
Saying goodbye to things you have been using over the years can be touchy as you may develop a strong emotional connection to them. However, the hesitation to get rid of certain things can negatively impact the whole process as you would just store all the unnecessary stuff elsewhere. In such a case, donating stuff; you consider valuable but don’t necessarily rely on can help you. Studies have shown that giving donations give you a sense of generosity that positively impact your physical and mental health. So, donating stuff like clothing, shoes, utensils, books, blankets, etc., can help you declutter effectively and also help others out.
4. Do Not Overdo It
The feeling of clearing things out can give a sense of pleasure once you begin doing it but do not get carried away. Manage your items and time accordingly. Make decluttering a part of your daily routine, assign a limited time, and try not to do it in a day or two. Tidying up and organizing things can get overwhelming at times. That’s why you should not rush and try to take one step at a time. You also have to be careful when it comes to putting away things. Keep calm and be rational while decluttering to avoid discarding useful and necessary stuff. Donate, recycle and discard only those items you do not need. There’s no benefit in throwing things away for the sake of organization if you have to buy it again.
5. Be Extra Alter In Kitchen & Storeroom
Decluttering the kitchen or storeroom can be scary as these places turn out to be the den of forgotten things. Start with one drawer or box at a time and then move along. Try not to scatter everything at once as it could get tiring and time-consuming to arrange and put things back. Always keep extra cluttering baskets nearby and separate the useful from not-so-useful items and keep narrowing things down until you have a pile of things that you are sure are unnecessary. Designate an area in your house for the whole tidying-up process and keep the extras piled there. Make sure to go through the discarded items one last time before actually throwing or donating them.
6. Set Up A Mood For Decluttering
It is normal to get frustrated when you are deep into decluttering your house, as the whole process of tidying up is ironically a messy one. To avoid getting irritated or overwhelmed, try to set a mood for decluttering. Call a friend for help because having reliable company around can make things easier. Make a playlist especially for decluttering and get a snack from time to time during the clearing-out process. Relax a bit, even if you have ended up with things all over the place. Importantly, don’t try to clean out so much that the space stops seeming like yours.
Conclusion
Sometimes we need a sense of clarity to keep going on, and changing and clearing out surroundings is a way to go for such a purpose. Decluttering or removing excessive and unnecessary things from your house can help you put together your life and organize it the way you want. However, decluttering is easier said than done. Once you start the process, there are many challenges that you may have to face, such as time management, deciding what to do with discarded things and where to store the valuables that you do need right away. Nevertheless, the above-described tips can be useful in helping you out throughout the process of tidying up.
