How to Declutter

No matter the size and depth of the clutter or hoard, the same steps and same approaches can work for all levels!

The Basics
Start small. Pick a small area (the top of a table, top of a bookcase or a small space on the floor) and just get started.

Sort things into things you can trash, things you can recycle or donate, things you want to sell and things you want to keep.

For the things you are keeping, put them away where they belong (kitchen items to the kitchen, bathroom items to the bathroom, bedroom items to the bedroom, etc.).

Celebrate your successes - no matter how small! Find a support group or share with a loved one or "clutter buddy".

Do a little every day. Set a timer for 15 minutes and get started. You can do anything for 15 minutes. Before long, you will be able to see the difference.

You can do more, if you feel inspired, but don’t overdo – and definitely take breaks when you are tired. If you burn yourself out, you won’t want to come back to the decluttering. And remember that the clutter didn't appear overnight, and you probably won't be able to make it disappear overnight! Pace yourself!

Be sure to take before pics! You don't have to share them with anyone else, but you will be so glad you have them. They will help you see your progress.


 * Here’s more detail on the approach explained above: https://web.archive.org/web/20180402080418/https://organizedhome.com/cut-clutter/declutter-101-where-do-I-start

There are lots of different approaches and lots of blogs on this subject. Find the approach and blog that inspires you and get busy! Here are some to get you started:
 * http://zenhabits.net/15-great-decluttering-tips/
 * http://weorganizeu.com/coming-clutterfree-home/
 * http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/flying-lessons/
 * http://orgjunkie.com/2012/12/when-you-dont-know-where-to-start.html
 * More at: http://bemorewithless.com/declutteryourhome/

 For ALL of the details, you can go straight to this link:  The Ridiculously Thorough Guide to Decluttering Your Home

Strategies / Techniques / Approaches
There are different strategies or techniques that can work in approaching and addressing our clutter. One of the tried and true ways is the one that's described in "The Basics", above.

Other strategies include:
 * Forcing Decisions: The Four-Box Method
 * Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Box and Banish
 * Ellen's Penicillin Method
 * Closet-Go-Round: Whole House Declutter

These four strategies are explained in this blog post: https://web.archive.org/web/20190319132709/https://organizedhome.com/cut-clutter/declutter-101-strategies-cut-clutter

Other popular strategies or approaches for your consideration are explained in these blogs:
 * http://messies.com/site/how-to-begin/mount-vernon-method/
 * http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/flying-lessons/
 * https://www.elle.com.au/news/10-ways-marie-kondo-can-bring-more-joy-into-your-life-5965
 * https://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/how-to-declutter.html
 * https://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/clearing-clutter.html

Baby Steps, Timers and Other Nuggets of Wisdom
Baby Steps are something that many clutter gurus talk about. What it means is basically not trying to do too much at once - and burning yourself out. Your home did not get cluttered in one day, and it will not likely get uncluttered in a day, either.

Flylady (one of those gurus I mentioned) says that the ground rules for Baby Steps are:
 * Establish small routines first and then work up to more items. FlyLady’s routines are just an example to help you to develop your own.
 * Consistency is the key to all of this. . . . BabySteps are the key.
 * Take your time and enjoy the process. Don’t feel pressured to do it all at once.

Timers are a way to not burn yourself out, and there are lots of ways to use the timer. A timer can be very helpful for people with ADD/ADHD tendencies or hyper-focus tendencies. They can keep us on task. The most important part of using a timer is to use it consistently. Create a plan that you will do every day of the week or five days a week or three days a week - whatever works for you.Some of the options are: 1. Decide on the task to be done. 2. Set the pomodoro timer (traditionally to 25 minutes). 3. Work on the task. 4. End work when the timer rings and put a checkmark on a piece of paper.[5] 4. If you have fewer than four checkmarks, take a short break (3–5 minutes), then go to step 2. 6. After four pomodoros, take a longer break (15–30 minutes), reset your checkmark count to zero, then go to step 1.
 * Declutter for 15 minutes (set on your timer) - and then set your timer for a 15 minute rest period. (Taking breaks is important.) 15 minutes a day will make a difference. Really. If you feel like doing a bit more, set the timer for another 15 minutes and 15 minutes.
 * Decide how long you can actually work on the project during one session. For every hour you will spend on the session, set the timer for 45 minutes. Spend the 45 minutes doing the actual decluttering. Then reset the timer for 15 minutes, and use that time to do clean-up to get things in some semblance of order - either so that it will be in good shape for the next session - or if you completed the project, you will still need that clean-up time.
 * The Pomodoro Technique has six steps:
 * Certain Productivity Studies have shown that the optimal work/relaxation ratio is 52 minutes of work and 17 minutes of rest. Lifehacker has a post about it here: https://lifehacker.com/52-minute-work-17-minute-break-is-the-ideal-productivi-1616541102

Hot Spots are those places in the home or office that seem to attract clutter. It might be the dining table or a chair or a cabinet in the kitchen. But no matter how many times you clean that place, it seems to be magically cluttered again the next time you look. What can be done about these?
 * Determine that you are going to declutter a hot spot for 10 minutes each day. If you have multiple, you can rotate through them.
 * Find a way to "manage" the hot spot. Can you add a basket to contain the clutter? Think about the kinds of things that accumulate and try to devise some kind of "system" you can put in place to control the clutter. If you need to find homes for some of the items, now might be the time.
 * Be aware of when you add to the hot spot - and don't put it down. Put it away.

Do The Easy Stuff First. Save the hard stuff for later, after you have built up some momentum. Be sure to celebrate every success, no matter how small!

Links

 * The Ridiculously Thorough Guide to Decluttering Your Home
 * 15 Great Decluttering Tips
 * What’s Coming Between You and a Clutter-Free Home?
 * FlyLady Flying Lessons
 * Getting Started When You Don't Know Where To Start
 * Declutter Your Home
 * The Mount Vernon Method for Cleaning and Decluttering
 * 10 Ways Marie Kondo Can Bring More Joy Into Your Life
 * How To Declutter
 * Clearing Clutter
 * Flylady - 31 Beginner Baby Steps
 * Life Hacker 52/17 Productivity Method

Return to category:Hoarding and Decluttering