If you’re like me, summer brings out feelings of freedom and liberation – freedom to walk outside in shorts and flip
flops, and to bask in the warmth of the sun.
But did you know that your home also needs liberation – from unnecessary items such as books, clothes, toys, and even
appliances? Read on to learn how to make
your home clutter-free…
6 Quick Tips to Declutter Your Home
- Do it in small chunks. It’s human nature to procrastinate whenever we have a huge task to do that will take a
lot of time. Instead of planning an entire day to declutter, set aside 15-30 minutes to organize just one closet of your
house. Sometimes baby steps are the best steps!
- Don’t fall into “analysis-paralysis”. When going through your items, don’t take a long time to decide what to do
with each item. Make sure you have two garbage bags handy – one for items you’re going to sell (or donate), another for items
you’re just going to throw away.
- Use the “one-year” rule. Even if you’re a pack-rat, if you haven’t used something in the past year, you probably
won’t ever use it. Get rid of it, or give it to someone who can make use of it!
- Focus on items that you accumulate the most of. Things like papers, magazines, catalogues, junk mail, and bills
are prime candidates here – who has never had a stack of papers on their desk that they really wanted to get rid of?
- Focus on the energy-wasters. Do you have a toaster oven that you haven’t used in six months, but is plugged into
an electrical outlet? By selling the oven in a yard sale (or donating it to a charity), you’ll be clearing clutter from your
counter AND saving on your energy bill. It’s a win-win!
- Create a system to
stop clutter from accumulating. There’s a good reason why clutter has accumulated in your home – because you don’t have a system to deal with it!
Everyone needs a system to keep things in their place, and get rid of stuff they don’t need. If you need help developing a system of your own, consider purchasing an excellent guide such as
DeClutter Fast.
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