Usually, you can just dump the whole box, because you never needed that stuff. Then pull it out, six months later, and see if it’s anything you really needed. Put a note on your calendar six months from now to look in the box. Then store the box somewhere hidden, out of the way. You can’t bear to get rid of that stuff! So create a “maybe” box, and put this stuff there.
But then there’s the stuff you don’t use, but think you might want it or need it someday. Sometimes when you’re going through a pile of stuff, you know exactly what to keep (the stuff you love and use) and what to trash or donate. What are the most essential pieces of furniture? What doesn’t belong in the room but has just gravitated there? What is on the floor (hint: only furniture and rugs belong there) and what is on the other flat surfaces? Once I’ve visualized how the room will look uncluttered, and figured out what is essential, I get rid of the rest. When I’m decluttering, I like to take a moment to take a look at a room, and think about how I want it to look. Spend a few minutes visualizing the room.Do this for everything in your home, a few things at a time. Take a minute to think it through - where would be a good spot? Then always put those things in those spots when you’re done using them. If you don’t know exactly where things belong, you have to designate a good spot. These should be things that you actually use, but that you just seem to put anywhere, because they don’t have good places. Pick up 5 things, and find places for them.You might not get the entire house decluttered during the weekend, but you’ll probably make great progress. Get boxes and trash bags ready, and plan a trip to a charity to drop off donated items. But if you take the time to schedule it for later this month, you can clear your schedule, and if you have a family, get them involved too. Maybe you don’t feel like doing a huge decluttering session right now. Clear all non-essential things and leave it looking neat and clutter-free. Don’t tackle the whole bookshelf - just one shelf. Could be a shelf in a closet, or on a bookshelf.
Now that you’ve done a counter, try a shelf. Have a blender you haven’t used since jazzercise was all the rage? Put it in the cupboard! Clear off all papers and all the other junk you’ve been tossing on the counter too. Clear off everything possible, except maybe one or two essential things. Maybe they have a toaster on them, maybe a decorative candle, but not a lot of clutter. You want to get your house so that all flat spaces are clear of clutter. Some people don’t appreciate simplicity, I guess.
Once you have that clutter-free zone, keep it that way! Now, each day, slowly expand your no-clutter zone until it envelopes the whole house! Unfortunately, the neighbors don’t seem to like it when you try to expand the no-clutter zone to their house, and start hauling away their unused exercise equipment and torn underwear when they’re not at home. Wherever you start, make a rule: nothing can be placed there that’s not actually in use. It can be a counter, or your kitchen table, or the three-foot perimeter around your couch. Receipts, warranties, manuals, notices, flyers? In the inbox! This one little change can really transform your paperwork. No wonder we can’t find anything! Designate an in-box tray or spot in your home (or at your office, for that matter) and don’t put down papers anywhere but that spot. This is because we put them in different spots - on the counter, on the table, on our desk, in a drawer, on top of our dresser, in our car. Papers often account for a lot of our clutter. We’ll have a challenge!įor those who are overwhelmed by their clutter, here are some great ways to get started, five minutes at a time. Before you know it, you’ll have cleared a whole closet or a room and then half your house and then … who knows? Maybe before long your house will be even more uncluttered than mine. Sure, five minutes won’t barely make a dent in your mountain, but it’s a start. So here’s my advice: start with just five minutes. When your home is filled with clutter, trying to tackle a mountain of stuff can be quite overwhelming. I’ve written a lot about simplicity and decluttering (I can’t help it - I’m passionate about it!) and I’ve noticed that a lot of readers share my ideal of having an uncluttered home or workplace, but don’t know where to start. “Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity From discord find harmony In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein By Leo Babauta
0 kommentar(er)
