What Do You Need to Declutter?

You’re ready to let go of some of the clutter in your life!

This is great news because we know that decluttering is good for you in quite a few ways. It helps to relieve stress, it saves you time because you spend less time looking for things, and it becomes easier to keep your space neat and clean. Being ready is one thing, but knowing where to start is a whole other. My last post focused on creating a plan for spring cleaning and decluttering. You can read it here. If you now have a plan in place, the next thing to do is to start gathering up some supplies that will help you get moving.

Positive Attitude

Ok, this sounds a little like a pep talk coming on, and in a way it is, but having a positive attitude about what you want to accomplish is key. In order to declutter you need to go through things and decide what to keep and what to let go of. This is not easy, and for some it is REALLY not easy. Going into the process feeling positive and good about what you are doing will go a long way.

Sorting Bins or Baskets

You want to easily be able to differentiate between what you are keeping and what you are letting go of. Having a bin or basket to gather items is a great place to start. If you are decluttering clothing then having a laundry basket or storage bin to toss things into makes it a whole lot easier. Sort as you go and put into the appropriate bin. Donate, sell, fix or repair, are great categories to start with. If you don’t have a bin handy, designate spaces in the room for each category.

Trash Bags

This is a tip I heard quite some time ago and have used it ever since (I wish I could remember who to thank because I love it that much!). Have two types of trash bags handy. I usually use white kitchen bags, and darker colored bags. Things that are being donated go into the white bags, trash goes into the dark bags. Simply, it keeps you from accidentally throwing out a bag you intended to donate. This is also helpful if you are going to rely on someone else to help you move the bags when you are done. Dark bags to the trash, white bags to my car for donation.

Cleaning Supplies

As you declutter you are going to want to reorganize and clean up the items that you are keeping. Having cleaning cloths and cleaners handy will help to keep you on track because you don’t have to get up and go find the things and take your attention from your task. It’s also helpful to have a broom or vacuum handy.

Next week is National Clutter Awareness Week, so it’s a great time to start thinking about places in your life that could use some decluttering. It’s a very personal thing, so remember to take things at a pace you can be comfortable with. Then as you are moving at that comfortable pace try to visualize what your space will look like when it’s done, and what you want the space to look like long term. This is the first step towards creating good habits that will help you maintain your space going forward.

If you need some support as you go through the declutter process you can head on over to our brand new private Facebook group, Organized Priorities Collective. As the group grows the intention is to create a safe space to get accountability and support as you work on creating a more organized and productive life.If you don’t know where to start and need additional help, we would love to work with you. Head on over to our Services page where you will find more information and links to schedule consultations.