How to Create a Plan for Decluttering
Fully committing to decluttering can be extremely overwhelming. It can be hard to know where to start and how to maintain organization after decluttering your belongings. The best way to get rid of clutter and keep your home organized is to create a decluttering plan. Having action steps to follow will help you stay on top of clutter. Below are the steps you should take when learning how to create a plan for decluttering.
Write Down What’s Important to You
Take a few minutes to write down everything important to you. It could be quality time with family and friends, travel, your hobbies, etc. Notice that your list likely won’t have too many physical items on it. That’s because the true things that matter in life are not objects or belongings. Seeing this written out can make it easier to get rid of things that get in the way of what is truly important to you. Your decluttering plan is meant to make room for the important things in your life, not to force you to get rid of them. In fact, you should approach decluttering like a minimalist, as that lifestyle focuses on making room for the things that make you happiest.
Make a List of Every Space in your Home
Write down every space in your home that you want to tackle in your declutter plan. Instead of listing out rooms, get specific with items. List things like bedroom side tables, pantry, kid’s closet, etc. If you need help thinking of areas to clean, check out our 30 bags in 30 days declutter challenge for a list of 30 different places that you can declutter. Rank your list from most important to least important. Which spaces do you spend the most time in? Those areas will likely be a bigger priority, as decluttering them will bring happiness more than decluttering a cabinet in a guest bathroom. Making a plan is one of the most important steps to declutter your home.
Designate Boxes for Clutter
Designate boxes to sort your clutter into and make them as specific as possible. Instead of writing “donate” or “sell” on the boxes, be more specific. Create a box labeled with a local shelter, Facebook Marketplace, a recycling center, consignment shop, etc. Having an action plan of where everything will go makes it easier to part with items and get them where they need to go sooner. See if there are any events being held after decluttering like yard sales, donation events, or even free paper shredding events where you can bring unwanted items.
Break Down Big Tasks
Simply put, a big task that seems impossible will never get done. Or, it will be avoided until it’s the last item on your list. One of the best tips for decluttering is to take your big declutter challenge and break it down into small, manageable tasks. Cluttered closet? Tackle pants one day and tops the next. Messy kitchen? Organize one cabinet at a time instead of pulling everything out all at once. Your mind can get cluttered, too, and giving yourself the mental space to process everything will make decluttering your home much more manageable.
Commit to Anti-Clutter Habits
The best way to get rid of clutter in your house is to prevent it altogether. Become more aware of the clutter you cause in your day-to-day life.
The best way to stop clutter is to prevent clutter. Begin thinking of ways you contribute to your clutter. Be more conscious of the little things you do each day to cause clutter. Take care of the mail immediately. Put clothes, shoes, and jackets away the minute you get home. Clear off the counter space where you dump everything throughout the day before going to bed at night. Make these small action steps part of your declutter plan to ensure your home stays organized.
Plan Each Week
At the end of each week, take the time to schedule a declutter plan for the upcoming week. Each day, set aside a small amount of time to tackle a decluttering project. Don’t be unrealistic in your planning and schedule hours for yourself to declutter each day. Instead, schedule 15-30 minutes per day, or even 5 minutes if that’s all you can manage. Write down the specific areas you plan to declutter during that time. On your calendar, make sure also to include monthly goals. Knowing how much you can accomplish in a week, set realistic expectations for your month. If you try to fit too much into your decluttering plan, you will burn out and be tempted to give up.
The most important tip for decluttering your home to remember is that the easiest way to avoid clutter is not to cause it. Be cognizant of your behaviors and make strides each day to cut out clutter-causing habits. Stay committed to your plan for decluttering and continue to work towards a clutter-free home. For more tips on enjoying your home, sign up for our newsletter.
