While I’m someone who loves some symmetry, an aesthetically pleasing space and some coordinating bins, I’ve learned that buying all the containers doesn’t solve our clutter problems.
That’s why, as a professional organizer, the only “MUST HAVE” I’ll encourage you to add to your home is a decluttering rhythm. Rather than adding, we begin to organize by subtracting.
When you are in the trenches and overwhelmed by the piles in literally every room, this may feel easier said than done. So what does this practically look like?
Consider what routines you already have.
Do you tidy up in the evenings before bedtime?
Do you spend time over the weekend resetting your home for a new week?
Do you schedule appointments on a calendar?
Begin here by incrementally adding a few minutes (15 max) decluttering one small pile when you are already working on chores, or schedule a decluttering appointment on your calendar. It's never too late to start a new habit!
Don’t forget to include the whole family in these decluttering bursts as EVERYONE can benefit by learning how to incorporate editing into your routines. LIFE SKILLS!
When you are just beginning to build your decluttering muscles, follow these steps:
Figure out the location of your closest thrift store that sells a variety of items (clothing, decor, household items, toys, etc), so it can all go to one place. (Once you have built decluttering into your regular routine you can be more picky about intentionally giving items to local charities or neighbors)
Grab a bag or box to collect donations, along with a trash bag.
Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and focus on one room.
Be okay with only working on one small corner of a room or one single drawer. Baby steps!
Throw out your trash and immediately put your box or bag of donations into your car and schedule a time on your calendar to drop it off!
Little by little we can make progress towards spaces that feel less cluttered. And if you don't have any regular routines, it may be time to ask for help and that's okay. Often times bringing in someone, whether a friend, family member, or professional just helps us reset and get back to baseline in order to get unstuck.