Is it time to de-clutter your home? Have you ever looked around your home and felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff? From random knick-knacks to old mail piling up on the counter, clutter has a sneaky way of taking over. And while we might not always notice it, the chaos of excess stuff can affect our mood, productivity, and even our overall well-being.
Clutter can easily accumulate and it often does so passively that we don’t even realize we’re causing it. When clutter accumulates it affects more than just the aesthetics of your home. Studies show (because of course I researched it😁) that excess clutter increases stress, and we all know what cortisol does! You’ll feel anxious and overwhelmed. A messy space can make your mind feel just as chaotic, leaving you exhausted before you even start your day.
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How often do you lose things in the mess? Searching for keys, wallets, or that one missing shoe adds up over time. When everything has a place, you gain back those wasted minutes and make your daily routine run much smoother. Clutter seriously makes it harder for me to relax and even breathe at times!! I am so uneasy when things are out of order.
De-clutter Your Home To Increase Productivity
I pace around and look at at all the stuff and wonder how on Earth can we still have so much of it when I donate and purge all the time. I’m going to blame the girls, that’s allowed right? It can’t possibly be me😌 Just kidding. It’s clearly a great mystery though, at least it feels like it. When you finally start putting things in their proper places it does help create a visually peaceful living space, which makes a world of difference.
Think about it. Clutter makes day in and day out harder. It’s not easy to clean, organize or vacuum when you’re constantly shifting things around; shifting things that often never even get touched and are just in the way. Have you ever sat in a messy room and felt drained without even knowing why? Personally, I know immediately why I feel that way. Clutter competes for your attention, you’re looking around at all of the things needing to be handled, making it harder to focus, relax or enjoy your favorite activities. There will always be something that has to be done so why make it worse for yourself? A de-cluttered home automatically looks more spacious, clean and intentional.
I can’t say that there is one specific way to tackle the de-cluttering process. Sometimes you just have to pick a space and jump in. Starting small is a smart move. Maybe choose a category (like clothing or kitchen gadgets). You can also choose a space, possibly a single drawer or a closet shelf.)
How To Start De-Cluttering
1.) Start with unused and expired items: This is a great place to start because they no longer serve a purpose. Expired food, old makeup, broken gadgets, and outdated paperwork add unnecessary mess. Go room by room and eliminate anything that hasn’t been used in over a year.
2.) Let go of excess decor: When trying to de-clutter your home, too many decorations can make your space feel chaotic rather than stylish. Keep only the decor that brings you joy and fits your aesthetic. Removing excess picture frames, wall art, and decorative trinkets allows your space to breathe and not look too busy.
3.) Clothing!!! Kids clothes I think are easy, they grow out of something and it either cycles down to the next kiddo or gets donated out of the home. Adult clothing is where it gets complicated. I have heard people time and time again say that they are holding onto clothes in hopes that they get back to a weight that they used to be. This in my opinion is wasting space. Wear clothes that you can fit now and buy clothes that fit your current body. If anything, give yourself a time frame and if you haven’t taken the steps to change your diet and workout regimen LET THE CLOTHES GO! It’s freeing.
Furthermore, if you find yourself struggling to get dressed when you’re looking in your closet, ask yourself why. Do you not like what you have, are your items possibly dingy or damaged in some capacity and you just don’t have the energy to fix them. Has your style changed? There is a reason. It’s important that you pay attention to what you never grab. Grab it and get rid of it.
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The 3-Pile Method is something to consider for all of these items: Keep, Donate/Sell and Toss. If you haven’t used it, you probably wont. Keeping “just in case” items are clearly excess and clutter. Often, just in case never comes to pass. Just be honest and get it out of the house.
Purging Is Essential
4.) Tackle paper clutter: Bills, receipts, magazines, and junk mail can pile up quickly. So can school work. Paper is what I prefer, digital storage actually stresses me a little. Now, knowing this, I do not hold on to receipts once a decision has been made to keep the item, junk mail gets thrown away immediately and most of by bills are automatic so rarely do I have to deal with that sort of paperwork.
Regarding kids artwork and special school papers, we have a clear system that allows me and each kiddo to look at the item and determine if it’s special enough to save. The girls determine what is trash and what isn’t. I have a filing system that is organized by grade and each important school paper goes into that filing system. If digital is your thing, set up a digital system or you’ll have 30,000 photos on your icloud plaguing you! Sadly the photos are something that I still have to deal with.
5.) Streamline your kitchen essentials: Kitchen counters can make cooking feel chaotic. Get rid of duplicate utensils, unused appliances (Foreman Grills, waffle makers), and old dishware, this is something that I still need to tackle. You can read about my duplicate utensils here. If you have the space, it’s ok to not keep small appliances on the countertops. Toasters and coffee makers can go into a cabinet.
Now that I’ve inundated you with de-clutter info, I’m going to give you a snazzy list that might give you a quick start.
20 Things You Can Purge Right Now To Start Eradicating Clutter
Umbrellas with broken spokes *Orphaned socks and gloves * Old gadgets and technology * Stretched out hair ties * VHS tapes, DVDs and CDs, Random cords * Worn out underwear and pajamas * Unidentifiable keys * Nonstick Scratched Pans * Games/puzzles with missing pieces * Expired spices * Multiple frames * Wire hangers * Broken toys * Take out menus * Old birthday cards * Free gifts (pens, tiny cosmetics, magnets) *Filled coloring books * Old face masks * Broken costume jewelry
De-cluttering is an ongoing habit. If you deal with it when you see it, you prevent it from turning into a much larger problem. Also, be mindful with what you shop for and what you accept. When shopping, ask yourself if you actually need the item and do you have a place for it, or will it add to your life? If someone gives you something that you don’t need, it’s okay to politely say no thank you…or re-gift it if you don’t feel comfortable saying no…but that might make you feel bad. And what if the gift giver asks you about it!!? That would be awkward.
Bottom line, all of this is to make you feel lighter and less stressed, and you’ll notice it immediately. Stuff literally weighs you down and none of us actually want that. Once you’ve taken the intentional, RUTHLESS steps to de-clutter your home, it will certainly feel like an accomplishment.
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