Clutter. It’s everywhere. And it can be so challenging to get rid of it, especially if you have a hard time parting with things. But the truth is, clutter can be harmful to your mental and physical health, not to mention your productivity levels. In this blog post, we will discuss ten ways that you can get a handle on your clutter and regain control of your life!
Start With A Small Area
Remove everything you don’t use regularly, organize the things you do, and promise to maintain them that way. Please take note of how nice it feels every time you open that drawer moving ahead. Next, move to another small area like a desk, side table, or counter. Again, remove everything that doesn’t serve a purpose and find a place for the things that do. You’ll be surprised at how good it feels to have an organized space!
Set A Timer For 10 Minutes
Take 10 minutes to clear out one section. When the timer goes off, you’re done—without guilt. If you want to continue, set the timer for another 10 minutes. But keep in mind that every time the timer rings, you have the option to stop without feeling guilty. Instead, look at what you accomplished in just 10 minutes and allow yourself to feel euphoric satisfaction and increasing self-assurance. This will spur you on to keep going.
Trash-Bag Method
Take a garbage bag out with you and try to fill it as quickly as possible. You may put the bag anywhere—trash, recycling, or a charity center. One reader claimed that collecting a bag took her 45 seconds! When it comes to insurance, plan to execute this approach just before your trash is collected or before you do a charity drop-off. You’ll avoid the urge to modify your mind about the mess you’ve gotten rid of. This method is also good for closets and drawers.
Keeping It Sustainable
We hear from a lot of women who go on a clutter-clearing binge, burn themselves out, and find themselves right back where they started in no time. Marie Kondo advocates for an all-out, no-holds-barred approach to decluttering and organizing in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. If you’ve had a lightning bolt experience and are certain you won’t fall off the wagon, by all means, go the whole hog. However, if your life is filled with distractions (children, a job, a less-than-enthusiastic partner…), make it last. Do one corner at a time and work on keeping that area tidy before moving on to the next.
Habit Tracking
The habits we track have been demonstrated to be more successful. According to research, our chances of success are greater if we track our behavior. Those who keep a food diary and write down what they eat every day lose weight faster than others over time. People who practice mindfulness with the Headspace app may see their “streak” (the number of consecutive days they’ve meditated) grow, which motivates them to continue.
How can we use this in our efforts to clear our clutter? Perhaps you could choose to donate three items every day for the next month on your calendar and mark it off. Could you set a goal of eliminating 365 objects in a year and noting each one as you give it away? There’s strength in seeing your streak grow.
