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BEST ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS ON DECLUTTERING

Updated: Feb 21, 2023

There is no denying that clearing your home of clutter is a difficult chore. When you don't know where to start, it might be particularly challenging. Although you have ideas of a neat, orderly house with less clutter around, you have no idea how to get there.


And if that weren't difficult enough, it may be quite difficult, especially if you are unprepared, to maintain motivation once you've started without becoming overwhelmed.


I was one of those persons who only considered the broad picture for a very long time. I would dive in headlong and try to tidy and arrange everything in one day if I really wanted to finish a project. I quickly started to feel annoyed and overwhelmed, though.


After starting projects for years, losing inspiration, then starting again with no success. I understood that something needed to alter.


I had to take a whole different approach to declutter if I wanted to genuinely get rid of the clutter in my house. I had to let go of my false hope that I could clear all the clutter from my house in a single day and accept that this was a process. I had to discover strategies that would not only inspire me but also keep me going if I was to succeed.


I ultimately discovered the decluttering challenges and advice that worked for me after experimenting with a variety of them, and I hope that they can assist you in your own decluttering efforts.


So, here are the top 5 beginning decluttering ideas for you to try right now if you don't know where to start and need some inspiration.

5 BEST ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS ON DECLUTTERING


1. START SMALL 


One of the best strategies for preventing overload while attempting to declutter your home is to divide your decluttering initiatives into manageable, modest activities. In addition to preventing burnout, doing a little bit over a longer period of time will motivate you to keep going because each task you finish feels like a big victory.

2. MAKE A STRATEGY


One of the most crucial tasks when starting to clean your home is putting together a strategy. The same as with any other project, a plan enables us to set achievable targets. Making a strategy that fits your needs and timetable is the best advice I can give. The nice part is that there are numerous ways to organize your home, so picking one you can commit to can help you be more effective.


MAKE A LIST

Maybe you would prefer to take it at your own pace? If that is the case, make a list of all the places in your home that you want to declutter, and then hang the list someplace that you can easily see it.

Then, every time you have a spare minute, work on something from the list. Even though you might not think you have the time, there are actually small moments throughout your day that you can take advantage of.

  • Declutter your utensil/silverware drawer while making dinner

  • Clean your refrigerator while putting away groceries

  • Pull out unused clothing while putting laundry away.

DECLUTTER WHILE YOU'RE CLEANING

One of the ways that I have been most successful at getting rid of clutter and keeping it out of my home is by incorporating decluttering projects into my weekly cleaning routine. Wednesdays are my designated "kitchen day," so after finishing my cleaning, I'll choose a cupboard or drawer to tidy.


I'll attempt to find some time on Fridays (as that's my catch-all day where I work on anything I didn't do during the week) if my week is too full to squeeze in decluttering projects.

3. DISCOVER WHAT DRIVES YOU.


One of the hardest things individuals encounter when trying to clean the clutter in their homes is finding the drive to not only start but also to continue day after day.


RECALL YOUR INITIAL MOTIVATION.

People frequently begin to delay and make excuses when a task feels too onerous to finish. Though giving up may be simpler, persevering is more fulfilling. Remind yourself frequently of all the motivations behind your initial start.

FOCUS ON INSTEAD

  • Once your home is decluttered, you will start to pay attention to the things you are bringing into it, which will result in all the money you will save.

  • Having the ability to anticipate organizing your home and giving everything a proper home

  • Being relieved that you no longer have to spend a lot of time looking for lost objects

  • Realizing how simple it will be to maintain your home's cleanliness given how much clutter you have removed.

4. ABANDON GUILT


Guilt purging is one of those things that, if we allow it, can swiftly impede our development. My recommendation is to put your sentimental objects last. I assure you that maintaining momentum is preferable to allowing guilt to set in and prevent you from taking action.

That does not, however, imply that you should put everything in a box that you don't want to deal with and never open it. Working up to the challenging material gradually is what you should do, especially as a beginning.


Sincere to goodness, the more you organize, the simpler it will be to let things go. Giving yourself permission to let go of the things that don't matter and keeping in mind all the positive effects an uncluttered home will have on your physical and mental health is what decluttering is all about.

5. PREVENT COMMON ERRORS


Errors can occur with any major undertaking, including decluttering. It's possible to try to achieve everything at once and fail miserably because it becomes too much to handle. Or perhaps you have trouble letting go, so you hold onto the items you might need "someday." You might even begin to organise your clutter rather than remove it, leaving you with structured junk that serves no purpose.


Sometimes learning what to avoid doing may make you better equipped for your decluttering journey and help you have the greatest chance of success.

FINAL REMARKS


Always remember that the best advice is to figure out what works best for you. You may hopefully get rid of the clutter and find calm in your house using these beginner-friendly decluttering strategies. Because keeping the items you find helpful and that you love will allow you to appreciate and feel more comfortable in your house, which is ultimately the purpose of decluttering.

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