With years going by, prices going high due to inflation, and more and more new properties being built with the size of a box, minimalism proves itself. Today’s life is so stressful that we barely get the rest we deserve at home. But have you ever thought about the primary step in minimalism that will help you reduce stress? No? Trust us when we say that decluttering will change your life.
Do not get us wrong. Decluttering is not only about organising your home. It also minimises the number of items you have by donating, recycling or reusing.
Table of Contents
Create A Decluttering Checklist.
The fear of decluttering makes it difficult for many of us to do. What if we throw away that pair of pants and regret that decision? Even though they were uncomfortable, looked hideous, and we disliked them? What if we need the manual someday, and it is thrown away? You get the idea.
You can alleviate fear by realising that removing clutter doesn’t mean you have to give up possessions you cherish. On the contrary, you’ll be reducing the number of things you own. For example, do you need so many blankets in your closet? When the weather is warm, you may only need a light blanket; during the cooler months, you may want to keep a heavier one. You should keep a throw on your couch if you’re lucky. The rest is probably optional.
Get started by creating your decluttering checklist. First, put all your possessions in it. Then, see how many items you haven’t used or seen in years.
Don’t Overwhelm
How likely will you clean and organise your entire home, office, or life in one day? That would be so ambitious that you would never start.
Take baby steps if you need to get your office back on track. You can start from a cabinet or your desk. Once you gain some momentum, dedicate one afternoon each week to the task.
It’s a great idea to declutter your kitchen this weekend and work on something else at home next weekend. Taking baby steps will help you see clearly what to do next and will help you with the decluttering list.
You can put on your favourite song or podcast to make things better and funnier. No one said that house chores should be tedious.
Conduct A Calendar Audit
You should clean out your calendar to eliminate clutter. It typically includes minute activities and things you do automatically, like brushing your teeth. However, clutter is more than just the stuff taking up physical space. There are also examples of unnecessary meetings, too many social events, and recurring events that no longer fit your schedule.
By reviewing your calendar and removing these tasks and events, you can say “yes” to fewer things. You can also use a scheduling assistant to avoid double bookings and conflicting schedules.
Reconsider Your Routine
Your days will be less chaotic when you follow routines. Routines provide structure to your life.
Make sure you have a morning routine and an evening routine. Create a calendar with your daily and weekly commitments. Group similar tasks together. And only commit to what you can realistically accomplish in a day.
Routines give your life order, make you more productive, and keep you from wasting time on unimportant activities.
Stop Subscriptions
You’re not just wasting time if you can’t keep up with your inbox — you’re being distracted, impairing your productivity and reducing your enjoyment. Keeping this in mind, it is easy to reduce your inbox by unsubscribing from emails you have never read or magazines you never read.
To avoid digital distractions, remove any unused apps from your phone. Additionally, it will help your device perform at its best. You might even want to uninstall apps such as Facebook or Twitter from your smartphone. The reason is that you won’t have to stare at your phone every time you get a notification if you do this.
Don’t Be Sentimental
Many items in our lives carry emotional attachments, which doesn’t necessarily mean we should throw them out. But, again, reducing them is critical.
You can stop having trouble letting go by taking a picture of the item and uploading it to the cloud. Then, not only will you be able to let go, but you will also preserve the memory.
Shred, Recycle Or Trash
Don’t hesitate to recycle, donate, and trash obsolete items. If you have receipts from a decade ago? Is there an old jacket in your closet you don’t wear anymore?
Removing unused items and those that do not serve you anymore will free space in your home and your mind. So do not fear donating your favourite backpack as a teenager. You are not using it anyway.
Tidy Up Your Workspace And Vehicle
Decluttering is indeed about getting your home and personal life in order. However, it should also mean decluttering your workspace. The main reason is that your messy desk prevents you from being productive.
Rather than putting it off until “tomorrow,” set aside time to tidy your workspace. Ideally, this should be during a productive lull, such as in the middle of the afternoon. At the very least, you should participate in this task:
- You should also clean your drawers and desktop.
- Making a home for all your stuff and trashing anything you don’t need.
- If you don’t need the original documents, you can scan them and shred them if necessary. If you don’t need the original documents, file them alphabetically.
- Your computer’s files and programs should be removed if unnecessary.
Ensure that your vehicle is tidy as well. As a result, you will have better health, preserve the interior, and improve fuel efficiency. If pulled over, yYouorry about finding your insurance or registration.
Make Decluttering A Priority
Decluttering goes beyond cleaning and organising. It’s staying committed to keeping your home clutter-free. Scheduling frequent cleaning sessions is the easiest way to keep your home clutter-free.
Organise your office on the last Friday of every month from four to five pm. Make sure to do household chores every Saturday morning.
You’re committing to follow through with these sessions when you schedule them. Keeping your word is like meeting with a client or doctor. Your life will not be as overwhelming because you’re staying on top of it.
Conclusion
You can do loads just by decluttering your home, life and the surrounding things. Taking care of your items and personal schedule will bring you peace and reduce stress. But, of course, if you experience hardship and cannot see yourself coping with such a task, you can always ask for help from professional cleaning companies. That way, you will have the desired result and learn a tip or two about maintaining it.