Decluttering and organizing your home gives you the freedom to move, live and breathe and can instantly reduce your stress levels. 

I have found that it has a cathartic and uplifting effect on people. When you let go of clutter you clear space in your head, as well as your home. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed by clutter, follow the simple steps I use with my Professional Organizing clients that will help you feel lighter and more on top of things in your home.

STEP 1 - Identify the area that stresses you out the most

Is it your closet? Kids’ Playroom or the Kitchen?  Choose one area to start. Break it down into small tasks that can be tackled over time, rather than one big project to be done in a day. Start small and build up towards the areas you avoid because the idea of tackling them is just overwhelming.

STEP 2 –  Sort

Take every item out of the drawer, cupboard, or space to see what you have and then sort it into 3 piles:

• KEEP 

• DONATE

• TRASH

For most people, this is the tough part. To help, I have composed a list of 10 questions to ask yourself when completing the editing process.

10 Questions to Help you Declutter

1. Do you use the item regularly?

2. If not, do you love it?

3. Do you think you should love it?

4. Are you keeping the item out of obligation or expectation?

5. Is this item in alignment with what you want for your life or home?

6. If you were shopping right now, would you buy it?

7. Do you have a similar item that could serve the same purpose?

8. Is it worth the time and space spent storing it?

9. Do you have a realistic plan to use it?

10. Could you use this space for something else?

STEP 3 Find a home for everything

As soon as you have sorted, get rid of the trash and place donation items in straight in the car ready to be taken to your donation center of choice. Next, find a home for everything you are keeping. This is a great time to be intentional about your space. Think about how often, and where you most use the item. When everything has a practical and logical place where it belongs, it will be easier to put it back and find, saving you time and making life easier.

STEP 4 Remember why you are decluttering and set a deadline

Have a goal in mind before beginning the decluttering process. Pick something achievable and personalized. This will help keep you motivated when you are starting to feel overwhelmed.

A deadline provides urgency and stops it from dragging on for too long. When you are finished don’t forget to stand back and admire what you have achieved. Better yet take a photo and send it to me, I would love to see your before and afters.

I hope that these few tips will help you get started on your decluttering project and help you start to feel that sense of calm that decluttering and organizing will bring to your home. If you have any questions or simply don’t have the time to tackle it yourself you can always call us in to do all the heavy lifting for you. We love decluttering and find that we are can complete a project much more quickly and efficiently than our clients would on their own.