Declutter Your Life With These 20 Easy Tips

Do you want to declutter your life? Are you feeling overwhelmed by clutter in your home or life? You’re not alone. Many of us struggle with keeping our spaces and our lives organized and tidy. But there’s good news: decluttering doesn’t have to be a daunting task.

Reading Declutter by Debora Robertson has really inspired me on my declutter journey.

With the right mindset and approach, you can easily create a more peaceful, functional, and enjoyable environment.

In this blog post, we’ll explore 20 practical decluttering tips to simplify your life, including setting goals, breaking down the process into manageable steps, and using helpful tools and techniques to stay organized.

Whether you’re looking to simplify your home, streamline your schedule, or declutter your mind, you’ll find valuable information in this post. So, grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let’s get started on decluttering your life.

How to Declutter Your Life

How to Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed

Decluttering can be overwhelming, especially if you have a lot of stuff and don’t know where to start. I have found the best ways to deal with overwhelm is to start small and get support when you are decluttering.

You can ask a friend to be with you when you are decluttering your home.

Not only will they offer an extra set of hands, but they can also provide a fresh perspective and motivation.

I also like to challenge myself by getting rid of at least 2 things a week, sometimes a day if I’m feeling motivated.

20 Ways to Start to Declutter Your Life

1. Set a Goal for What you Want to Achieve with Decluttering

Setting goals when decluttering is an essential first step to take. It helps to define the purpose of the decluttering process and gives you a clear direction to follow. Here are a few tips for setting goals when decluttering:

1. Be Specific: Instead of just saying “I want to declutter my home,” set a specific goal, such as “I want to declutter my home office” or “I want to get rid of 20 items in my closet.”
2. Be Realistic: Be honest about what you can achieve in a given timeframe. It’s easy to get carried away and try to declutter your entire house in one weekend, but that’s often not realistic.
3. Be Measurable: Have a way to measure your progress. For example, if you’re decluttering your closet, you can measure progress by the number of items you’ve gotten rid of or the number of empty hangers you have at the end of the process.
4. Make it Time-bound: Give yourself a deadline to work towards. This could be a day, a week, or a month. Having a deadline will help you stay focused and motivated.
5. Define your Why: Make sure you understand the reason why you want to declutter, it will help you stick to it.

By setting clear, realistic, and measurable goals, you’ll be able to stay on track and make progress, which will make the process of decluttering less daunting and more enjoyable.

2. Start Small When Decluttering

Start small by decluttering one room at a time. Or try the Marie Kondo method and declutter in categories.

3. Use the “one in, one out” Rule for new Items

This rule states that for every item brought into the home, one item must be removed. This helps you maintain a clutter-free and organized living space.

4. Make a “Keep,” “Toss,” and “Donate” Pile

Making a “Keep,” “Toss,” and “Donate” pile is a useful way to declutter and organize your home. Here’s how to do it:

1. Gather all of the items from a specific area or room, such as a closet or desk, and place them in one central location.
2. Sort through the items one by one, placing each item in one of the three piles: “Keep,” “Toss,” or “Donate.”
3. The “Keep” pile should include items that you use regularly, bring joy or have sentimental value.
4. The “Toss” pile should include items that are broken, worn out, or no longer needed.
5. The “Donate” pile should include items that are still in good condition but no longer needed or used by you.
6. Once you’ve sorted through all of the items, take action on each pile. Put the “Keep” items back in their proper place, throw away or recycle the “Toss” items, and donate the “Donate” items to a local charity or organization.
7. Repeat this process for every room in your home.

5. Take Inventory of What you Have and Determine What you Truly Need

Make a list of all the items in each room or area of your home, including the number of items and their condition.

Go through each item on the list and ask yourself if it serves a purpose, is in good condition, and is used regularly.

Ask yourself if you need every item on the list, or if some could be replaced with a more efficient or compact version.

Evaluate the value of each item in relation to the space it takes up in your home and your life.

Prioritize items that you use regularly, bring joy, or have sentimental value, and consider getting rid of items that don’t meet these criteria.

6. Be honest with yourself about items you haven’t used in a while

If you haven’t used something for years, especially clothes you don’t fit into anymore, be honest with yourself about whether you will use it again.

Even if it’s been 6 months since you have used something, ask yourself if you truly believe you will use it again.

7. Get rid of duplicate items

Make a list of all the duplicate items in your home, such as multiple kitchen gadgets, tools, or clothes.

Evaluate each duplicate item and consider which one is in better condition, more versatile or you prefer more.

Consider if you truly need both items or if one could be replaced with a more efficient or compact version.

8. Use Storage Containers and Labels to Keep Things Organized

This is a fun way make your home clutter free, by storing everything in containers. By labelling them, you will know where everything is, which will save you time and effort.

9. Set up a Regular Cleaning and Decluttering Schedule.

You could make it a regular practice to do a decluttering session, either every week or month. Put it in your calendar as a regular task.

If a full day of decluttering sounds overwhelming, you can do 15 minute bursts.

Set a timer for a certain amount of time, such as 15 minutes, and work on decluttering during that time. Once the timer goes off, you can take a break and come back to it later.

You can also try the workbook below, that is filled with checklists and worksheets. Or Marie Kondo’s journal to help you organize your life.

10. Be Mindful of the Things you Bring into Your Home

Before purchasing or accepting something new, ask yourself if it is truly necessary, if it has a purpose, and if it brings value to your life and your home.

Consider the environmental and ethical impact of the item, such as whether it was sustainably made and if it can be easily recycled or repurposed when you no longer need it.

You can also give yourself time before buying things. Give yourself a week to think about how important it is to buy the item and if you really need it.

11. Let go of Sentimental Items That no Longer Serve a Purpose

Take a photo of the item before letting it go, or consider finding a way to incorporate the memory or sentiment into something else, like a scrapbook or a piece of art.

Consider passing the item on to someone who will appreciate and use it, like a family member or friend.

12. Use Digital Alternatives for Items Like Books and Documents

Consider purchasing digital versions of books and documents instead of physical copies. Many books can be purchased as e-books, and documents can be scanned and saved as pdfs.

Use a tablet, e-reader, or laptop to read books and documents instead of having a physical copy.

You can use Dropbox, Mega, Google drive, ICloud or OneDrive for your documents.

13. Sell Items of Value That you no Longer Need

Selling items of value that you no longer need can be a great way to declutter your life and earn some extra money at the same time. Here are a few steps to help you do this:

1. Research the value of each item to get an idea of how much you can sell it for.
2. You can use websites such as eBay, Amazon, or Craigslist to research prices for similar items, or use a pricing guide for specific items.
3. Gather all the necessary information about the item including pictures, product details, and any documentation that you have.
4. Choose the appropriate platform to sell the item.
5. Some items, like furniture or large electronics, are best sold locally through classifieds or online marketplaces like Facebook marketplace.
6. Other items, like jewelry or collectibles, might do better on specialized online marketplaces.
7. You can also sell items on auction sites, like eBay.
8. Create a listing for the item, including detailed descriptions and high-quality photos.
9. Be honest and upfront about any flaws or issues the item may have.
10. Price your item competitively and be open to negotiation.
11. Once your item is sold, package it carefully and ship it to the buyer or arrange for local pick-up.

14. Make use of Vertical Space to Maximize Storage

This is a great way to utilise your space. Here are some ideas to maximize your space:

1. Use stacking shelves or drawers
2. Install hanging shelves or hooks
3. Utilize wall-mounted cabinets or units
4. Consider using a ladder shelf
5. Use under-bed storage containers
6. Make use of high ceiling with overhead storage racks
7. Install shelves or hooks in your closet
8. Use magnetic containers or shelves on the side of fridge or washer/dryer.

15. Make it a fun Challenge

I saw this tip on Tiktok to declutter your life and I absolutely love it. As someone who has ADHD, I often find it hard to get motivated. But for some reason, this challenge really motivates me and I’ve decluttered over 100 things so far with this.

Ok, so take a piece of paper and write out 1-30, 3 times and cut each number out. Then fold each number up and put it in a container, I just used a jar.

Once you have all the numbers in your container, pick out a number. Whatever number you pick, you have to find that many things to declutter. Either do this everyday or every week if it’s too much.

I think it’s that fact that it’s a challenge to get to the number you have picked that makes me stick to it. It almost feels like fun.

16. Take Advantage of Underutilized Spaces Such as the Garage or Basement.

Here are some tips to help you get the most our of your garage or basement.

1. Install shelving or storage cabinets along walls
2. Utilize overhead space with ceiling mounted shelves or racks
3. Invest in clear plastic bins or containers for easier organization
4. Use pegboards for tools and other small items
5. Consider installing a workbench or table for additional workspace and storage
6. Store infrequently used items on higher shelves or in the back of the space
7. Hang bikes, lawn equipment, and other sports gear on the walls
8. Use the space under stairs for additional storage.

17. Use Furniture with Storage Built-in.

Here are some ideas for furniture with storage built-in, that can help keep your house less cluttered.

1. Ottomans with hidden storage
2. Storage beds with drawers underneath
3. Bookcases with cabinets
4. Coffee tables with storage compartments
5. TV stands with built-in shelves or drawers
6. Sectionals with chaise lounges that open up for storage
7. Kitchen islands with cabinets or drawers
8. Storage benches for entryways or bedrooms.

18, Make a Habit of Cleaning as you go, Instead of Letting Things Pile up.

Another great tip I saw on TikToc was to use the moto, “don’t put it down, put it away”.

Using this moto helps me put things away, instead of just leaving them out and thinking, “I’ll put that away later”. Let’s face it, when later comes there usually loads more things to put away. If you put things away as you go, you will have a much less cluttered house.

It’s also a good idea to have a place for everything, so you know where everything is and this saves the stress of looking for things.

19. Take a Break When you Need to, it’s a Marathon not a Sprint

Taking a break when you need to is important when decluttering your home. Decluttering can be a challenging and emotionally taxing process, and it’s important to be kind to yourself and not try to do too much at once.

20. Be Mindful of Your Emotions When Decluttering

Be mindful of your emotions, if you’re feeling overwhelmed take a break, you can always come back to it later.

Many of the things we keep in our homes have emotional significance, and letting go of them can be difficult.

Be prepared for difficult emotions.

Decluttering can bring up feelings of sadness, guilt, or regret, so it’s important to be prepared for these emotions and have a plan for how to deal with them.

Take time to process your emotions.

If you come across an item that evokes difficult emotions, take a break and come back to it later when you’re feeling better.

Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Remember that decluttering is a process, and it’s important to be patient and kind to yourself throughout the process.

In conclusion,

decluttering your life can be a challenging and emotionally taxing process, but it can also be a rewarding one. By taking inventory of what you have and determining what you truly need, making “Keep,” “Toss,” and “Donate” piles, and using digital alternatives for items like books and documents, you can begin to declutter your home and simplify your life.

It’s also important to be mindful of your emotions during the process and to take care of yourself by setting realistic goals and timelines, taking frequent breaks, prioritizing self-care, and seeking support. Remember that decluttering is a journey and the most important thing is that you take care of yourself throughout the process.

Decluttering can help you to create a more peaceful and organized home and can also help to free up mental and emotional space. So take your time, be patient with yourself, and enjoy the process of simplifying your life!

Let me know in the comments below if this post helped you and if you are planning to declutter your life!

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