Tips for Making the Most of Your Space
Enjoy the sense of freedom a decluttered living space offers
For years, whenever my parents visited, they would bring along a box of my belongings from decades earlier that had been taking up space in the dark recesses of their house. Sometimes, those treasures sparked joyful memories. More often, they were just items that I had to—finally—address and dispose of.
I don’t say that lightly. As a kid, I spent some of my favorite hours at my grandparents’ house going through their old keepsakes. I found (and still value) things like my grandmother’s dance card with my grandfather’s name in multiple slots and my mom’s high school report card.
Because of people like me, the proliferation of books, blogs, and TV shows dedicated to decluttering and home organization has ballooned in the last twenty years. My dear friend raved about following the Gentle Swedish Death Cleaning process and creating a capsule wardrobe. I was both fascinated and horrified.
It may seem silly to look to research, but it confirms that more is not the key to happiness—in fact, quite often it’s the opposite. How then to begin the emotionally charged and physically demanding process of decluttering?
Set your goal or intention
1. Do you want to spend less energy managing your belongings so you can devote more energy to the people or activities that matter? Do you wish to experience the peace of mind that comes from clean, uncluttered spaces? Do you want to lighten the burden on your children or close family members who will someday inherit a large amount of belongings to process? Reflect on what motivates you and keep that vision in mind as you work.
Create a plan
2. While your end goal may be decluttering your entire house, start small. Begin with impersonal things such as furniture or household tools. Save keepsakes, mementos, and other items for last.
3. Determine your timeframe. You might not be moving anytime soon, but you want to be able to enjoy your space and the freedom it brings. Set a realistic end date and work backward from there.
4. Remember to schedule decluttering and organizing in small bits of time—anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or two. More than that can feel quickly overwhelming.
5. Leave your bedroom and kitchen for last. Since you use these spaces daily, you do not want them in disarray for long.
Declutter
6. Create a system for organizing your items. Typically, people use four boxes labeled: Donate, Family & Friends, Recycle, and Trash.
Use labeled boxes to sort items in each room.
7. Pick a place and start by pulling everything out. Then ask, “What do I want to keep?” This question can be more inviting than its counterpart: “What do I want to get rid of?”
8. Pare down by getting rid of duplicate items, things that are obsolete or no longer fit your needs or lifestyle, and things you are keeping out of obligation.
9. For keepsakes, consider creating a digital slideshow of them. Photograph the items and place them on a digital frame where you’ll likely see them more often than when they were tucked away in a box.
A digital photo frame can capture your treasured keepsakes and make them more visible than when they are tucked away.
10. When finished, ensure you set and follow a timeframe for dealing with each of the four boxes. For items you set aside for friends and family, give them a date and stick to it.
11. What about those items you cannot part with? Tuck them aside in a special place—perhaps a box in the garage, a closet, or a storage unit—for 3 months. Whatever items you did not retrieve in that timeframe will likely be easier to part with now.
Enjoy the freedom!
Most people feel like decluttering and organizing makes them feel lighter. They enjoy their space more and appreciate the time it saves them.
Decluttering is a lot of work, but the results can make it more than worth it. Your future self will thank you!
If you are looking to downsize, our Counselors are ready to support you with guidance and references to local organizations that can help.
