Okay, who has the decluttering bug? I know, I know. Sometimes it seems absolutely daunting because you think to declutter you need to actually spend 168 hours on one room. But you don’t have to go all in to get some quick wins. If you’re relieved by that news, then this post is for YOU!
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So with the Declutter Your Scariest Space Challenge from Ultimate Bundles and Dana K. White from ASlobComesClean.com, I’ve been diving right into some of my disaster areas.
But I haven’t decluttered whole rooms.
No, I’m focusing on quick wins.
From homeschool book shelves to a storage closet, I’m only spending an hour or two on a project, but enjoying amazing results!
So, if you want a quick win TODAY on how to declutter a space then this is for you.
Quick Win #1: Get Rid of Duplicates
You can totally do this step!
Think:
- tupperware
- pencils (hello, homeschoolers?)
- bed sheets
- baking supplies
- spices
- plastic cups
- water bottles
- nail polish
- toiletry items
- and the list goes on and on!
If you have 5 sweatshirts but just wear your favorite all the time, then get rid of the other 4.
See, this was easy, but don’t you feel better already?
Quick Win #2: Pretend You’re Moving
This one has caused me to declutter like a maniac in the last several years.
I ask myself:
If I were to move tomorrow, would I keep it?
That means – is this item worth enough to me that I would pack it, move it, unpack it, and want to keep cleaning it & using it & up keeping it?
Usually, this allows me to let go of things that I might otherwise store away for a rainy day.
If you expect to live in your house for the next 20 years, you might not declutter much.
But if you allow yourself to imagine that you could move, then decluttering becomes essential!
Quick Win #3: Consider Your Stage of Life
We experience seasons and stages to life. Your 20s are not like your 40s. (In fact, I really like my 40s more!)
So, what was important or sentimental to you 10 years ago might not be necessary to hold on to.
When I was a kid, I enjoyed creating scrapbooks of all my precious knick-knacks, papers, letters, cards, travel brochures, and the like. It was a fun project and it helped me organize my keepsakes at the time.
Now that I’ve lugged those 3 huge scrapbooks around with me in seven different moves, I’m considering divesting myself of those scrapbooks. Maybe look at them one last time with my kids and then throw them out.
I mean, will my kids want them in another 20 years? Nope!
Have I looked at them in the last 25 years? Nope!
My season has changed. They were important to me once, but I don’t have to keep them.
Do you have items like that? I’m even thinking of getting rid of my wedding dress. Same reason as above. Why am I keeping it? Is someone actually going to wear it again?
If you want to make decluttering a family event and get your teens involved, then definitely check out my Declutter Cheatsheet for Teens.
