Gaining Freedom by Decluttering & 4 Tips to Get Started

✓ Do you dig in between a pile of shirts to grab one of your few favs each time?

✓ Do you have a drawer in your bathroom pantry that you avoid opening - because you can barely close it back up these days?

✓ How's that "junk drawer" in your kitchen? Do you even know what's in there?

It might just be time to declutter you life!!!

- Junk Drawers

- Cabinets

- Closets

- Toiletries/Make-up

- Spice Cabinet

- Socks

- Jewelry

- Fridge

- Purse/Wallet

- Car

- Social Media Friends List

- Exhausting Relationships

- Etc.

The "Why":

Clutter is a...

- Waste of Time - Sifting through stuff to find what you really want/need wastes time.

- Waste of Money - When you aren't truly aware of what you have - you tend to buy more that you don't need.

- Takes Away Freedom - When you have to constantly tidy-up because you have too much stuff to maneuver around - it takes away your free time to rest and enjoy life.

- Takes Away Peace - When you walk into your home, after a long day, you should feel like you are walking into your sanctuary, not your clutter hell on earth. You deserve space to spread out and a decluttered, calm energy around you.

There are a lot of reasons why we let things get cluttered:

- It takes time and it isn't easy to declutter (especially if it has been building up for a bit)

- Haven't learned good decluttering tips/skills

- Holding onto things for sentimental reasons

- Allowing for too long of a time period to pass in between declutter sessions = get overwhelmed

We could talk about the reason forever. Maybe that will be another post🤔...

Instead...let's focus on solutions!

4 Tips to Get Started:

1) Choose to Clear Time & Get Prepared - I would recommend clearing a good patch of time (maybe 4-6 hours) for your first session of decluttering. Until you get a chance to figure out which method of decluttering works best for you, as well as how long it may take you to declutter a section - you want to leave ample time. I would also recommend buying a few supplies that you may need in advanced: Totes, Bins, Labels, Sharpies, Garbage Bags, etc. Also prepare a "holding space" or two in your house. Maybe your donation bags will go in the garage, and you have a few leftover Amazon boxes for the items that need to be "re-homed" during the next session.

2) Get Support/Help & Learn Tips - Lucky, this is another excuse to watch Netflix.😉 Find an organization show that you vibe with and watch a couple episodes to inspire you. A couple of my favorite tips are: 1) Hangers: After you go through a rack of clothes in your closet, flip the hangers backwards. If you don't wear an item in 6 months (or when that clothing season is drawing to a close next time) - it probably needs to go. 2) Categories: Organize by sleeve length, color, season - as this will prevent you from purchasing another long-sleeved black shirt....unless you're me - as those my fav! 3) Get Pumped Up!: Choose a time to declutter when you are ready to toss! You want to be in an upbeat...looking towards the future - type mood...or you'll end up keeping way too much. 4) System: Set up a system for: 1) Keep, 2) Throw, 3) Donate, 4) Give, 5) Regift. Maybe it pains you too much to toss that black cardigan (even though you don't wear it) - but maybe your bestie would look super cute in it!

3) Celebrate Progress - I highly recommend before and after pictures!!! Get to a good stopping point for your session and then celebrate your progress! Send your before/afters to someone in your life that you know will appreciate it! Even post them on social media - and motivate others! Maybe someone you know will get inspired and be your declutter motivational buddy! Then, every time you walk into your closet and see the rack you got done...be proud! Enjoy looking at what you actually want to wear!

4) Set-up a "Maintainable" System - This is key! I have a basket in my closet for things I want to get rid of (in between declutter sections). I also have a shelf of bins in my garage for donate and sell. This is key for those times when you surprise yourself with a mini declutter session - so you have a place to get rid of the items to...right away! Also, start a list on your phone for areas you'd like to declutter and the estimated time for the project. This is another thing you could do while "prepping" during one of those organization shows on Netflix! Remember, feeling proud of decluttering something - could be as simple as cleaning out one utensil drawer in your kitchen, as you are waiting for your soup to finish cooking. I also recommend setting-up patterns in your decluttering. I like to clean-out my shorts and tanks right when it is starting to get warm outside. This way, I remember that I: A) Definitely don't need more shorts and tanks, B) Get excited about all of the fun stuff I already have and get to wear again, C) If I do notice something that needs to be updated/replaced - I can get that in my mind and watch for sales. I also clean out my shorts and tanks - when the weather cools down again - and I chuck anything that I didn't wear or didn't make me feel awesome about myself. If you start acquiring these types of system - your more likely to maintain it and live in a home that brings you joy!

May you reflect on this post and take some baby steps towards that decluttered life that you deserve! Sending you many blessing towards a decluttered life!