An Easy 4-Step Method To Declutter Your Life

Do you feel overwhelmed by the clutter and disorganization in your home? Are you ready to declutter and eliminate the random stuff you have accumulated over the years? I want to share my best tips on how to start decluttering your life so you can experience the freedom and joy that comes with having less stuff! Below is a simple 4-step process to begin decluttering your home. It’s easy, and anyone can do it. Let’s get started!

Over the years, I have helped many people declutter their homes. When I met a gal in Vegas four years ago, she told me she needed help cleaning out her house but didn’t know where to begin. When I came in to help her, I don’t think she realized how much work it would take to get her life back on track.  At the time, I drove a Ford Transit 12-passenger van, and we filled that thing up so many times with Goodwill runs. Today, she knows how to manage the stuff that comes into her home and routinely goes through the rooms of her house to declutter.

There are two types of people: those who are ready to go ‘cold turkey,’ empty everything out of their house, and start over (this was me 12 years ago), and those who have to go slow and eliminate little by little.

Decluttering your home can seem overwhelming regardless of which description best represents how you feel now. But don’t worry. I am here to help you get started, and I can’t wait to hear how this decision to begin decluttering your home will transform how you live and think about things.

Things you need before you begin

1. Totes, boxes, or trash bags for donating
2. Trash bags for trash
3. Permanent marker
4. Time

Step 1:

Okay, yaaay! This is so exciting. I absolutely love decluttering!

To make this process significantly less stressful, we will go room by room!

So, choose a room in your house and place your totes, boxes, or trash bags in there. These will be used for the things you want to give away or throw in the trash.

Step 2:

Now that you have a room picked out and all your stuff is in that room be sure to write on your bags or boxes what it is being used for (trash, donate).

We are going to go through every drawer, dresser, cabinet, pantry, closet, nook and cranny in the room.

Depending on what room you are starting in, you will want to pull everything out of that cabinet, drawer, etc., place it on a surface, and begin going through it. Whatever you think is trash, throw it away! Whatever you think is reasonable to donate, put it in the donate tote.

If you aren’t as overwhelmed by this process, you could take everything out of all the drawers and cabinets at once and go through it, but I find this is overwhelming to people, so going through one drawer at a time is usually most people’s speed.

DISCLAIMER:

Remember how we talked about the types of people there are earlier in this post? Well, if you are the type of person who has to go slow and eliminate little by little, you are not alone! This is how most people feel when they begin decluttering their homes. This is usually an emotional process because people feel attached to their belongings. It is hard for people to let go of their stuff! I totally get it.

When I started helping my friend in Vegas, she only got rid of 40% of the items I suggested, which is okay! I didn’t want to pressure her into getting rid of things she struggled to part with because this was her journey. She needed to make significant lifestyle changes to maintain a clutter-free home.

In the past four years, I have helped my friend go through her home several times, and she now gets rid of 90% of the things I suggest. This is a process, so if you aren’t ready to let something go right now, you may be in a few months when you realize the freedom and peace you feel with not having so much stuff around you. Now, back to the work!

Step 3:

Once you finish the drawer or dresser you are working on, move to the next one and continue the process until you have gone through the entire room. Depending on the size of the room, this may take you one to two days.

Things to ask yourself when you are deliberating on getting rid of something:

1. Have I used this in the last year?
2. Is it expired?
3. Will I ever use this again?
4. Do I really like this anyway?
5. Why do I want to keep this?
6. Does this thing add any value to my life?
7. Is there room for this?
8. Do I have a specific spot to keep this?

Step 4:

Run all your ‘donate’ items to Goodwill immediately. Do not wait or hesitate to take this step! If it is too late to go to your local drop-off area, do it in the morning. You want to eliminate the urge or desire to double-check the things you already let go of. You also might want to prevent your husband or kids from coming in and rummaging through the bags. 😉

Repeat these steps until you have gone through every room in your house! I recommend decluttering your home every quarter for the first year of your journey to a decluttered home. Each time you do this, you will get rid of more stuff. I guarantee it!