I wanted to share with you a run down of my favourite quick decluttering tips. These are simple quick wins that will help you make a dent in your clutter that you can implement easily. You could choose your favourite and do it once a day or try them all. Remember small steps add up to big change. These are so easy, you can start right now!
Tip #1: Get rid of one item everyday
Keep it simple and attainable, imperfect consistent action wins. Help reduce your overwhelm and keep chipping away by just focusing on getting rid of just one item each day. It doesn’t need to be a huge item either, recycle an instruction manual for an old appliance or add an extra mug to your donation box.
Tip #2: Set a timer
I love this strategy. You can reduce overwhelm with tasks that feel daunting or help get you started with tasks you’re avoiding. Set a timer. If you only have to do something for 5 minutes and not feel like you have complete it, then you’re more likely to do it.
Again, sustainable change that lasts comes from small, imperfect, consistent action. Meaning, if you do 5 minutes everyday, you will accomplish as much as if you did it all at once and perhaps even more. Plus, you’ll create the habit!
Tip #3: Toss everything that’s garbage
Go around your home and toss everything that is garbage. Old takeout menus, magazines you won’t read again into the recycling. Junky little plastic toys, socks with holes in them, anything broken you aren’t going to fix (really) or an extra pair of really well worn shoes.
Take a look around and see what is actually garbage. I bet there are a few things, so make it easy on yourself to let go and create space by getting rid of the things that aren’t adding any value and are easy decisions. Miss that takeout menu? Google it. Holes in your socks? Buy a new pair that actually covers your feet.
Having a hard time actually throwing things out? Remind yourself that you deserve peace and calm in your home and all those little bits add up. When you can start to let go of the ‘just in case’ or the things you think of as still being useful, so are hard to throw away, it makes decluttering the bigger things easier.
If you’re worried about tossing something that could be useful to someone else, don’t. All those little plastic toys? Put them in a box at your curb. Some neighbourhood kids will be thrilled! But I’m sure as you walk through your home there are some things that ARE garbage, let them go!
Tip #4: Unsubscribe from emails you never read
Digital clutter is an area I still haven’t made a huge dent in. It’s largely unseen which makes it easy to ignore but we interact with it constantly.
One tip that has helped reduce my inbox clutter is unsubscribing from emails I don’t read. I’m sure we’ve all ended up on subscription lists we don’t interact with. Or many of our emails are from retailers; selling us stuff, offering discount codes or free shipping.
We don’t need regular reminders to spend our money or temptation to click through and just browse. When working hard on being intentional, you don’t need to give yourself challenges! Just unsubscribe. When you CHOOSE to go shop online, choose it. Don’t let an email distract you and help you spend money you weren’t planning on spending. Especially right now, who needs an excuse to be distracted these days? What’s going on in the world is enough.
Help yourself focus on what you want for your life and unsubscribe.
Tip #5: Start a ‘maybe’ box
Start a ‘maybe’ box and toss anything in there you aren’t 100% on. Once you live without them, see if they really add value or you’d like them back in your home. Most of the time this is a no for me. This is a great one because it doesn’t require a lot of commitment, you can toss it in and always take it back if you regret it. But it gives you the chance to feel the space you created, which almost always wins out for me.
Tip #6: Do a pantry scan
Do a quick scan of your pantry. Anything been there for a while? You can either plan a meal around it or if it’s unopened, donate to your local food bank. I’ve made delicious meals just by googling “panko recipe” or “what to do with black beans”. And I’ve never been to a grocery store that doesn’t have a bin for donations. So it can be easy to drop a bag of food in on your next grocery trip.
Which of these decluttering tips resonates with you most?
Where will you declutter first? What’s the spot in your house you find most overwhelming?
Check out my post on decluttering sentimental items if you’re ready to go a step further!
