Getting rid of your junk and having a fresh start is something many people desire. That said, it can be difficult to declutter your home, especially if it’s tough to let things go. Some objects may have sentimental value, while others fall into that gray area between keeping and tossing.
Moreover, the process of cleaning and organizing your home can be exhausting and time-consuming. Even the most organized person will find they have accumulated more junk than they realized.
Luckily, there are ways you can make the process smoother. Continue reading below to learn the best ways to declutter your home like a minimalist, so you can clear out the junk from your home and begin living a more stress-free lifestyle.
1) Start Small
Success typically doesn’t come from drastic changes but small, consistent steps over time. Going all out and trying to declutter your home in one day will likely exhaust you and extinguish your motivation. Instead, start by committing to 5-10 minutes per day until you get into the rhythm.
Once you’ve adapted to the process of decluttering and have some momentum going, your chances of success will be much higher. It will also give you more time to determine what’s valuable and what needs to go.
2) Give Items Away
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure—the adage couldn’t be more true when it comes to home decluttering.
If you get rid of one item every week, that equates to 52 unused items every year. Depending on how much stuff you have, you can increase that number as you see fit,
Surely there’s someone out there that needs the items you don’t. You can start by offering them to friends and family or reaching out to donation centers.
3) Make a List, Check It Twice
Studies show that checking items off a to-do list can increase dopamine levels. The same goes for listing out your unneeded items and chucking them. Furthermore, it’s easier to declutter a home if you have a visual list of what needs to go.
When you think hard about all the stuff you have, you’ll be surprised at all the items that you don’t need. Make your list, and double-check it to ensure that you won’t need to replace any items.
4) Imagine It’s Your First Time Entering Your Home
It can be challenging to know how cluttered your home actually is. After all, you live there and eventually get adapted to all the unnecessary items lying around. One excellent way to get a fresh perspective is to picture walking into your house for the first time. What would your impression be?
Doing so will get you into the right mindset and more motivated to make a change. Take notes on how organized your house is and what areas need improvement.
5) Donate Old Clothes
The average American household throws away roughly 68 pounds of clothes and textiles every year. Not only is this a substantial wasted potential for donations, but it also requires a ton of landfill space. Donating your clothes to those in need can benefit you more than having a more organized wardrobe.
Giving items to others can potentially improve your mental health. You’ll have a more organized home and peace of mind knowing you’ve made a difference as a result.
There are numerous places to donate old clothes to:
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- American Red Cross
- Goodwill
- The Salvation Army
- Free the Girls
- Planet Aid
Give your old clothes and give them to someone less fortunate. They will be thankful for your good deeds!
6) Fill a Large Trash Bag
One easy way to get rid of clutter at once is to take a large trash bag and fill it with items you don’t need. These items can be for trash or donation.
You’d be surprised at all the things you can fit in a large garbage bag. Doing this every day for a week will surely get rid of a significant amount of clutter that’s blocking your focus.
7) Utilize an Outbox
Like the trash bag method, you can designate an outbox to help organize the things you want to toss. You can grab a large plastic container and gradually fill it with things you deem unnecessary. Once the box is full, you can throw the items out or send them off for donation.
The good thing about this method is you don’t need to remove the items right away. It will give you enough time to determine whether or not you need any of the items inside. If after a couple of weeks you still see no need for them, they can go.
8) Remember Why You’re Decluttering
Who knew decluttering a home could be so philosophical? Understanding the purpose of organizing your home will help keep you motivated to keep it clean and free of unwanted stuff. Think about what a decluttered home would mean to you and what benefits it would bring to your daily life.
If it helps, write these thoughts down and keep them somewhere visible. If you ever feel your motivation is deflating, revert to your purpose for a quick inspiration boost.
9) Create a Schedule and Stick With It
Select the days and times you want to commit to decluttering your home and stick with your plan. Sundays are an excellent day to get rid of junk, so you can be more focused once the work week starts on Monday. Some people prefer a weekly cleanse, whereas others do a large removal once a month.
No matter what fits your schedule, remember to stay committed and focus on the end goal during your selected time. Eventually, you’ll gain traction, and decluttering will become second nature.
10) Ask for Help
Let’s face it—life gets busy, and sometimes, we can go weeks or months without a thorough cleaning. In that case, there’s no need to go about removing all those items on your own. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a friend or family member to see if they can help you get rid of some of those items.
Explain your reason for decluttering and how it will bring more clarity and focus into your life. They should be happy to help as a result.
If you don’t have anyone who can spare the time, you can consider reaching out to a professional junk removal service. It can save you the stress and strain of doing the heavy lifting. Moreover, a team of professionals can get the job done much faster.
What Are the Benefits of Decluttering?
Fewer Lost Items
Have you ever wasted time ravaging through your stuff looking for a misplaced item? If so, decluttering is worth considering. When you have fewer items in your home, finding the things you actually need is much easier. Keeping your dwelling organized is a surefire way to reduce frustration and save time.
More Mental Clarity
While you may not directly notice it, all the necessary stuff in your home is blocking your focus. Sure, some people can operate in controlled chaos, but the truth is, you’ll spend a lot less mental energy in an organized home. Keeping your desk, office, or bedroom clean can bring you more clarity and make you an overall more productive person.
Minimalism can lead to reduced stress and anxiety, helping to improve mental and physical health. Keeping the benefits in mind can help you stay on track.
More Attention to Spending
Once you declutter your space and transition to a more minimalist lifestyle, you’ll quickly realize that there’s no need to spend money on a lot of stuff. Many people claim that decluttering was an eye-opener to their poor spending habits. You can expect more financial freedom as a result.
That’s not to say you can’t go shopping and you need to be a penny pincher. It will just help you realize what’s truly important and what’s just a space-filler.
Conclusion
Decluttering your home may not be easy, but it doesn’t have to be incredibly difficult. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. You can start slowly and gradually become better at removing junk from your abode. Once you get the hang of it, living like a minimalist will be much easier.
Furthermore, it’s a great way to donate more and give back to the community. You may see some of your items as useless, but others may see them as a blessing.
Ready to clear out the junk? Call Nixxit Junk Removal. Our eco-friendly service can help you declutter your life and achieve a minimalist home.
