Guidelines to Help You Declutter

Guidelines to Help you Declutter
By: Lue Kirchner, CRTS
Key Associates
www.keyassociates.biz　

Often, the task of decluttering can seem daunting. Whether decluttering in preparation for moving or downsizing, or just wanting to take control of all the clutter, here are a few helpful hints to reclaiming your home from all that “stuff.”

1. Get prepared: Have some boxes and packing supplies on hand.
Garbage bags are essential. Don’t add   to the clutter by going out and buying storage bins, etc. Wait until you have finished the project and you know exactly what you need, if anything.

2. Start small: Start with the smallest room or most manageable area or closet in your home and work up to larger rooms and areas.

3. Start by dedicating several hours or a good portion of a day to the task at hand. If you’re a morning person and get sluggish in the afternoon, be sure to schedule to start in the morning when you’re fresh.

4. Don’t move on to another area until you have finished the room or area you started. This will give you a sense of accomplishment before tackling the next space.

5. Decide which options you’ll use for getting rid of the items you no longer want. Options include gifting to family or friends; selling via garage sale, consignment, auction, or the internet; and donating to the charity of your choice. Find out what items your charity will take and what the procedures are. If you’re donating or consigning items, find out who’ll provide pick up service.

6. Go through each area/room methodically. If a closet is included, start there and clear it out totally. Once empty, a quick cleaning prepares it for “restocking.” Put back only those items you use, need or love. If you haven’t used it or worn it in the last year, you probably don’t need it.

7. Don’t double your work by handling things twice. When you sort, put all items being donated in one box, all items being sold in another, etc., etc.

8. If you can’t make a decision about something, set it aside to consider when you’ve completed the task at hand. Don’t lose momentum or stall the process by agonizing over one or two items.

9. When boxing items to be kept, CLEARLY label them. “Christmas Decorations” isn’t specific, but “Christmas Wreaths & Swags” will get you to the right box the first time around.

10. Organizing is an important part of decluttering and organizing isn’t effective unless it’s efficient. If you find something in the wrong place, put it in the right place. The right place is the place where it would most likely be used or needed.

11. If you find it’s just too hard to make decisions about what to keep and what to let go, consider enlisting the help of either an experienced professional or someone you know well and trust completely. They can encourage you to make good decisions and help insure you don’t give or throw away something of value.

12. Finally, a good question to ask yourself when sorting and decluttering is:

“If it’s not being used and appreciated, what’s the point in having it?” 

Once you’ve decluttered your home, learn to keep it that way. It takes far less time to put something back after using it than to hunt it down the next time it’s needed. When you’ve read a magazine or book, pass it along for someone else to enjoy or donate it to your library or senior center. If you bring something new home, make a habit of releasing something old. Too much “stuff” zaps our energy and can create confusion and even chaos (Where are my favorite winter gloves? Where’s that bill that I know is due this week?).  Decluttering and organizing, no matter what the reason, can be a very freeing experience. A well-organized, clutter-free space not only makes life easier, but also enhances our sense of well being.
Stuff is just stuff, it’s not what defines us, so let it go, let it go, let it go!

Lue Kirchner is Executive Director of Key Associates, a service company located in Flat Rock, NC. Key Associates provides home management (including decluttering), move management, home staging and interior decorating services for residents of the Asheville & Greenville areas of the Carolinas. They specialize in working with seniors and those with special needs. 　

November/2010