There are some lifelong activities you can work on and improve throughout your whole life, and in return, they will improve your life.
Decluttering is one of them. It has changed my life for the better in such a short time!
What is decluttering?
Clutter is a collection of things lying about in an untidy mass. Decluttering means getting rid of untidiness and disorder.
What does it mean for me?
It means that stuff has to leave my house. First of all, I take out the trash and recycling. Trash goes in the bins, of course, but packaging and boxes are also trash or recycling (if you have a proper system set up). Sometimes I can repurpose boxes, but if I can’t think of a way to use them today, I recycle them. There are so many of these things coming into my house every day that I know I will never regret letting them go.
Damaged and broken items—like dishes or toys—are trash. Pens that don’t work. Items with missing parts, like containers without lids. These things should go; they should not take up space in my home.
Donations
Donations are another category of things that should leave the house. I often check different areas of my home: inside cabinets, drawers, storage boxes, and so on. I don’t want to donate something I might need in the future, but I ask myself:
Would I buy this today?
Can I do without it?
Do I really need it?
Can I use something else instead?
These questions make it easier to decide whether an item needs to be decluttered.
Clearing Surfaces
Another meaning of decluttering is clearing surfaces of clutter—floors, kitchen countertops, the dining table, sofas, and armchairs. These surfaces are not storage spaces; things don’t belong there. I try to find proper homes for my belongings inside cabinets, closets, or on shelves, and I avoid leaving things out on surfaces. This makes it much easier to keep everything clean.
You can declutter many different areas, as quickly or as slowly as you want. It all depends on your goals.
Why are you doing it?
Do you want your house to be easier to clean?
Are you concerned about your mental health and trying to reduce stress?
Do you want to be able to invite people into your home at any time?
Decluttering Is A Process
Decluttering once doesn’t mean you’re done forever. Stuff finds its way into our homes all the time. I’m sure something new has entered your home recently—maybe today, this week, or this month. If new things keep coming in, then something else needs to leave in order to keep your home simplified and streamlined.
So we can treat decluttering not as a one-time project, but as an ongoing process—one in which we continually improve our skills and knowledge. There is always something new to learn, even in the simple things we do every day.
Nowadays, it feels like people try to master big skills, but lack qualities like patience and perseverance. Many find it hard to keep up with simple daily tasks at home, yet they can tackle large projects at work.
Is it just me, or does anyone else struggle with this too?