In a flurry of excitement, it finally comes alive again, that desire for clarity and renewal that comes with that first afternoon where it’s warm enough to go outside in a T-shirt. A desire to declutter, to get rid of all the excess, and to make space around yourself (and inside yourself, it’s all connected).
Obviously, you always have to seize the urge when it strikes, but you also need to approach it strategically to avoid finding yourself surrounded on all sides by mismatched piles in a damp basement, discouraged and without any clear direction when that initial impulse fades. So, here’s my five-step strategy to structure the process and capitalize on the momentum!
(1) PREPARE YOUR WORK AREA
Before you start, it’s crucial to place the boxes and bags that will hold the items you decide to part with right next to you. These boxes and bags should be labelled with a Sharpie according to their destination: a donation centre, a friend, a thrift store.
You’ll also need a trash bag, a recycling bin, and another large bin for unusable items that need to be taken to the recycling centre. Setting up this sorting system from the start will make the decluttering process much clearer, smoother, and more efficient.
(2) START WITH THE EASY STUFF
The best way to declutter is to do it by type of item, starting with a category that’s easy to define and which can be fully tackled in a few hours (think clothes, books, or toys, for example).
Ideally, you should start with an area of the house where you’ll be comfortable camping out for the afternoon with all your boxes and bags and a cup of coffee.
Although it’s tempting, it’s never a good idea to tackle the basement or garage first (those areas are way too catch-all to be tackled first, and they are best saved for last). It’s also best to avoid starting with sentimental items (truly paralyzing) or paperwork (another category that takes a long time to tackle and which can be a real headache).
When you’re first starting out, the goal is to get moving and take the small wins as they come so that you can begin to feel like you’re taking back control and training your decision-making skills without getting too overwhelmed in the first ten minutes.
“When you’re first starting out, the goal is to get moving and take the small wins as they come.”
(3) ASK YOURSELF: “DO I NEED THIS ITEM TO LIVE THE LIFE I WANT?”
Rather than leaving the items you want to keep alone and setting aside the ones you don’t want, it’s best to remove everything. Completely empty the drawer, shelf, or closet, then clean the space thoroughly.
As you stand in front of each item, ask yourself: “Do I need this item to live the life I want?” It’s a great question, one that’s positive and constructive. It provides a chance to reflect on the life we want (something we seldom do enough) and an opportunity to rethink our surroundings based on what truly matters to us.
If the answer to the question is no, then the item can immediately be placed in a box of things to give away or in a pile of items to sell.
If the answer is yes, then you’ll first need to ensure that the space you’ve freed up is truly the best place to store that item and, if so, put it back there.
(4) GIVE EVERY ITEM A HOME
To keep your home tidy (and to avoid wasting time looking for your belongings and having to buy duplicates because they’ve gone missing), it’s essential to define where each item should go after being used.
A good way to keep organization simple is to group all the items in a given category in one place (all the books on a shelf, all the utensils in the same drawer, all the DIY supplies in the same cabinet, etc.).
It’s also a good idea to store items near where they are used. This makes them more accessible, encourages you to use them, and minimizes the hassle of putting them back.
(5) IMMEDIATELY SET ASIDE ITEMS THAT YOU PLAN TO SELL OR GIVE AWAY
After you declutter a small area of the house, the best approach is to immediately sort out the items you want to get rid of. You can give items that are in good condition to friends, items you borrowed can be returned to their respective owners, and items intended to be sold can be listed right away.
Getting rid of this pile of items right away will give the space room to breathe. The mental load will feel lighter, the decisions you’ve made will feel official, and you’ll feel the satisfaction of having seen your task through to the end.
Small successes and pats on the back bring us a sense of pride, confidence, and renewed motivation to move on to the next category of items!