A common roadblock to getting organized is the fear that once you get your space organized, you won’t be able to keep it that way. The truth is this: organizing is an ongoing process not a one time event. So, once you’ve organized a space it won’t stay that way on its own. You have to continue to maintain it going forward. But here’s the really cool thing. Once you set up a space and organize it so that it fits you and your lifestyle, staying organized is an easy and even enjoyable process. (I know, easy for me to say since I thrive on this stuff.) But truly, staying organized is the icing on the organizing cake. The first step is realizing that staying organized doesn’t just happen—it requires new habits.
A terrific habit that will help you stay organized is to declutter on a regular basis. This includes surface decluttering—getting things back to where they belong on a regular basis, and deep decluttering—getting things you no longer use or love out of your home on a regular basis. This deeper decluttering is particularly powerful because it makes the everyday surface decluttering that much easier. It’s simpler and faster to put things back where they belong when your home isn’t stuffed to the gills with items you aren’t really using any more.
So how do you make deep decluttering a habit? Well, here’s a technique that works great for me. Find a local charity that will come to your home to pick up items. Where I live, a children’s charity comes to my neighborhood once a month. This means that every single month I have a simple reminder and extra motivation to do some deep decluttering. Once a month, the local charity calls to ask if we have anything to donate. I often say yes, even if I don’t yet have anything set aside to donate. By scheduling a pick up, you give yourself a deadline to get at least one bag of items out of your home. And this is pretty powerful stuff.
Take action! Remember, it is action that creates change! So here are some simple action steps to help you create a decluttering habit and mindset.
Action Step 1: Do a quick internet search to see if there is a local charity in your area that picks up items. Call around and when you find a charity that does this, get on their list and ask them to contact you any time they’re coming to your area.
Action Step 2: Begin to incorporate regular surface decluttering into your daily habits. Before going to bed, put away the things you used today. Clear off the flat surfaces and start each day with a clean slate.
Action Step 3: Share your favorite decluttering strategies in the comments section. What decluttering habits do you have in place? How do you stay on top of it all?
This is EXCELLENT advice! Even if you do your best to maintain your spcaes the uses and activities can change so revisiting things is important. Thanks for the reminder. I am off to take another look at my closet and get rid of more stuff that just doesn’t need to be saved any longer.
My friend and I plan 2 rummage sales–one in the Spring and one in the fall. I take the opportunities to start going through stuff a month or two ahead of time to get ready for them. I’ve been cleaning out closets this week. I already have 6 bins ready for my Spring rummage sale. I know that you don’t “do” rummage sales, but my girlfriend and I use it as an excuse to get together and socialize with just the 2 of us and since we both love to organize we sit around and talk about how better we feel now that our houses are “lighter”. (I also use my rummage money to buy my summer flowers.) In the fall I pull my kids into it too–trying to get their rooms ready to get Christmas presents.
We have a neighborhood garage sale every spring. I usually skip that and go straight to Goodwill.
I go through each room with a save, repair, move to home, and gone basket. We actually have 10 white laundry baskets that we use for this task and for schlepping camping items to and from our RV.
The kids are used to doing this annually.
As we begin to minimalize our lives, we are paring down much more than we have in the past, but using the same strategy.
Fabulous post – It’s no good having a once off massive clean… I reluctantly discovered that the whole decluttering thing requires constant maintenance!!! So I keep a bag behind the front door and in the fifteen minutes my kids clean their teeth in the morning I toss things!!! I pick one spot: one drawer, one shelf, one counter top… it is amazing how much you can do in fifteen minutes when you put your mind to it… leave the daily chores and just focus… I wish someone had told me this years ago!!!
I have “declutter” on my weekly docket and because I have it on my list everyday, it gets done. I also always have a Goodwill stash – when I have a bag or two, we drive up and drop it off on our way to another errand.
I’m a user of the donation bins that are positioned in various places in the town I live in, and in neighbouring towns. I’m now trying to make this a more regular habit and I’ll try monthly after reading this post.
And as we’re moving into Autumn here in New Zealand, the advice to “shop your closet” is just as timely for me (just a different season involved) – I’ll grab an hour this weekend and go through my cooler weather clothes and only then will I go back through the catalogues!
I try to pick up around the house every day. I find that I keep on top of things better that way. I have certain tasks, like filing and shredding, that I do one day every week. I also keep a goodwill box and a box for consignment so I always have a place to put the unneeded items until I can get them where they need to go.
Yes, clutter may seem like an inevitable problem, but if you want to be more productive and more fulfilled, it is time to walk the talk towards taking control and living a clutter-free life.
Dude.. I am not much into reading, but somehow I got to read lots of articles on your blog. Its amazing how interesting it is for me to visit you very often.