As Marie Kondo says, “Our items should give us joy!” Bump up your “Spring Cleaning” into “Fall Cleaning” by avoiding these common decluttering mistakes!
5 Common Mistakes People Make While Decluttering
The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) reported that we spend around a year of our lives searching for lost items. NAPO also found that on average, we only use 80% of our belongings. Those stats alone should motivate you to declutter! Our daily lives are bound to improve when our area is clean and systematized. As Marie Kondo says, “Our items should give us joy!” Bump up your “Spring Cleaning” into “Fall Cleaning” by avoiding these common mistakes!
>Decluttering Mistake #1
Choosing incorrect storage containers
Appropriate storage containers go hand in hand when you are organizing and decluttering. Many people choose to go with bulky containers that can store a lot of different items. While this can be handy when you have space, it can also end up backfiring, as you now have the clutter of these large containers. Combined with the fact, most of us do not have space to store them! Assess the area you have available for storage, prior to beginning the process. Then, figure out what items you want to be stored together and begin organizing them in the proper storage bins
Decluttering Mistake #2
Taking on everything at once
The best way to tackle your decluttering project is to look at one section at a time. Going room by room is a great way to achieve this. Once you’ve organized a certain area, you can check it off the list and celebrate a small win. When you look at this as a whole, it will become slightly overwhelming. Many often give up once they start to feel out of control of the situation. If an entire room still overwhelms you, just start with a closet, and go from there!
Decluttering Mistake #3
Beginning without a plan
It’s extremely important to have a game plan before you start. You will be better able to track how well you are doing, while simultaneously being more efficient. Sit down beforehand, and jot down some goals you want to accomplish. As we begin the Autumn season, you might want to think of going the Hygge route with your home, so keep this technique in mind as you brainstorm! Ultimately, no matter what path you choose, set goals for yourself. If you don’t, you will end up shifting your mess from one room to the next, not accomplishing anything.
Decluttering Mistake #4
Organizing alone
This will not be an easy task, you need strength in numbers! Round up the whole family on a weekend morning and task them with a certain responsibility. Not only will this cut down on the labor time, but it will also bring the whole family together, accomplishing a task together! Order a big lunch to thank everyone for their effort, and enjoy the time spent together. If your family isn’t around, recruit some friends to help the cause. Decluttering alone is a task too big for one person to handle.
Decluttering Mistake #5
Becoming too attached
This may sound harsh, but it’s time to be cut-throat! While decluttering a home, it can be all too easy to become distracted with memories that come up. If you can live without that birthday card you received on your 10th birthday, it’s time to get rid of it! Making piles can help immensely through this issue. Make three separate piles; keep, throw away, and donate. It’s important to seriously think through what you need, and what is simply causing the clutter. Similarly, make sure you are ridding your drawers of any unnecessary paperwork!
It’s always important to take a breath while “Fall Cleaning.” Any time we are going through and getting rid of our belongings, it will get overwhelming. Always remember to smile throughout the process!
