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 As JULIE MCCORMICK exclaims, “Clutter can distract you, weigh you
down, and in general it invites chaos into your life.” As much as
some may want a clutter fairy to make it all disappear overnight,
that is not going to happen. The work can seem overwhelming, but the
results are likely to pay off.
When decluttering, some "victims" attempt to rescue themselves by
organizing and storing items. However, others see such efforts as
just a way of rearranging the unnecessary clutter.
Joshua Becker, in his article “Don’t Just Declutter, De-own.” He
asserts that is it important to “challenge yourself to remove the
unneeded things in your home.” His suggestion is to “Carry a trash
bag from room-to-room. See how big of a donation pile you can make.
Or help eliminate debt by selling them.
It doesn’t matter so much how you remove them, as long as you do.
For it is far better to de-own than declutter.”
Among the strategies offered by Cynthia Ewer in “Declutter 101:
Strategies To Cut Clutter,” is “The Four-Box method,” which she says
“forces a decision, item by item.” It requires an individual to take
“three boxes and a large trash can” The boxes should be labeled “Put
Away," "Give Away/Sell" and "Storage." Items that need to be thrown
away go in the trash can.
When decluttering, individuals need to consider whether an item is
something they really want to keep. On items like clothing, a good
rule of thumb is to get rid of items that have not been worn in at
least a year.
For items one decides to keep Maria Kondo, author of the bestselling
book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” declares that people
should designate a spot for every item they own. As Kondo notes,
“The reason every item must have a designated place is because the
existence of an item without a home multiplies the chances that your
space will become cluttered again.” Just relocating items does not
solve the problem. Once a system is in place, it is important to
continue keeping out the clutter or it will just take over again.
After deciding where to put everything, it is important to take
inventory of the items, which should keep individuals from buying
more items they do not need.
Less clutter can also mean less stress. As Joshua Becker affirms,
“The less clutter, the less visual stress we experience. A
minimalist home has a calming feel.”
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For those getting ready to sell a house, decluttering is even more important.
From the article “How to Declutter Before an Open House” comes advice that “When
it’s time to sell your home, editing your decor will help make the sale. Buyers
need to picture themselves living in your home, and they can’t do that if your
stuff is crammed into every corner. Even if your house is dust-free and your
fixtures are sparkling, your personal clutter can be a potential turnoff to
buyers.”
Michael Simonson of ME Realty advises sellers to eliminate half their belongings
as “clutter can cost a sale.” He also recommends renting a storage unit or
portable pod for extraneous pieces of furniture or knickknacks and “organize all
closets and drawers.” He says people need to emotionally let go of a home.
Though the work can be time consuming and sometimes overwhelming, the
satisfaction of living with less clutter can bring a sense of freedom and help
people move from chaos to order.
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