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Do you find decluttering stressful and overwhelming?

If you’ve read my de-clutter-a-thon posts, you’ve probably figured out that I really donโ€™t like de-cluttering a whole bunch at once.

Itโ€™s just too overwhelming for me to de-clutter for more than an hour or so. Especially on the things that are a little more difficult to get rid of. You know, the dress I havenโ€™t worn in over a year but it *might* be the perfect outfit for the next occasion ๐Ÿ˜‰

Thatโ€™s why I love this simple approach to stress-free de-cluttering of my home. With these easy rules, de-cluttering is a much more manageable process.

How to De-Clutter Stress-Free

Plan and Prepare

First of all, you need a plan. This can be as simple as knowing what youโ€™re going to work on and in what order.

Then, prepare by having boxes or bins ready for trash, recycling, donating, and relocating items.

Positive Mindset

Next up letโ€™s talk mindset real quick. If you go into decluttering with an irritated attitude itโ€™s going to be harder.

Instead, think of the positive outcomes youโ€™re going to experience – cleaner home, more space, and less stress.

One Area at a Time

It doesnโ€™t need to be a big area, either. One drawer, cabinet, shelf, or basket will do. It takes a little more time in the long run, but if youโ€™re not overwhelmed itโ€™s much easier to finish the process.

If I try to do an entire room at once, I get overwhelmed and distracted. Not to mention it takes a lot more time and before long Iโ€™m interrupted by someone needing something.

A Few Things at a Time

If the area is a major clutter collector and you know that a ton of things need to be cleaned out, take five minutes and find 5 – 10 things to throw away, donate, or move to their actual home. With just a few items to start with, you might even be inspired to keep going!

For an Hour at a Time

All day de-cluttering is just not really an option for me. If it takes over an hour I pretty much shut down and nothing else gets done. I good way to combat that is to set a timer and see how much you can get done in that amount of time. But then once it goes off youโ€™re done and can move on with your day.

Or Even a Few Minutes at a Time

You donโ€™t need an hour to make progress. As little as 5-10 minutes will help as you tackle just one small area.

Several days of 5-10 minutes will lead to real, tangible results in your home.

Keep it Organized

Before you start de-cluttering do just a little bit of prep work: have a small, dedicated space for donation items, have a trash bag handy, make sure thereโ€™s a basket or something nearby to collect items that go in a different part of the house.

Another good idea is to turn on something to pass the time and help you focus. For example, you could turn on some music or a podcast to listen to while youโ€™re cleaning out.

Turn on Music or Audio Book

Turning on music or an audio book is a good way to help you focus and push through your decluttering time. You could also tune into a podcast you enjoy – there are several out there on minimalism and decluttering to inspire you while youโ€™re working.

Make it a Habit

Getting into the habit of de-cluttering a little bit at a time is what will make the biggest impact in the long haul. If you make it a habit to de-clutter for 15 minutes a few times a week, it wonโ€™t seem like such a big deal and your home will be kept clutter-free.

When you make these simple steps into habits, it really takes the overwhelm out of de-cluttering your home. Focusing on just a little bit at a time and then being done for the day can keep you from getting burned out and only getting halfway through the house.

This method has worked well for me and I hope you too can use it to become clutter-free!

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guide to stress free decluttering

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