The Best of Live Intentionally Decluttering Tips

With everyone stuck at home, lots of people suddenly have time to tackle the clutter. I think that’s awesome. Getting rid of excess is an important aspect of living intentionally.

Whether you’re facing the daunting task of decluttering for the first time or you’re dealing with another round in the never-ending process, here are some tips that will help you work through the clutter and create a more peaceful and productive home.

Consider these benefits of a less cluttered home

• Less time wasted tidying or searching for stuff you can’t find
• Clearer priorities, because you’ve gotten rid of stuff that doesn’t suit your lifestyle and values
• More productivity, because your home is more organized and you have more time to pursue what matters
• Rooms that function the way you want and reflect your priorities
• Easier hospitality because there’s not as much to tidy up before guests come
• Less stress, because a disorganized house weighs you down even when you aren’t aware of it

Looking for a simple way to start? Try these decluttering tips

Here’s a list of 49 things it’s easy to say goodbye to.

And here’s a list of quick declutter tasks you can finish in ten minutes or less.

If you’re ready to dig in, here are three simple questions to help you make decluttering decisions.

Finally, here are 7 tips to help you declutter like a pro.

Five simple mindset tweaks to make the process easier

Deciding which stuff to keep and which to let go can be tough. In fact, just thinking about it can be enough to keep you from starting. Don’t let that happen. Adopting these mindset tweaks will help you make those decluttering decisions with as little pain as possible.

1. Don’t get stuck in decision paralysis. If you are 80% sure you no longer need an item, that’s good enough. Ten years down the road, you might regret giving away one or two things, but that regret is minuscule compared with the relief you’ll feel about all the excess stuff that’s no longer weighing you down.
2. Choose to be authentic. We all acquire stuff because we think we want it, someone else thinks we ought to have it, or we had good intentions of using it. The wise declutterer is honest about who they really are and the lifestyle they choose to live. Items that don’t fit that reality are clutter, no matter how fashionable the item or noble the aspirations for hoping to use it someday. If it doesn’t fit your personality or values, you don’t need it.
3. Redefine your definition of value. An item’s value extends far beyond the purchase price. So forget price tags and define an item’s value based on how well it serves you. An expensive item you dislike is not valuable. A perfectly usable item that no longer suits your lifestyle is not valuable—to you anyway. Any item that isn’t adding benefit to your life isn’t valuable, no matter how much you spent on it.
4. Look at the positive side. Instead of viewing decluttering as a personal loss, consider it as an opportunity to bless others. The items you no longer need or value can be given a new home where they will be loved and appreciated. Somewhere out there is a person who really needs the unused stuff cluttering your closet. Why not bless them by passing it along?
5. Consider the real cost of keeping excess items. If you own a storage unit there’s a literal cost to keeping your excess. Then there’s the cost of shelving, bins, and tubs to store it in and the time you waste keeping it all tidy and organized. Even if you aren’t paying actual dollars, your stuff still has a storage cost, such as:

• It clogs up space you could put to better use
• It impedes your ability to find what you want
• It’s always in the way because it doesn’t have a home
• It carries an emotional weight (guilt, stress, frustration)

A few more suggestions to help the decluttering process

Don’t assume loved ones want the treasures you are saving for them. That’s a great way to store excess stuff we don’t need to keep. If you are saving items for someone else, make sure you are communicating clearly with that someone. Have you asked that someone if they want the items? If they do, consider whether it’s reasonable for you to store them, or if your loved ones should be responsible for keeping the stuff themselves.

Two hints. DO: Take photos of the items you’re keeping and ask loved ones if they still want those items. You may be surprised at how many sentimental items they no longer want. DON”T: Box them all up and send them to your loved ones without warning. (A surprise package with one or two small items can be a fun blast from the past, but if you want to do a major purge, ask before sending.)

Keep a donate bin or box. That way you can add items whenever you come across things you don’t need. If you’re tempted to remove items and put them back, make sure the container has a lid (so you don’t see the stuff every time you walk by) and empty it frequently.

Don’t send all your clutter to a landfill. Do your part to dispose of your excess in a responsible manner. But be aware that these services may be overwhelmed when things first open up again, so be patient.

I hope these tips have been helpful as you work through your clutter.

Part of living intentionally is letting go of whatever no longer belongs in our lives. What’s cluttering up your life these days? Is it time to let it go?