Decluttering. It’s a word that’s pretty self-explanatory, but how many of us have trouble actually accomplishing it? If every time you think about the need to declutter and organize your home, you just start thinking about how you “can’t get rid of this, that and the other because….” then you need help! I’ve got the help you need with expert tips in the form of 9 decluttering rules to live by. Bring these decluttering rules into your life and you won’t regret it.
Here are the 9 decluttering rules to live by:
Rule #1: Above all else, you are the person who decides what to part with, and what to keep. Anything that you really, absolutely love should stay in your life. If you don’t love it, if it brings you stress or sadness, then it’s time to think about getting rid of it.
Rule #2: You can allow your close loved ones to help dictate what you keep in your life, but you don’t have to listen to the advice of someone who doesn’t care about what is important to you. You also shouldn’t discard things that belong to someone else without their permission.
Rule #3: Kids’ toys and other mementos are more special when the ones that are kept are truly treasured. For those that are just sentimental, sometimes it is helpful to take a digital picture of it to keep. Then you can discard the actual item. This helps with things like notes from a friend, kids’ artwork, etc.
Rule #4: If the cost to store an item is more than the value of the item itself, it’s probably time to let it go.
Rule #5: Designate a time limit to help you judge the actual usefulness of an item you’ve been storing. If you haven’t used it in 6 months, or at most a year, it is time to say goodbye. My personal time limit is one year! If your time limit is 6 months, then make an exception for your seasonal items like Christmas decor.
Rule #6: You don’t have to toss items in the trash if that is unbearable to you. Instead, donate to a women’s shelter, thrift store, or other worthy cause. You can also choose to sell items that have real monetary worth, or gift them to someone special who will appreciate them or use them.
Rule #7: Holding onto something just because you might use it “someday” is not a good way to live life. Have the courage to make a decision to actually use or discard that item. It’s really very freeing!
Rule #8: Though it may be “organized” to you, clutter is still clutter. But you get to decide how much clutter is okay with you. Some people are very overwhelmed by any clutter at all, while others are not.
Rule #9: Remember that you are not defined by the stuff in your life. For example, owning a lot of sporting equipment doesn’t make you sporty, but actually using the equipment on a regular basis does! Anything you have a lot of, such as books or sporting equipment or camping stuff, doesn’t have to stick around unless you actually put it to use. Discard the stuff that just takes up space.
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