How To Get Started With Decluttering

You, too, have probably noticed that older people tend to live in homes full of “stuff.”   So much so that even walking through a room can be tricky, requiring your full attention to be sure you don’t bump into a piece of furniture or step on something. 

We are all prone to consumption, which means we accumulate many items throughout our lifetime. There will come a time when you need to declutter. However, when you have a house full of stuff, it can take time to figure out where to start.  Use the tips below to help you get started.

Pick Your Worst Room

You probably already know which room is bothering you the most. This is where you will be inspired to continue with the rest of the house when you see how great it looks.

Visualize the Room

When deciding which room to start with, visualize what you want the space to look like. What are you hoping for in the result? What will you use the room for? What does your dream room look like?

Take some time with this. When you have a clear goal in mind, you are more likely to have the motivation to continue.

Start with What You See

It can get overwhelming when you think about all the things that are in drawers and closets. Start with desktops, floor space, and the tops of dressers and tables.

Clearing these areas will help you feel like you’re making real progress and can be a motivator when you’re feeling flat or stressed.

Consider the Furniture

Furniture can also contribute to how cluttered a room looks. Look at every piece in the room and make sure they serve a function and are in the right place.

Reorganizing your space can transform a room, and this can be a great inspiration to keep going!

Prepare Yourself Mentally

Being physically prepared for decluttering with bags and boxes on hand is essential. You also need to prepare mentally.

Understand that this process will take time and that you will only transform your home after some time.

Use a Timer to Keep Youself on Track

Decluttering can be overwhelming, so break your time into small, bite-sized chunks. Most experts recommend 15 minutes at a time. Set a timer, get to work, and take a break when the buzzer goes off.

Give Everything a Home

One of the most important ways to succeed in decluttering is to ensure that every home item has its designated space.

Remember the mantra: a place for everything, and everything in its place.

Photograph Sentimental Items

It can be hard to let go of things that have meaning. One option is to take photographs of sentimental items.

Remember, the person who gave it would not want you to be weighed down and obligated to keep it.

Final Thoughts

Decluttering can feel like a monumental task, but as long as you keep going, stay strong, and complete each task, there will be plenty of benefits. You can enjoy reduced stress, more space to enjoy, and, in most cases, reduced housework!

You increase your chances of success by breaking down your decluttering tasks into small chunks. All you have to do is get started!

Please share your thoughts and any response you may have in the form below.

Return to SeniorHealthyLifestyles.com

Bible Study Guides

It Is Written

Amazing Facts

Authentic

This Form cannot be submitted until the missing fields (labelled below in red) have been filled in
Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in.
First Name*
Last Name
E-Mail Address*
Country*	CountryUnited StatesCanada----------------AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntiguaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGrenadaGuamGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard and McDonald IslandsHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyIvory CoastJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribadiNorth KoreaSouth KoreaKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMacedoniaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoFederated States of MicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontserratMoroccoMontenegroMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNetherlands AntillesNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairn IslandPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarReunionRomaniaRussiaRwandaS. Georgia and S. Sandwich Isls.Saint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSpainSri LankaSt. HelenaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSudanSurinameSvalbardSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluU.S. Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican CityVenezuelaVietnamUS Virgin IslandsWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenYugoslavia (former)ZaireZambiaZimbabwe
Question? or Comment?
GDPR*	I am at least 16 years of age. I have read and accept the privacy policy. I understand that you will use my information to contact me or send me the information I requested.