Written by Farooq Deep, Graduate Assistant, WellCats
“The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don’t.” – Joshua Becker.
To declutter is to remove messes or clutter—from a space. Decluttering doesn’t just clear your closets, basement or garage of stuff you no longer need, it can also give you a sense of control and even help reduce stress when the world is full of uncertainty and anxiety. If you’re struggling with how to declutter, here are some ways to get started:
• Starting slow– Sometimes you might feel that you don’t have enough time. In such cases, you can start by giving 5 minutes every day and building momentum to slowly increase the time you give to decluttering.
• Taking help– If you have trouble getting rid of things that you once loved, take help from a friend or family member. Have them go through your home and suggest a handful of big items to throw away or give to someone else. If you defend the item and want to keep it, your friend has to agree with your reason. If they don’t agree, it’s time to get rid of it.
• Taking before and after pictures– Clear a small area of your house. Take pictures of the area before and after the clearing process and see how you feel about it. There are higher chances that you will feel good about it and it will motivate you to clear more areas of your house.
“We bring things into our world to enrich our quality of life, until one day we realize that the multitude of possessions is actually detracting us from our life,” – Mindy Godding
For further reading on the topic check out this “Creative Ways to Declutter” article.