Procrastinating a declutter session is common and has to do with putting off things that don't seem “urgent”. Until stuff is piled up all around you and blocking up your space. As organization specialist Barbara Hemphill says, “clutter is about postponed decisions”. It's certainly easier to clean, organize and function in a decluttered space. Not to mention breath (without all that stuff collecting dust)! So now that you've finally decided to declutter your home, you're probably wondering where to begin? The process can feel formidable when you're staring at a disorganized, chaotic home crammed with stuff.
There are various methods that can help make the whole process easier. Tricks of the trade, so to speak. Most experts recommend working in sections, starting in one small part of a room (for example, the utility closet or medicine cabinet), completing the decluttering task and then branching out to other parts of the house from there. By now, almost everyone has heard of Marie Kondo and the Konmari method. She's a world renowned tidying expert who's method includes a special way of folding clothes, pulling all your stuff out at once and putting it in a big pile to be sorted in one day and getting rid of anything that doesn't “spark joy”. Some call her process extreme and it may be overwhelming for beginners, with failure to complete the job being a risk. “Box and Banish” or the 4 Box Method is another system (although garbage/recycling bags can be used instead). A separate box or bag is made for Donating, Recycling, Keeping (items that need a new spot to store to be found) and Garbage. You can move around a room and put items in disarray in the appropriate box/bag until the room is clear of clutter. You may want to create another box/bag for items that need repair. Another popular method is to make a commitment to remove 1 item from your house each day. That's 365 items per year! You can even ramp things up by removing 1 item the first day, 2 the second day, 3 the third day, and so on. The average American has 300,000 items in their home, so you can be pretty sure to find something that needs to go.
Decluttering guru Karen Kingston, author of “Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui”, recommends lighting incense and turning on comforting music (some people even recommend having a glass of wine!). It's all about setting yourself at ease and psychologically preparing for this often difficult and dreaded task.
Whatever method you choose, keep a vision in your mind about what you want your house (and life) to look like after you've finished. Give yourself a treat (maybe a nice dinner out or massage) after completing your work. You deserve it. And you and your family deserve an orderly home.