It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The holiday season is approaching rapidly. Are you looking forward to all the festivities or are you dreading it because you need to clear clutter in order to even function.
The holiday season is a time for family, friends, and fun. But it can also be a time of stress and anxiety. There are presents to buy, cards to send, and parties to attend. On top of all that, your home may be crammed full of holiday decorations, gifts, food, and all the other things that you have collected throughout the year.
If your home is cluttered and chaotic, it can add to your stress levels. So, let’s start now to rid your home of all the excess stuff so that you can relax and finally enjoy the holidays like they were meant to be enjoyed.
Does it Bring Me Joy – If Not Clear the Clutter
Before we get to the easy ways to rid your space of clutter, ask yourself the following question:
Do I love it, does it bring me joy?
If the answer is no, it is time to rid your space of these items to make room for things that do bring you joy.
Living in a clutter-filled environment can affect all areas of your life. You Can suffer from weight gain or depression or any of the following:
- More stress – you could be suffering from overwhelm because everywhere you look there is something to take care of, clean, or straighten.
- Embarrassment – because of all of your clutter, you might not have room for friends and family.
- Isolation – others may not want to spend time at your house because there is no where to sit and relax.
- Physical accidents – you could trip or slip and badly injure yourself.
- Safety issues – unnecessary clutter can create fire hazards or havens for unsanitary pests.
Check out this article from WEBMD for more information on how clutter can affect you.
Now that you know how negatively clutter can affect you, let’s start today and make a plan to rid your precious space of all unwanted items.
Make this the year that you host a spectacular holiday celebration filled with the sights and sounds of family and friends gathering together.
9 Easy Ways to Clear Clutter Right Now
Following are 9 ways to easily clear clutter from your home:
- Trash it –
Of course, sometimes the best way to get rid of clutter is simply to throw it away. I’m going to repeat this step because it is the most important.
THROW IT AWAY!
Start by throwing out everything that literally is garbage. (Empty food containers, soda cans, pieces of paper that are no longer needed, or newspapers, etc., etc., etc.)
Then move on to those items that you have collected for future use.
How many plastic grocery bags do you have laying around? How many empty cool whip containers do you own? How about empty food jars?
Unless you have a project that you are working on that uses these items right this moment, you don’t need any of this stuff.
THROW IT AWAY!
This also goes for items that are broken or damaged beyond repair, as well as for items that are made from non-recyclable materials.
If you have mountains of these kind of things, you have just proven that you don’t use all that you have, and it is just cluttering up your life.
I am going to say it again. If it is trash or broken –
THROW IT AWAY!
When in doubt, err on the side of caution and throw it away!
Make a goal of filling one trash bag and putting it out in the trash can each day.
2. Donate –
One of the best ways to get rid of clutter is to donate it to a local charity or thrift store. This is a great option if you have items that are in good condition but that you no longer need, like, or want.
A good rule of thumb is if you have not used or worn it in a year, you are probably not going to, so give it to someone who truly will like or wear it.
You will be doing two things – freeing up closet space for those items that you really do like and offering charity to someone in need.
Donating is also a great way to declutter your home quickly, as you can simply box up the items and drop them off at the nearest donation center.
This step is so gratifying that you quite possibly may get addicted to it.
Make a goal to put one item a day into a box for donation. Then at the end of the week take the box to your local donation site.
3. Recycle –
Another choice for getting rid of clutter is to recycle it. This is a great option for items that are no longer usable but that are made from recyclable materials. Many municipalities have recycling programs that will pick up items from your home, or you can take them to a local recycling center yourself.
4. Upcycle –
Upcycling is a great way to repurpose old items and turn them into something new and useful. For example, an old dresser can be painted and turned into a bathroom vanity, or an old door can be sanded down and turned into a coffee table. Upcycling is a great way to give new life to old items and to declutter your home at the same time.
5. Storage
Another option for dealing with clutter is to simply put it into storage. This is a great choice if you have items that you don’t need on a daily basis but that you still want to keep around.
Examples of items to put in storage are the turkey roaster that you only use on Thanksgiving, baking equipment that you use only during holiday times, holiday decorations, ski and snowboarding equipment, seasonal clothing, summer water toys, beach, and boating equipment. Often you can store these items in your attic, garage or backyard shed.
Another possibility is to rent a storage space, however this kind of storage can be costly, so only use this choice if you have room in your budget.
6. Minimalism –
One of the best ways to reduce clutter in your life is to adopt a minimalist lifestyle. Minimalism involves living with only the essential belongings that you need and getting rid of anything else that doesn’t serve a purpose in your life. This can be a difficult lifestyle change to make, but it can be very rewarding in terms of reducing stress and decluttering your home and your life.
7. Enlist help from friends and family –
Sometimes if you look at your space through the eyes of another it helps to see the excess. Have your friend or family member gather items that they think should be disposed of, then as you go through the pile, it is your job to ask yourself why you want to keep it.
Have your friend or family member explain to you why you should not be keeping these items. Often together you both can come up with a good solution for the best purpose for excessive or unwanted things.
Remember this should be a productive and helpful process. It should not be used as judgement or criticism. It is not the time for argument or conflict. Only enlist the help of those that you trust and can lovingly help you through this process.
8. Set a timer –
Use your smart phone to set a timer for a specific period of time. Typically, this should be for 10, 15, or 20 minutes. Once you have cleared for your specific time period you are done for the day. Go do something fun to reward yourself.
9. Clear as you go –
This is kind of self-explanatory. When you use up any kind of container immediately throw it away.
By using this method, eventually you will only have the things that you love and are used on a regular basis.
When all of your clutter is cleared and contained, it is time to make sure that everything has a home. When everything has a home, it takes just minutes each day to tidy up.
One of the very best websites to help you get your house in order is:
I have followed fly lady for many, many years. By following the lists and daily tasks on the FlyLady Plus app, I have been able to live in a clean, uncluttered environment for several years.
The website is very detailed with baby steps and lists of things to get your house and life in order. Their app is free and easy to follow, and I highly recommend checking these out.
So, what are you waiting for? If your goal is to spend more quality time with loved ones this holiday season (and less time tripping over piles of stuff), start decluttering today. You don’t have to do it all at once – take baby steps and work on one small area at a time. Before you know it, your home will be clean, organized, and ready to welcome family and friends with open arms. And isn’t that what the holidays are all about?
As always, thank you for reading.
xooxoo
Julie
