Decluttering as Meditation
Decluttering your home or workspace can often seem overwhelming, but in truth it can be as peaceful as meditation, and can be a way to practice living mindfully and in the moment.
Whether you’re downsizing or just trying to simplify your life, figuring out how to declutter your home is a big job. The best way to start decluttering when you’re overwhelmed is to do it in stages. Make a “declutter your home checklist” to prioritize clutter areas. Focus on one room, or even one zone within a room (e.g., kitchen cabinets), at a time. And complete each job fully before moving on to the next space.
Let’s get started
Step 1: Assess Your Space
The first step in getting organized is assessing your space to make it as multifunctional as possible.
Step 2: Declutter
Decluttering is as much visual as it is mental. Since this step can be the most overwhelming part of the process, this handy do’s and don’ts list will keep things streamlined.
DO
- Pull everything out before you start sorting.
- Measure your space to see what will fit when purchasing containers.
- Check expiration dates on everything—the more you get rid of, the more space you have.
- Invest in a label maker.
- Separate foods and items into categories that will make it easy for you to find.
- Make sure to stay calm, present, and not jump too far ahead.
- If you haven’t used it or worn it in a year, let it go.
- Ask yourself if it sparks joy—a must-try tip from the organizing guru herself, Marie Kondo.
DON’T
- Don’t talk yourself into keeping items or keep them out of guilt.
- Don’t keep items you wouldn’t buy now.
- Don’t try to do too much too fast.
- Have a decluttering holding space and a plan of action on how to get rid of unwanted items.
- Have a number for a junk or donate service on hand or have it scheduled.
Step 3: Categorize
The step is broken down into three separate groups: Keep, donate, or store. Additionally, I like to label three bins so that way it’s prepared for purging. This makes the transition from clutter to clarity easier. Now that you have an empty space, you can get a clear understanding of the best way to utilize what you have. For example, in a small closet without a lot of shelf space, you would want to use hooks for belts and scarves and a shoe rack on the back of the door to store shoes.
Step 4: Place Items and Label Your Containers
When it comes to closets, colour-coordinate your clothes and try to organize from light to dark. For the pantry, remove any bags or boxes, and choose clear food storage containers to keep everything looking cohesive.
Final Step
Take a minute to be proud of yourself and your new environment. You have officially made it from clutter to clarity!