The Becker Method: Room-By-Room Decluttering. My rigorous decluttering method focuses on room-by-room decluttering, starting with the easiest, most lived-in areas first. When you begin this way.
Declutter these 2 things in the next 5 minutes! March 5, 2018 by Sarah Mueller. Do you ever feel like you have to dedicate an.
Declutter your plates or cups cupboard. Many modern homes are filled with duplicate items. One of the places this can be easily noticed is in our kitchen cupboards. Realistically, how many cups, mugs, bowls, and plates does your family need? Have you slowly accumulated an entire cupboard full of them?
Do you ever feel like you have to dedicate an entire afternoon or even a weekend to do any meaningful decluttering?
While it’s great to have long uninterrupted stretches of time, decluttering doesn’t have to wait until the stars align and you’ve got an entire weekend free (and let’s face it- that may never happen anyway!)
Nope – you can declutter and make a significant dent in as little as 5 minutes!
Read on to see how.
When people tell me they’re overwhelmed by the clutter and can’t decide where to start, this is what I do.
I tell them to look around for the quick wins.
The low-hanging fruit.
What can they do RIGHT NOW that will make a difference?
And when it comes to clutter, here are 2 things that I’m positive almost everyone has too much of in their homes.
1. Magazines and Catalogs.
Oh the magazines! We “only” get about 5 subscriptions but when you count all the catalogs that arrive without you having to ask for them, you could end up with a pretty high stack of unread magazines.
My rule is if it hasn’t been read in about 2 weeks, it needs to go.
The thing about magazines is that a new supply will show up in your mailbox every week! No need to stress about a lack of ideas or reading material.
So take a walk through your home and collect an armful of magazines and catalogs.
Toss ’em Into the recycle bin or maybe to pass along to a friend.
If you’ve got extra time, you might want to take a stack of magazines to your local doctor’s office or hospital waiting room. Preschools sometimes take magazines to use for crafts.
If you’re worried about privacy, definitely get yourself one of these little black out stamps (affiliate link).
This little roller stamp is so much fun to use.
My kids fight over who gets to black out the addresses lol.
You can use them to wipe out your address and any other personal information on paperwork or mail. Plus, they’re super fun to use!
2. Pens and pencils
Pens and pencils seem to multiply in junk drawers, kitchen cupboards and home offices.
Let’s not forget about all the dried up markers and broken crayons you may have hiding in the back of your craft bins and toy boxes.
So take a minute or two to collect all the pencil nubs, pens without ink, etc. etc. and toss ’em in the trash.
If you’re the kind of person who likes video, I recently did a Facebook live talking about this very topic!
Whew – I hope you got through that quickly!
What I love about decluttering is that you can do little bits and pieces when you have a few extra minutes and still have a nice result to show for your work!
Do you find it hard to start decluttering? Do you think this idea will help?
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Are you overwhelmed thinking about where to start declutteringyour home? If so, there’s no need to stress! Simply choose one of these quick and easy ideas, and you’ll be on the road to clutter-free living in no time.
We all know that the hardest part of any big project is taking the first step, and decluttering your home is no exception.
After all, most people have spent their entire lives accumulating stuff, little by little, year after year.
As a reformed shopaholic, I know what it’s like to live in a home that’s bursting at the seams. Closets, cupboards, and drawers—every available space filled to the brim with “stuff”.
It’s suffocating, but the thought of letting go can be terrifying. There’s so much to do and you have no idea where to start decluttering.
It’s enough to make you want to crawl back into bed and hide from the world—but don’t give up. Instead, keep reading for tips on how to take your first steps.
Once you do, I promise you’ll be surprised by how easy it is to clear the clutter.
How Do I Start to Declutter My House?
If you’re new to decluttering, the first thing to know is that it’s a two-part process, which involves practical AND emotional decisions.
Both are equally important. You need a decluttering plan that will help you get the job done, but checklists alone won’t get you far.
You also need to work on your mindset. These are the thoughts and beliefs that allowed your home to become cluttered in the first place.
This is where I recommend you begin but don’t worry; it’s not complicated. Simply take five minutes and ask yourself these questions before you start decluttering:
Why do I want to declutter my home?
What am I creating space for in my life?
What matters most to me?
When you’re done, I want you to keep these answers close to your heart. They’re going to help you stay focused on why you’re decluttering, which in turn will help you stay motivated.
They will also help you decide what to keep while decluttering. Whenever you feel overwhelmed or confused, check-in with your answers. Ask yourself, “Does this item take me closer or further away from the life I want most?”
Related Post: 4 Thoughtful Questions to Ask When Decluttering
5 Quick + Easy Ways To Start Decluttering Your Home
Once you’ve done the mindset work, the next step is to decide where to start decluttering in your home. I recommend choosing a small project from the following list.
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Don’t overthink it—just choose one and don’t worry about the rest of your house for now. It will only overwhelm you. Instead, stay focused on completing the job at hand.
Then when you’re done, choose another project and repeat the process.
CLEAR A PROBLEM AREA
One of my top decluttering tips is to start with a problem area.
Think about your home. Is there a spot that causes you a lot of stress and frustration?
For example, do you have a table near your front door where everyone dumps keys, mail and other random items? Does this stress you out because you can never find what you need on your way out the door?
If so, then this is an excellent place to start decluttering because it will have an immediate impact on your life.
It’s not a big job but it makes your life easier. Every morning, you’ll be able to find exactly what you need instead of feeling stressed. What better way to start your day?
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That positive feeling will motivate you to tackle your next decluttering project, creating momentum. It’s win-win all around.
Of course, this is just one example. You might not have a front table like this, but odds are there’s somewhere in your home that creates a lot of unnecessary stress.
CREATE A CLUTTER-FREE OASIS
Another idea is to use decluttering as a form of self-care.
Is there a spot in your home that’s just for you? A little oasis where you can retreat and recharge? If not, why don’t you create one?
It doesn’t have to be an entire room. Instead, choose to declutter a tiny nook or a corner of your bedroom—somewhere that you’re not enjoying now because there’s too much clutter.
When you’re finished, you’ll feel the satisfaction of a job well done AND you’ll have a beautiful place where you can relax!
Tip: Before you begin decluttering, take a few minutes to picture how you’ll feel in your new space. Keep these feelings in mind while you’re decluttering. It will help you maintain perspective and remind you why you took on this project.
PICK AN EASY WIN
Episodes 2 2. If you find decluttering overwhelming, you might find it easier to choose a space with minimal emotional attachment.
For example, you could declutter:
Under your kitchen sink
Your medicine cabinet
Your sock drawer
Your kitchen pantry
Choose a place where you’re unlikely to encounter any expensive or sentimental items. This way, you don’t have the added pressure of dealing with emotional baggage.
Instead, you can stay objective and get the job done quickly. This will help build your confidence so you can tackle bigger projects like decluttering your closet.
CREATE VISUAL CALM
Are you a visual person? Does looking at clutter stress you out? If so, you might want to start your decluttering by tackling a large surface.
For example, in my home, this would definitely be the kitchen island. It’s the main focal point of our living area and, when it’s clear, my entire house instantly feels lighter.
If that doesn’t appeal to you, you might want to do your dining room table, your desk, or even just the front of your fridge. Decluttering these simple spaces can create the illusion of a clutter-free home, which will encourage you to keep going.
CHOOSE ONE ITEM YOU REALLY STRUGGLE WITH
This is a different approach that works well for some personalities—but it’s not for everyone.
If you like a challenge, choose to start by decluttering ONE item that you really struggle with. It might be a sentimental item, like a gift from your grandparents, or it could be something really expensive that you regret spending money on.
Pick your item and then don’t worry about the rest of your house. Instead, work on whatever’s holding you back from letting it go.
It’s simple because you only have one thing to declutter, but it’s complicated because you’re dealing with the messy, emotional side of decluttering. It won’t be easy, but when you’re finished, you’ll know that you can handle anything that comes your way.
Tip: If you decide to try this method, I recommend reading, Mindful Decluttering, my free decluttering guide and workbook. There’s an extensive troubleshooting section, which will help you overcome your biggest decluttering challenges. Get instant access by subscribing, using the form below.
More Decluttering Strategies + Resources
Hopefully, you now know where to start decluttering your home. This is a significant first step—but if you’re still feeling overwhelmed, here are more strategies and resources to help you.
If you need the motivation to get started, check out:
Epic pen pro. If you want more tips and ideas, check out:
And finally, if you want …
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a step-by-step decluttering plan
video coaching to help you overcome your biggest decluttering challenges
resources to help you declutter your schedule
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… and more tools to empower minimalist living, then check out my signature program, Clear Your Clutter. I’ve worked with women from all over the world, and I’d love to help you create the freedom and ease that you deserve too.
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Are you ready to clear the clutter? Comment below and let us know where you plan to start decluttering your home!