There’s no better time than the start of a new year to tackle the clutter building up in your home. It can be a daunting task and one that’s prone to bring out the procrastinator in you. I’m hoping my simple daily challenge will set you up for success. We will begin by carving out time to spend decluttering, outlining step-by-step what to do, then help you with solutions to dispose of your clutter and finally determine how to reward yourself for a job well done!
A Quick Word About Decluttering & Emotional Attachments
Before discussing how to declutter, let’s first address why it’s essential. You may be thinking, “I like my stuff” or “It’s not hurting anyone if my garage is full of junk.” While it’s true that your possessions may not physically harm others and you may enjoy having them around, the question is: are they serving you and the life you want to lead? Do they hinder you from becoming the person you aspire to be? Do they cause mental strain on you or your family when you can’t locate what you need? It’s highly probable that at least one of these questions resonates with you, and that’s why we declutter.
I’ve said before in my previous decluttering posts New Year, New You: Decluttering with Purposeful Planning – The Neatest Nest and Decluttering Methods to Use for the Entire Home – The Neatest Nest, I’m not advocating a totally minimalist lifestyle or trying to get you to throw away all of your possessions. The basic process of decluttering should leave you with the things you love, need, use and want. Let go of objects that serve no purpose or are kept out of negative emotional attachment. This includes objects we keep “just in case” or to fulfill our aspirations of an idealized self.
The Sewing Machine
To take a story from my own life, I recently decluttered a craft area in my home. In it was a sewing machine and a few nice sewing caddies full to the brim with thread, needles and other sewing accessories. Many years ago, for Christmas, I begged my husband to buy me a sewing machine, and he did. In my mind, I had envisioned sewing curtains and pillows and making homemade Halloween costumes for my kids. In reality, I took one sewing class and promptly placed the sewing machine in a cabinet. It moved with us when we bought a new house and got a home in a new cabinet. During the COVID-19 pandemic I took it out and attempted to make some cloth masks. They were passable but we never used them. After a few days, I put the sewing machine back in the cabinet.
The bottom line is, I had this aspirational idea that I’d become some kind of seamstress whiz. However, I could never figure out how to thread the machine, always got my measurements wrong and it didn’t make me feel good. It’s just NOT FOR ME. I guiltily kept the machine for many years, I had ASKED for it, after all. It was in perfect condition; I couldn’t simply discard it. But this time around, I told myself it was OK to let it go. Someone else could surely put it to better use. All it does is take up space and make me feel shame for not using it.
So, one day, I posted it on Facebook Marketplace for $75 (years ago, it was a $200 machine) and I threw in all the thread and accessories save a few. It was scooped up promptly by someone the next day–it was out of my house and now I had $75. What a great feeling!
It made me think how strong our emotional attachments to stuff can be. To me, it wasn’t just a sewing machine, but a personal failure to live up to the type of person I thought I could be. Giving it up meant admitting failure. But you know what? It WASN’T a failure. I tried something I thought I would like, and it turns out, it wasn’t for me. Why the guilt? Why the shame? If you don’t try things, you’ll never know what makes you happy.
To get to the point, if you have things lying around that make you feel negative emotions or support a lifestyle that just doesn’t resonate with you, it’s OK to let those things go. Find someone who could use them and move on.
Once you’ve parted ways with unnecessary belongings, you’ll be left with the things you truly cherish. You can appreciate them, showcase them, and enjoy them in a cleaner and more spacious environment.
Blocking Out Time
One of the biggest challenges to decluttering is the lack of time. With so many competing obligations, dedicating time to decluttering can feel overwhelming. Between work, household chores, and family duties, there is little time left for decluttering. Fortunately, I’m here to offer you some strategies and advice to help you find the time you need to declutter and make it a priority.
One of the most important things to consider when decluttering is the pace you want to take. You can slowly work it into your daily routine or set aside a larger block of time to complete it all at once. The choice is yours and should suit your personal style.
If you choose to block aside daily time, you can usually complete small decluttering tasks in a half hour or less. Working through these things each day will quickly bring about positive change. When it comes time to do the larger spaces such as closets, garages, and bedrooms, taking a half hour each day to work on a section of the space can be a good plan. Dedicate a week or so to get those spaces done and work steadily on it each day.
If you are the type of person who wants to go all-in and focus all of your time on decluttering in order to complete it as fast as possible, that’s great. It will take some major dedication and organization, but you will get faster results. Make a list of all of the areas you wish to declutter. Estimate how long you think each area will take and then block out the time you need.
If you make decluttering a priority, there is always time. Even if you only have 30 minutes to spare, that’s enough to make a difference. Maybe you swap cooking for takeout, skip your favorite show, or wake up a little earlier (or later). You could even call in your partner to take the kid-wrangling reins for a bit. Sure, each day might throw curveballs, but if you really want it, you’ll always find a way to make it happen!
30 Day Decluttering Challenge Calendar
If you ‘d like to get started on your decluttering journey but don’t know where to begin, I encourage you to do my 30-Day Decluttering Challenge below. I tried to encompass all the areas of the home that would need decluttering. Some items on the list will take longer than one day, while others can be in under a half an hour. Complete the challenge as you see fit and remember, any progress is better than no progress!
What To Do With Stuff You Don’t Want
In addition to lack of time, sorting through the aftermath of decluttered items to find out what to do with them has to be the second biggest roadblock to decluttering. No one likes waste, and just because YOU no longer need an item, it doesn’t make it worthless. There are many ways to get rid of your unwanted items that are still in good condition.
- Donate – Goodwill, VVA, Churches, Libraries, Schools, other non-profit organizations
- Gift to Friends & Family – DO NOT give things to people who don’t want them or will feel the need to keep out of guilt. That’s just perpetuating the clutter cycle!
- Resale Sites – Facebook Marketplace, Thred Up (clothing), Mercari, Ebay, Poshmark (clothing), Craigslist
- Yard Sale – If you have a lot of things to get rid of at once, a yard sale can be the way to go. Be sure to donate what doesn’t sell.
- Give Away – You can post online that your item is at the curb available for free. Or simply put it on the curb with a note.
Sometimes, you get stuck with an item you know is worth some money, but you can’t manage to get anyone to want to buy it. If you try several times and can’t sell it, it’s time to donate. I would suggest you don’t let anything you’ve decluttered to remain in your home for more than three months after you’ve decided to get rid of it. Clutter has a way of creeping back in.
A Job Well Done
Congrats on completing your decluttering goals! After all your hard work, it’s time to treat yourself. After you accomplish your goals, a reward is well-deserved. The way you choose to do it is entirely up to you and your personal preferences. If you’re unsure of how to reward yourself, Here are some ideas below for how to reward yourself:
- Spa day – At home if you don’t want to shell out the dough or at a local spa. Nothing is better than relaxing in a hot tub or getting a rub-down after physical work.
- Eat out at your favorite restaurant – Or maybe try a new one? Make sure to raise a glass to all of your progress!
- Plan a fun night out – The hard work is done, and now it’s time to play! Go paint the town red!
- Purchase something new – If you decluttered items that need to be replaced, splurge on something you really love.
- Buy yourself a gift – Replacing items aren’t the only things you can buy. If you want to reward yourself with a gift just for you, go right ahead!
Let me know if you’ve taken on the decluttering challenge and how you’re doing. Post in the comments below or find me on Facebook. I love to hear from readers!
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