Most of us find it rewarding to tidy up.
It can feel liberating and even energizing to see organized shelves, clutter-free closets and clean countertops.
But as time goes by, those spaces often get cluttered again despite our best efforts.
But there is a way to break the cycle.
Making your decluttering stick once and for all requires reframing how you approach the task, organizers say.
Think of decluttering like going on a diet, but with things.
A diet takes time and effort.
WHERE TO BEGIN
1.
Shift your mindset
Like all big life changes, getting clutter under control starts with a mindset shift.
You have to decide on an honest and introspective level that youre ready to make getting organized a priority.
I say, When you hearFinal Jeopardycome on, start cleaning.
When you make decluttering a habit, its easier to stay on top of things.
We say were busy.
No ones too busy for 10 minutes.
Everybody has time for that.
Instead, tackle clearly defined spaces that you might start and finish in the time you have.
Break big jobs into smaller ones if needed.
Shift from broad terms into specifics.
Set specific, realistic deadlines, too
Even better, define when specifically you plan to do those tasks.
We tell ourselves well do something later.
But what does ‘later’ mean?
Give yourself a defined time frame.
Pull everything out
To organize a space, you have to first know whats currently jammed into it.
So start by completely emptying the area.
Ask yourself questions like: Is this broken or outdated?
When is the last time I used this?
Am I likely to use this again?
Consider whether you could replace an item easily and inexpensively if you do need it again.
