Part three of our list of fifty ways to help you de-clutter literally every part of your life. Postconsumers doesn’t believe that clutter is just about bad organization or too much “stuff.” It’s an intricate connection between mental, emotional and media factors as well as just the noise and business of contemporary society. Today we’ll tackle tips twenty-one through thirty. If you missed our first ten tips, you can find them here and begin your journey through the entire first twenty.
21. Use the One Year Rule. Few Exceptions!
One of the most common pieces of advice given for people who want to de-clutter or do a “stuff” purge (or even just manage how many items they keep in their home or closet at any one time) is to use the “one-year” rule. The rule itself is actually fairly simple. If you haven’t used an item or worn a piece of clothing in a year or more, it’s time for it to go. Of course, there are obvious exceptions to this rule like family heirlooms, but for the most part it’s a pretty effective way to identify what you need and what you should get rid of. The hard part won’t be going through your things and figuring out what you haven’t used in a year – it will be getting over the emotional or mental hump of actually getting rid of it. There are tips in this article set to help you hold on to the emotional value of items without holding on to the item itself. Just remember, every item that is sitting unused in your home is an item that could probably help somebody else out.
22. The One-for-One Match Rule. No Exceptions.
Another great rule for keeping clutter at bay, especially while you’re working on de-cluttering to begin with, is to use the one-for-one match rule. When one new thing comes into your home, one comparable thing has to leave. Can’t live without those new red pumps? That means you’ll have to donate or get rid of one of your existing pairs of shoes. Think that sale on bed sheets is so good that you can’t pass it up? Ok, but that means that you’ll need to repurpose or donate existing bed sheets. Whatever is coming in means that another thing has to go out. Again, it’s not a hard rule to understand, but it can actually be emotionally and mentally challenging to implement.
23. Always Use a Shopping List. Don’t Deviate From It.
One way to make sure that you don’t buy things that you don’t need is to make sure that you know what you need before you leave the house. That’s where the shopping list comes in. There are benefits to a shopping list that have nothing to do with clutter. For example, you’ll actually spend less time shopping if you spend fifteen minutes making a list first and then stick to your plan. You’ll also always be better about budgeting. But when it comes to de-cluttering, sticking only to your shopping list quite simply removes the possibility that you’ll buy something that you don’t need, usually on impulse. Of course, this supposes that you’ll stick to items that you need when you make the shopping list and then exercise the will power to follow it. We believe in you though!
24. Cut Down on the Apps. Not Just the Shopping Apps.
The most important thing to realize in this tip is that shopping apps are hurting your effort to de-clutter. The easier that it is to buy something, the more likely that you are to buy it. That type of ease is never good for you if you’re trying to reduce. But that’s not the only reason that a phone full of apps can work against your de-cluttering goals. We’ve talked previously about how media exposure and mental noise can work against your desire to become clutter free. Smartphone apps are both media exposure and mental noise. That doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the world if you like to play Angry Birds sometimes. And there are actually some great apps out there for budgeting or making socially conscious purchases. When it comes to apps though, as well as so much else, less is more. Pick the essentials and then clear out. Or, as we like to say it, de-clutter your phone (or tablet).
25. Consider Digitizing. Reduce Physical Things.
These days, digitizing offers an opportunity to get rid of so many physical things that may be creating clutter. Have stacks and stacks of old photos? Scan and digitize them to clear space (they’ll also preserve better). You can get rid of albums, dvds and even old cassette tapes by digitizing them. In fact, these days, even old VCR tapes can be converted to dvds and then digitized. Finally, while it hurts our hearts to say this, perhaps you don’t need quite as many hardcopy books as you think you do. Imagine how much clutter you can clear by replacing your hardcopy books with digital versions? The most important thing to remember when digitizing your life? Make sure there are backup copies!
26. Set Reasonable Goals. Don’t Try to Become a Postconsumer Overnight.
This may be tip number twenty-six, but we hope that you read it before you even begin your journey. You need to begin by setting reasonable goals about de-cluttering. You’re not going to go from a hoarder’s delight to modern minimalism overnight. And it’s very possible that you’ll find that the right destination for you in the journey is somewhere between complete de-cluttering and the stark appearance of an art museum. What’s a reasonable goal? Start small. Pick things that you know that you can achieve (like the one drawer a week goal). You’ll build up your comfort level as you see yourself succeeding and it will be easier to set bigger goals.
27. Don’t Limit Efforts to Your Home Life.
If you’re anything like we are, you spend as much of your life at your office or work environment as you do in your home. Whether it’s a cubicle, a desk, an office or even a locker, how you organize your space at work can have a big impact on not just your attitude toward clutter in the rest of your life but also on how well you perform at work. Take everything that you’re thinking about or learning in this list and apply it to your work environment as well. We all wish we spent less time at work, but that’s probably not a reality for most of us. Instead, make your work environment mentally relaxing by keeping it clutter free and organized.
28. Get Organized in the Morning. How You Start Matters.
If you’re a mess in the morning, that’s how most of the rest of the day will play out. This is true in the world of clutter and mess just like it is in the worlds of dieting, professional achievement and daily productivity. Take fifteen minutes in the morning to get yourself organized. Make sure that the kitchen counter and the bathroom shelves are clean when you leave. Remove yesterday’s trash from your car. Check your purse or man-bag and make sure you’ve removed any waste or clutter that went into it the day before. Whatever it is that you need to do to make sure you start the day without a trail of clutter already forming, do it.
29. Weekends Are for the Car. And We Don’t Just Mean Road Trips.
Take a moment right now and think about how much clutter does (or doesn’t) exist in your car. How’s your trunk? Stripped of everything but an emergency kit … or basically serving as a second gym locker. What about that glove compartment? Just the registration and owner’s manual, or are gloves and gum from three seasons back living in there? Do we even want to know about the center console and side pockets? Especially if you have regular commutes to work, clutter in the car can add up quickly. Designate some weekend time to clear it out. You don’t need a full detail – just fifteen minutes with a trash bag.
30. Hold Your Family to the Same Standards.
If you’re part of a family, then we have what may be good news and may be challenging news. You need to have your family on board to create a clutter-free existence. It’s okay to allow (but discourage) clutter in individual rooms, but you’re de-cluttering efforts will sputter if you try to reduce while everybody else isn’t. Clutter is like matter responding to a vacuum. The more clear spaces you create in a home, the more others who clutter will find them. Also, just because you want to create a reduction in clutter it doesn’t mean that you should be in a position where you’re always picking up after people. Get the family on board and do it quickly – even if it means setting down some hard and fast rules.
Those are our third ten tips on how to de-clutter your entire life, but we have twenty more! Continue on, and if you think we missed one be sure to share it with us using the social media channels below.
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Related Information
Talking Yourself Through a Stuff Purge
Tips for Staying Decluttered After a Stuff Purge
Twenty Ways to Reduce Noise in Your Life
The Relationship Between “Stuff” and Memories
Best Smartphone Apps for Budgeting
Consuming Fewer Digital Resources
Photo Credit: Tobin via Flickr
