The final part 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 forty-one through fifty. If you missed our first ten tips, you can find them here and begin your journey through the entire first forty.
41. Flip Side! Create One Completely Uncluttered Space.
Just like you should allow yourself one space to be messy in, you need to make sure that you hold yourself accountable for one space that is pristine. It’s the core of your de-cluttering effort. You need a space where, when you go into it, you feel the calm and peace that comes from a clutter free environment and where you never allow yourself to slack off. Think of it in scientific terms as “a clean room.” You’d be surprised how this room may work like a virus, spreading its clutter free nature to the rest of your house.
42. Deal with Mail Immediately.
This tip is so simple but it can have a major impact on your sensation of clutter in your home. Don’t let mail add up in a giant pile on a table somewhere. Yes, we all get too much mail and much of it includes items we don’t want, didn’t ask for and never intend to open. It’s easy to let that type of material grow into a giant pile that seemingly never goes away. But like many things we’ve touched on in this article, the larger it gets the more overwhelming it will be and the less likely you will be to address it. There are steps that you can take to reduce the amount of junk mail you get (though it will feel like Sisyphus). There’s, in truth, a limited amount that you can do to stop the deluge of mail. Just try to keep on top of it quickly and make sure that you’re shredding and recycling unwanted mail.
43. Turn Clutter Into Cash. Then Don’t Buy More Clutter.
If you’re having a hard time getting into the mental or emotional mind-space to let go of stuff, then motivate yourself with cash! You may be surprised how many items you have can be sold for money. From yard sales to swap meets to flea markets to consignment stores to the internet, there have never been more options for selling your stuff for cash and enjoying the spoils. Of course, what you then spend that cash on matters. Don’t buy more stuff! Use it for a great meal, a vacation you’ve been dreaming of or a day at the spa. Clutter out needs to combine with no more clutter in.
44. Accept a Certain Amount of “Kid Clutter.” When They Are Older, Give them Chores.
We talked earlier about setting realistic goals and expectations. One of the most important places to consider this is if you have young children. There’s a certain amount of clutter that comes with children that you’ll make yourself crazy if you try to avoid. It’s okay to want to minimize the “kid footprint” of your home, but you have to accept that there will be some. But there’s good news as well. Kids get older, and when they do you can give them chores. They may sabotage your effort at a clutter-free home when they are tiny, but then they will ultimately grow up in a way that you can enlist them in your army against clutter.
45. The Seasonal Storage Trap is … a Trap.
There’s nothing wrong with seasonal storage of items that you only use in the summer or the winter. In fact, packing up your items at the end of the season can be a great way to keep closets clutter free. What is a trap, however, is that it’s hard to “let go of things” during the pack-up process. When you’re packing something away for the season, it’s easy to think “This may be all the rage by next year.” And when you’re unpacking, sentimentality can take over because you haven’t seen an item that you “love” for a year. What’s the trick? Do your closet purge in the middle of the season before seasonal packing starts. Avoid the mental traps altogether.
46. Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now!
We have a personal trick we use sometimes when we’re not very motivated to get to de-cluttering. We think of all of the good that the items we’re giving away could do for others, especially in the current economic downturn. There are obvious ways to donate such as thrift stores and the Salvation Army, but there are also plenty of ways to donate goods that can ultimately help specific groups you care about. For example, did you know that there are organizations that will accept furniture donations to redistribute to women who have been displaced by domestic violence? Even offering an item for free on Craigslist can help it get into the hands of a person who really needs it. Do some research. You may become so passionate about some of the opportunities available for donations that you get inspired to give away even more.
47. Just Say No to Freebies and Swag.
Here’s another moment where we’d like you to stop and look around your home. How much of your clutter is from “freebies” you got? Extra samples at the beauty counter? Swag at a sports event on “free foam finger night?” The list is endless. Organizations love giving freebies because people love freebies, but how often have you ever actually used any of the freebies you’ve gotten at these events? Chances are some hats and some cups got used and not much else. The solution? Don’t get caught up in freebie mania! Really think about whether a freebie has a place in your home before instinctively grabbing it.
48. Go on Vacation.
What does going on vacation have to do with getting clutter-free? It’s an opportunity to clear your mind and set goals. Both of those things are highly important if you’re looking to make a big change in your life. Vacations are also a great way to note the start or end of something. In this case, you’re ending your addiction to stuff and clutter and beginning your new, clutter-free life. What could be more exciting than that? It’s better to stop and start … on a beach!
49. Visualize.
You can’t get to your destination if you don’t know what that destination looks like. Walk through your home, office or other space. Stop. Look into a room. Imagine what it will look like when it’s clutter free. Look at that messy countertop. Imagine what it will look like when it’s clutter free. Repeat this process in as many places as you need to until you’ve visualized your entire life without clutter. The journey is the point, but you need an idea of the destination.
50. Declutter the Computer.
Up until this last tip, we’ve talked about physical spaces and mental spaces, but we haven’t talked about virtual spaces. Given how much time each of us spends on our laptops, tablets or desktops, clutter can impact how we think, live and organize there. When was the last time you emptied your computer’s “trash?” How many old documents and drafts of documents and photos that were mistaken are on your computer? It’s time for a long day with a glass (or bottle) of wine and some de-cluttering of your virtual environment.
Clutter. It means different things to different people, but if you’re using the word clutter it definitely means that you’re thinking of the impact that it has on your life as a negative. Fifty tips to help you declutter is far more than you need, but our hope is that you’ll find the ones that are best for you and most targeted for you within this list. From there, the clean, uncluttered existence is just a glorious journey away!
Those are our final ten tips on how to de-clutter your entire life! 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
Photo Credit: Tobi via Flickr
