As summertime comes to a close and the fall and eventual holiday season looms on the horizon, an opportune time to declutter the home presents itself. Taking advantage of the remaining, more laid-back summer days to tackle the overabundance filling the homefront is a project that will reap dividends through the end of the calendar year and beyond.
Before the kids go back to school or your family embarks on a new homeschool year; before the family holiday gatherings ramp up; before the Christmas decor comes out; before the inevitable influx of stuff arrives—now is the time to assess your space, rid your home of the items that no longer serve you, and reset your environment for the fourth quarter.
Gather the Tools
Before getting started, gather garbage bags, donation bags, storage bins, and labeling tools like a label maker or stickers and markers. You might want to keep a duster or cleaning supplies handy as you go.One Room at a Time
The idea of decluttering your home can be overwhelming. Break it down into more manageable pieces by first going room by room. As you begin a room, you may want to further break down the project into smaller chunks—for example, focusing on just a closet or drawer to begin with—depending on the time you have available to work. The more days you can dedicate to the task, the smaller the chunks you can break it into.Start Early
Speaking of time, no matter whether you’re employing the marathon method or doing this a little at a time, begin the task of decluttering each day as early as possible. Decluttering can, at times, invite us down rabbit holes. You may come across treasured memories or parts of a project you’ve been meaning to get back on your priorities list.Going through your stuff can evoke emotional responses and inspiration alike. While staying focused and not distracted throughout the process will definitely increase your pace, some preoccupation is bound to occur.
Keep, Toss, Give
The process of decluttering can be kept simple by limiting your decisions to only three possibilities: keep, toss, or give. As you go through your belongings, refrain from expanding the scope of your efforts to rearranging the furniture, redecorating, repairing things, etc.Immediate Removal
At the conclusion of each decluttering session, be sure to remove the trash and donation bags from your home. If you can get to your donation location immediately, do so. Otherwise, at least get them in the trunk of the car and out of your space.Progress Over Perfection
Keep your spirits up as you go by focusing on progress, not perfection. Some of us tend to envision in our minds Instagram-perfect spaces or catalog images when we take on home projects. The reality as you go about decluttering may not necessarily match such high ideals, at least not at first. Further, the impossible standard of perfection leads some people to feel overwhelmed or hopeless and refrain from even getting started.The End in Mind
Finally, keep your end goal in mind as you declutter your home. Envision how it’ll feel to keep only those items you love and use. Picture how great it’ll be to begin the school year fresh or invite family and friends for holiday festivities. Imagine how much easier navigating the upcoming busy season will be when you’re not bogged down with unnecessary clutter.See clearly in your mind’s eye the fruits of this effort, and keep going until it’s done.