How often should you declutter, really?
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- Опубліковано 22 чер 2024
- You already know that living clutter-free isn't about big decluttering sprees. It's about a consistent, manageable approach. But the real question is, how often should you declutter to maintain that ideal balance? That's what we're talking about today.
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Every Monday I do one area in my house (on a rotating schedule). Just 20 min or so but it makes a big difference and it is a nice way to start the week. Thanks for the ideas!
Love that!
Every Monday, I declutter an area (drawer, cabinet, shelf) of my home. I also do a 30-day whole house declutter every March. I don’t always have items for disposal, since I’ve been doing this for over 3 years, but it gives me a chance to clean up the area.
I declutter a little at a time with bursts of larger amounts. I am always looking at what I have and asking myself if it is time to rehome.
What a great idea for a video, Mia! I love that you didn't give vague time frames in this video and instead listed specific numbers. Your time frames are similar to what I have experienced is good for me! And I totally agree on the organic decluttering in high traffic areas (I just tossed a few things in our bathroom cabinet today).
It took me embarassingly long to realize that maintainance decluttering is, in fact, necessary. I remember sitting in my home one and a half years after my initiial declutter ended and wondering why everything felt so cluttered, lol. On the other hand, it was an experience that definietely stuck with me! I am much more aware of this feeling that slowly creeps up, that feeling of stuff being crammed and you getting overwhelmed. Now I can identify it early and know it's time to let go of some stuff.
I found out that my ideal decluttering rhythm is every 3-4 months. It's nothing compared to what you have to go through at the start of your journey (no impressive mountain of trash or donations), but it still amazes me every time that within this short period of time there will be at least a shoebox full of stuff to let go of. Oftentimes even more!
Something I noticed as a woman is that my monthly cycle has an impact on my decluttering. I am much more ruthless during the second half of my cycle while I cling more to stuff before ovulation. When I get the urge to declutter I will schedule it for the week before my period because I know I will be more efficient then and I will get rid of more because the process of letting go is easier for me at that time. Getting stuff out also lifts my mood in the second half of my cycle, even more than at other times (one might argue that there can be a little rage purging involved at times 😉).
Furthermore, there are special times during the year when I crave decluttering. Around the end of February when the light is coming back I get the urge for a spring cleaning. Same goes for the end of summer and beginning of fall somewhen in August. I also love to use the week between Christmas and New Year and the first week of the new year to do a reset in my life, which involves my space as well as a lot of internal work.
I don't have kids yet, but I have heard parents say that they do a decluttering session for toys before their kids' birthdays and Christmas. I love that idea!
Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I just try to be mindful and pull things out to declutter as I go about my day. For example, I recently added 6 tops to my clothing donation bag. However, that only applies to my main living areas. Every once in a while, I do a bigger project on the lower levels. This usually occurs when I'm down in the basement doing laundry. I'll start a load of wash then do some decluttering/cleaning/organizing down there until it's ready to go in the dryer.
Omg.. in in for the move of my life 🫣🙈 From northen Europe to southern. I have moved across the country and plenty of shorter moves but this one feels daunting! Looking foward to when the move is done 😄 but not the actual move itself 🙈 Until 2 years ago I lived in a small city studio apartment of around 250sq.meters. I wasnt super minimalist but good at tetris storage to fit everything. But not maximalist. Average perhaps? Then 2 years ago me and my new husband bought a countryside farm. Not the biggest place, a small cottage with 3 bedrooms that we share with his 2 teenage girls. Still, stuff got accumulated. And now we have to declutter harshly to make this move less painful 🙈 So in desperate need of decluttering inspiration again 😅
I'm doing a declutter right now of CD's and art supplies. I am hoping to move in the next year so I am simplifying a considerable amount to make the transition easier. By doing this I've learned that I don't need as much as I thought. I'm almost down to the items I actually wear/use.
There has yet to be a move after which I say to myself: "I wish I had not started so early." Your future self will be so thankful for everything you already have accomplished :) You cannot start too early with the preperations for a move!
I live alone so no pantry clutter here. Whenever I use something I will put the open wrapping in the front so that I will finish that before starting something else and concerning pasta or rice I will just put that in a glass jar completely. Normally there is not coming a lot of new things in my home and I do have the rule of 1 in 1 out. Clothing is thrown out as soon as it has a hole in it and otherwise I will still wear it. I do my paperwork as soon as something new comes in. So most of the things stay the way they are only the change in me can mean that I will throw out stuff that I’m not interested in anymore. But all of that said…I’m still not finished decluttering yet. My bathroom, kitchen and livingroom are finished, 1 bedroom is halfway now and 2 bedrooms are still to be done completely (1 of them I turned into a craftroom and is still a lot of work). With the little energy I have I still make small steps forward.
Lately my decluttering comes during disasters likecwhen the septic tank backed up or the kitchen sink needed work. I still have all the rest of the house to do especially the garage, basement and storage building. These areas have our mothers's things from when they passed and my husband's stuff since he passed 6 years ago. This is very hard since I've been dealing with some major health issues, my daughter got married and I had to evacuate from a wildfire over the last 5 years. My health and the disasters also have come with a little depression I call the "idawannas" the days when you don't want to do anything. My plan is to return to a routine in 2024.
This includes a deep cleaning day, which will make me focus on decluttering a certain area of my house.
I have a couple of bins for donation items to make it easy day to day to set it aside. Once a month I make the run to get rid of them. I’m decluttering Christmas items this year as I set up decorations and put up the tree.
Man * I glad someone like you doing this video - cause holding on to stuff is as Stuffy " as a Stuffed Turkey 🦃😎
Could you do a checklist of the things you were talking about in the video? I’m a visual person and also my memory isn’t all that good anymore.
Oh, I've never thought to make my pantry an ongoing declutter! I've added that to my monthly schedule.
Now it's way less intimidating than trying to do it all at once and keep it that way forever. 😅
Thank you!
Wonderful!
Great video! Would you ever do a behind the scenes video on your business/making UA-cam videos?
Omg ,thanks for the video. I'm getting crazy why my house still clutters . Now I know I need to do it frequently ❤ .
Any time!
Always great stuff 🎉
You're the best!