11 Tips While Decluttering and Organizing

This year has been the year of decluttering, organizing, and simplifying. I tried to have last year be the year of simplifying but it was just the beginning.

Here are some random tips to help you declutter and organize your house, your life, and your head in no particular order.

Make a Plan

You can’t just one day say to yourself that you are going to have a more decluttered and organized life. That would be great if it happened that way. So you need to sit down and make a plan.

Think about what you want and why you want it. Use these free printables to help you get started planning. Once you have a plan in place you will be able to have more success and get more done.

Tell Others

One of the best things that I did to really help me stay motivated and accountable was to tell you. I can talk a big talk sometimes, ask Eddy. Haha! It wasn’t enough to tell just him. I could fail and it wasn’t as big of a deal.

Now, that you all know my goals and plans if I fail it’s a bit more embarrassing. Even though I’m pretty sure you might not care. But that was enough for me, just to know that lots of people know helps me to stay on track with my written plan.

Make Mini Goals

Last year, 2018, I made the whole year a goal; to simplify. It was too much and I wasn’t successful. This year I have broken it down into monthly goals. I pick 1-4 personal goals and 1-4 work goals.

Then I follow my first step and make a plan. I made printables to help me with my monthly goals. You can get yours here. By having mini goals I get to see the results faster. This helps me to stay focused and want to continue with making more goals.

Routines

I started making a morning routine a few months back but then stopped due to not feeling good. I still have some that I try to do every morning. When I do my mornings seem to go better. I’d like to get back into figuring out a better morning routine to help me wake up happier, more refreshed, more accomplished, ready to tackle the day, and be more of a morning person.

I have also started a short nightly routine where I have been reflecting more on my day and recording a few things. After I’m ready for bed I usually sit down to reflect and write for a few minutes. This has helped me to close out my day and get things off my chest if needed.

Work on One Space at a Time

Have you ever felt like a chicken running around with your head cut off, trying to do 13 things at once? And then after you felt like nothing was accomplished. Decluttering and organizing will b e the same unless you stick to one space or area at a time.

If you plan on doing a closet, a cupboard or a full room stick to that same space until it’s 100% completed. You may not be able to get the whole space finished in one setting, that’s okay! When you get the time to continue working, keep working on the same space. You just might feel more accomplished and ready to do something else soon after.

Set a Timer

You are alone for a few minutes. Or maybe it’s nap time or the kids are in bed. You have time to organize something buuuuuut you just don’t want to. Do yourself a favor and set the timer for 10-15 minutes.

Once the timer is set get your body moving and organize something you want to or have already started. Chances are once the timer has gone off you might have finished the mini project (YAY for you!!!) or you’ll want to keep going.

It’s kind of a game changer, give it a try. 🙂

Think About the Space

What good is an organized space if there is no rhyme or reason to it? Before you start working on a space, THINK about it. What is the space used for? Who will have access to the space? What needs to be in the space? What can go? How do you want to organize the space?

See, there are lots of things to think about when organizing a space, haha. recently I cleaned off the top of our grossly messy fridge. There were some random things, trash, and unnecessary junk for the top of the fridge.

I thought about what I wanted it to look like, how I wanted it to function, and what really needed to be there. In the end about 5 things went back on top. It’s more functional and we can get to the little cupboards easier without having to move everything.

Like Items Together

To go along with the tip above you want to put like items together. Do you have a wide range of light bulbs hanging around? We did. I labeled a plastic tub light bulbs. Then I put all the light bulbs that we have in this tub.

Now when we need a new light bulb I can go to our linen closet and find the one I need. So much better then having two or more places for light bulbs.

As you are organizing and decluttering spaces make sure you are putting like things together, it will save you time and it’s fun. 🙂

Sentimental Items

This is a hard one for me and many people. For things that hold a lot of memories it can be hard to give up. As I keep going on this journey or being more simplified and organized I find it sometimes easier to let go of items I was holding on to.

What has helped me is seeing and feeling the change in my home and life as we declutter and organize. I have been able to let more things go then in the past.

Remember and Take a Picture

When I am having a hard time letting something go that I really and truly do not need I love to take the time to think about all of my memories surrounding this thing. By reliving the moment I can feel more okay to let it go.

If that’s not enough then I’ll take a picture of it. That way I will still have a representation but not the actual object. I also like to tell Eddy or my kids about it.

Box it Up

There are still so many things I just can’t part with. Many of them are things my from childhood. Eddy and I both have a few boxes and tubs of things from years ago.

While you are going through things and you think that you really can’t live without it put it in a box. Keep that box in a safe place. Try again at a later date. Sometimes time just needs to pass before you are ready to give it up.

And other times you still need to keep it. That’s okay! As long as you find happiness in keeping it and have room to keep it, why not?

As you are decluttering and organizing I hope you are able to find the peace and joy in having less stuff, knowing where your things are, and having more time for the things you love.

Good luck in your decluttering and organizing journey!

Xoxo, Steph