Image Source: nypost.com

Many hundreds of years ago, the total items that a person owned could be counted on a finger of one hand.

These times are long behind us, aren’t they?

Here is just so much “stuff” that you own now and the total number of the items that you consider your possessions just increases every year.

Take an example when you move into a new apartment. You have the boxes with just the essentials and some items with emotional value.

What happens a couple of years after?

The number of “clutter” increases significantly. In a couple of years there is just so much stuff around your house and you even do not know where it came from.

You do not have to be defined as a hoarder to have clutter in your home. But if you feel there is too much things in your possession, we prepared a couple of simple tips that might help you to “unclutter” your life.

1. One for Two rule

It can not be applied each and every time, but try to make your decision by this rule. If you bring one item to the house, two items must go away. Donate them, give them to somebody or just throw them out.

Of course you can not do this every time, or you will have no belongings left but try to think about it when making a purchase. This will help you to simplify your life. 

2. Clothes decluttering

Image Source: imgur.com

If you go through your wardrobe, and see a piece of clothes that you did not wear for a year, chances are you will never wear it.

Make a yearly audit of your clothes. You will be surprised how many pieces you have that you did not wear for a year.

3. Paper management

You come home, you check your mailbox, take some letter that came. Some are important, so you open them immediately, some you throw them out automatically but some are just there in the middle, so you put them on the table somewhere… and they stay there.

Not only do they stay but they are accumulating over time. So you move them to the drawer.

It is time to check that drawer. Take all the paper out, sort it and throw away the ones that you do not need. 

Same goes for movie tickets, payment confirmations, train tickets. Whatever paper clutter that you brought home has to go now. Decluttering in action!

4. Kitchen

Image Source: moneycrashers.com

Do you also have a pan that is not really usable but you are keeping it “just in case”. Well, it’s time had come.

In many kitchen countertops are filled with cooking clutter that is not used or used just a few times a week. Get rid of the items you do not need and store the ones that you do somewhere not in the open.

5. Packing exercise

You may be familiar with Mari Kondo saying how to separate items. The ones that spark joy should be kept, the ones that do not – should be given away. That is one point of looking at things.

Another one is – if you would have to move today – would you pack it with you?

Usually the things that you need and items that you have emotional attachment will stay. But the pack of magazines would probably be thrown away to help in decluttering.

6. IT Upgrades

Have a stack of CDs…consider switching to spotify. Sure, do not sell your collection of vinyls, that is a completely different topic. Just think about the things that became redundant due tio technology changes.

7. Don’t just move the clutter

Image Source: scmp.com

Do not just move the clutter from your flat to the storage. That is not the point of the “decluttering” exercise. The point is to have fewer things, not to store them elsewhere.

The only situation when this could be acceptable is if you are really undecided about the item. Or you feel partial emotional attachment to it, leave it somewhere hidden and when you come across it next time, you will make a final call on it.

Hope this will simplify things and life and clear out your place a bit!