Decluttering can be a very intimidating job. Especially for those that have been collecting things for years and struggle to let go of items. However, with some help, you can start your decluttering journey and clear out your home. Here is advice from We Buy Any House.
1. Ease yourself into it
Decluttering your home is not going to be an overnight task, and if you know that you struggle with jobs like this, it is even more important not to throw yourself into it. Expecting too much will set you up to fail. So take it slow and work at a speed that you are comfortable with. This will help you commit to the task and keep you more focused and set a more realistic timeframe.
2. Pick small areas to start
Seeing results is a lot of what keeps us motivated during decluttering, so working in small areas at a time will show you those results and keep you going. If you walk into a cluttered room and pick out 10 items around the place, you will probably barely notice a difference, whereas if you take those items from one location like a drawer or a cupboard, you will instantly see a change. Pick out these little areas and work through them, and then you will be able to start tackling larger spaces as you progress.
3. Make it part of your routine
The best way to properly commit to your decluttering journey is to make it such a normal part of your lifestyle that it becomes second nature. A good way to do this is to dedicate a set amount of time to decluttering each day. You can pick the time that works best for you, but 20 minutes is recommended as it is enough to make some progress without getting sick of working. After a while, you will probably see yourself increasing this time as you see results and want to work even harder to get the job finished.
4. Set yourself rewards
Motivation is the key to your decluttering, and if you know that you struggle with staying focused and often lose the drive to get things done, you can put some rewards in place to spur you on. You can personalize this to you, so whether it be a meal out or treating yourself to something you have been wanting to get for a while, set yourself some boundaries of what you have got to do to achieve that reward. This will help to keep your drive and encourage you to stick with it, even if you are having an off day.
5. Keep, bin, donate, sell
Get yourself 4 boxes and as you declutter, split things up into the categories of keep, bin, donate, or sell. Each week or two, you can then empty these boxes and take the items to where they need to go – either finding a more appropriate place for them at home, out in the bins, to a local charity, or posting them online to sell and get some extra cash. A lot of the time, the donate and sell boxes will fill up the fastest which is great – you will know that while you do not need these items, they can go to someone else and serve a purpose there instead.
6. Involve a friend
Clearing out is a difficult task at the best of times, let alone if you have got a sentimental attachment to your things. Often, having someone impartial there will help you be more reasonable and get rid of more things than you would if you were on your own. Some friends like to declutter their homes simultaneously. They will encourage you to progress as they are and reduce the risk of you giving in, as someone else is relying on you to keep going with them. You can both set time aside each day and share the amount that you have done at the end of the time you have agreed. This will often encourage friendly competition and get you both to put in even more effort.
7. Show your progress
Before and after photos are a wonderful way to show just how much progress you have made. They will remind you of the work you have put in, preventing you from going back to a cluttered home. Some like to publish these photos to show the work they have done, but you do not have to do this. You can keep them for you to remind yourself of the time you put into your home and the results that you achieved. These photos are also a great pick-me-up if you are losing motivation. They will help to spur you on to continue your decluttering.
Knowing these tips and using them will help you with your decluttering and get your home to look stunning. Gives you the drive to keep it looking that way and avoid falling back into the decluttering lifestyle.
This guest post was penned by We Buy Any House, the UK's leading house buyer. Whether you're looking to quickly sell your property or taking your time with the decision, they have fast and efficient service that will enable you to sell your house in a timeframe that suits you, with no fees and no commission. Get a cash offer in as littles as 60 minutes: www.webuyanyhouse.co.uk/
Special thanks to Holy Herbert and the copy team from We Buy Any House for making this possible.
