If you are anything like me, this might sound familiar. You notice your car is A. MESS. I mean, full of take-out bags, dirty napkins, and more Starbucks cups than you can count. The list goes on, and on. So you decide, “You know what, this car deserves to breathe”. You go on a decluttering rampage and eventually, you reach cleanliness. But how long do you sustain it? Let me tell you I have been in this spot time and time again, and it was never pretty and never fun! This is where this post will help you. And not just with your car, but in your living space, your nest, your home! When I started to declutter regularly by establishing the habit of maintenance in my home and overall (I’m talking wallet, car, office) I finally felt like I could navigate my environment without the chaos of mess!
How?
This involves setting aside dedicated time on a consistent basis to address clutter and ensure a continuous sense of order in your living space. The approach prevents clutter from accumulating and becoming overwhelming over time because we know we don’t want to navigate through the mess, we want to thrive without it. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to start! Are you ready, ’cause we’re going in!
This Post is All About Establishing the Habit of Decluttering Regularly
Table of Contents
- This Post is All About Establishing the Habit of Decluttering Regularly
- Step 1: Choose a Specific “Declutter Day”
- Step 2: Set a Declutter Duration
- Step 3: Create a Declutter Routine
- Step 4: Start Small
- Step 5: Sort and Decide
- Step 6: Establish a “Home” for Everything
- Step 7: Declutter the High-Traffic Areas
- Step 8: Maintain Sentimental Items
- Step 9: Celebrate Progress
- Step 10: Adjust and Evolve
- How to Declutter Regularly
Step 1: Choose a Specific “Declutter Day”
Select an exact day and time each week that works best for you to focus on decluttering. This could be a weekend morning, a weekday evening, or any other time that aligns with your schedule.
For me, it is Sunday mornings, after I’ve done my meditations and had my morning coffee. One, because I don’t work Sundays, and two, because it feels like a ✨#reset✨ type of day, where Monday can be a new, clean slate.
Know that holding yourself accountable is a huge part of this endeavor. If you tell yourself you’re going to do it, actually do it! But also, give yourself grace. I know things could come up, and certain things might bleed into the time you decide to tackle decluttering.
Step 2: Set a Declutter Duration
Decide on the duration of your decluttering session. It could be as short as 15 minutes to start with, or you could allocate an hour, depending on the size of your space and the amount of clutter.
What I don’t want you to do is become overwhelmed, grow to hate decluttering, and eventually spiral into not wanting to do the task in the first place.
Start with a simple 5 minutes if you need to, and when you’re done with the 5 minutes, celebrate the win sis!
You did it. You did it and it felt good right?
Well if you want to keep going, don’t mind me honey, but know that you dedicated yourself to decluttering for the 5 minutes that you said you would, and you did. And that is perfectly enough. 🙂 You are well on your way to maintaining the decluttering habit!
Step 3: Create a Declutter Routine
Consistency is key. Treat your decluttering sessions as a regular routine, similar to exercising or meal planning. Add it to your calendar or set a reminder on your phone to ensure you don’t miss it.
And then: Follow through.
Keep this mantra in mind: Do it more often than not. If you totally can’t declutter one day, that doesn’t mean you failed. It just means you can do it next time.
Step 4: Start Small
Begin with a manageable area or task. For instance, you could focus on decluttering a specific drawer, a closet shelf, or your kitchen countertop. Starting small helps prevent feeling overwhelmed and makes the task more achievable.
When I first started establishing the habit of decluttering, I started with my dining room table! Not even my whole dining room, just the table! I wanted to put away everything that didn’t belong on the table and just declutter that.
I think you know what I mean when I say that flat surfaces are really the most prone to hold everything! I mean we had jackets, folders, homework, bills, shin guards, the list goes on and on!
Tackling the whole house might seem like a faraway dream, but when you are consistent, know that you will accomplish the feat!
Step 5: Sort and Decide
As you declutter, follow the same approach as you would during a larger decluttering session. Create three piles: Keep, Donate/Sell, and Discard. Make decisions about each item based on whether it adds value to your life and aligns with your goals.
You don’t necessarily need to have three boxes for every session. You can gauge if you will need to, depending on what space you’re tackling, and what the items are. For my dining room table, for example, I only needed two piles: Keep and discard.
Step 6: Establish a “Home” for Everything
During your decluttering session, take the opportunity to organize and find designated places for items that you decide to keep. Having a specific place for everything and actually putting the items in that specific place reduces the chances of future clutter.
Having accessible designated places like a charging zone, or an entry zone with a designated shoe rack are game changers! If you keep these areas easily accessible and readily available, chances are high that you will take advantage of them and use them accordingly, instead of, like past me, having a dining room table act as a catch-all.
James Clear dives into these zones in his book Atomic Habits. Check it out, it truly is life-changing!
Step 7: Declutter the High-Traffic Areas
Focus on areas that tend to accumulate clutter quickly, such as entryways, kitchen counters, or your workspace. These high-traffic areas are often the first to become cluttered, so addressing them regularly maintains a sense of order.
Maybe Sunday resets are not enough in your household, or maybe you need to implement quick 5-minute every day decluttering sessions in your living room because you’ve got toddlers running around, and the living room is actually very busy, who knows!
Well, you know. You know your home best, how your overall sense of well-being interacts with it, and the clutter that accumulates, and where!
Step 8: Maintain Sentimental Items
If you come across sentimental items during your decluttering, take a moment to reflect on their significance. Decide whether they truly bring joy and value to your life or if they can be stored in a way that preserves their sentiment without contributing to clutter.
In no way am I telling you that you shouldn’t hold on to these items if they make you feel joy. Absolutely you should if they bring you good feelings!
Step 9: Celebrate Progress
At the end of each decluttering session, take a moment to appreciate your progress.
Sis, you’re doing a good job! Pat yourself on the back you’re becoming ✨#thatgirl✨, living ✨#thatlife✨!
Enjoy the sense of accomplishment and the visual impact of your efforts. Looks good doesn’t it? And feels even better! On a spiritual level, you’re allowing creativity and energy to flow into your home and into your life.
Step 10: Adjust and Evolve
As you incorporate regular maintenance into your routine, you may find that certain areas require less attention over time.
This doesn’t mean completely ignoring a space once it’s free and clear of clutter! It just means you can adjust your focus based on the evolving needs of your space.
How to Declutter Regularly
By making decluttering a consistent practice, you create an ongoing cycle of maintaining order and preventing clutter from accumulating.
When you declutter regularly, you ensure that your living space remains inviting, organized, and conducive to positive energy flow on a spiritual level. Remember that our 3D physical reality is a reflection of our inner patterns.
Build yourself up, honey!
Over time, this practice can lead to a more harmonious and mindful living environment.
Let me know what you decided to tackle first, and how you felt afterwards.
To your inevitable successful journey!
