There are very few among us who can say that our homes are completely free of clutter. Whether it’s paper and documents, knickknacks and curios, or crafting and art materials, almost everyone has too much of something cluttering up their house. While decluttering can be extremely cathartic, it’s a difficult procedure to get started on, let alone do efficiently. Let’s take a look at some common mistakes made when decluttering your house, so you can avoid them wherever possible and get the job done right.
Organizing, Not Decluttering
There is a common trap that you can fall into while trying to declutter, and it’s important that you watch out for it. Be on the lookout for instances where you’re just moving things from one place to another or consolidating certain items. Organizing your clutter better isn’t really solving the problem at all. Decluttering involves getting rid of excess clutter, not just making it look neater.
Not Having a Plan
Without having at least a small plan about where you will start and what kind of things you want to throw away, you’ll just continue to hem and haw about what to keep and what to trash. Creating a plan makes the idea of decluttering more concrete, rather than just something you would like to do. Keep it simple and refer back to the plan when you feel like you’ve hit a wall.
Not Being Hard Enough on Your Belongings
Your clutter problem will not go away if you constantly come up with excuses to keep things. You probably won’t “use an item later” if you haven’t used it in the last few months. When you’re decluttering, it’s going to pay off to be harsher on the items you want to get rid of.
Simply Throwing Everything in the Garbage
Sometimes what can trip people up during decluttering is the idea that all these items that once meant something to them will end up in a landfill somewhere. That is a valid concern, especially for our environment. However, not everything needs to be trashed. Places like the Purple Heart Pickup will come directly to your house and take items away for donation, so you don’t even need to leave your home.
Trying To Declutter Too Much, Too Fast
You don’t need to get rid of every bit of clutter in your entire house in one weekend. In fact, if you try to, you’ll likely burn yourself out. Start with one room at a time, or if the clutter is really bad, start with one section of a room at a time. The more methodical you are about the process, the easier you will find the entire experience.
These common mistakes to make when decluttering your home don’t have to stop you in your tracks. Simply knowing how to deal with them will help you get your home back to a state that you’re proud of.
