Are you overwhelmed with clutter when you look around your house? Find out how easily you can implement a clutter management system.
Take a moment to look around you house. Are you happy with the way it makes you feel or does it make you feel like you’re surrounded by “stuff”. For most of us, the amount of clutter that we have can leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.
The problem is that when you look at some of the clutter that you have around, you know that it wouldn’t take much time to handle it. However, that doesn’t help to get it done.
Here is a great clutter management system that will help you to regain control over your house so you can feel happy and content again, instead of overwhelmed. These tips are about how to stop the clutter going forward. We’re working on another article that will help you get rid of the clutter you already have.
1Clutter Management Step One - Toss Old Newspapers
The first step in your new clutter management system is an easy one.
Give yourself one day to read the paper and then toss it in your recycle bin. It will reduce the clutter in your home
The truth is that once you get too many stacked up you’re just going to throw them away anyway.
2Implement the One Minute Rule
Make an effort to get things done that you know can be accomplished in one minute. Review the mail and pitch the junk mail, put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, clean off the bathroom countertop.
These types of tasks can be completed in a minute, but when you let them stack up, the cumulative effect can be overwhelming. The second part of your clutter management system is to commit a couple minutes to the easy stuff.
3Figure Out Who To Give Things To
Identify a charitable organization, a person or even a thrift shop who you can take things to when you decide you don’t want them. It will be much easier for you if the place that you choose accepts all kinds of items. If you have to go 5 different places to drop things off, it will be more difficult to find time to do it.
These can be old books, kitchen appliances you have replaced, electronics that have been upgraded or clothes that you no longer need among other things.
The third step to your clutter management system is to identify a place in the house where all of these items will go. Then when the box is full it will be easier to take them to their new home.
4Think Before You Store to Manage Your Clutter
When there is something that you don’t think you need anymore, most people make the decision to store it somewhere in your house.
This may be the basement, a closet or in the back of your cupboards and this is what makes it difficult to manage your clutter.
However, the reality is that if the time comes that you need the item you stored away, you will either not remember that you have it. The other thing that happens is you will decide that it will be too difficult to retrieve the item.
Before you decide to store something, make sure you really need to store it instead of putting it in the box discussed in #3. It will be easier to manage your clutter if you have fewer items to consider.
5Avoid the Freebies
Everyone loves freebies, but before you accept them make sure that you really need them. How much of your clutter came from a tote bag, hand me down toys or a lamp from your aunt?
If you really love it, accept the freebie. However, if you don’t love it and don’t really need it, chances are that it will end up as part of the clutter you need to get rid of in a few months.
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Those are the first five steps to your clutter management system. Stay tuned for the next 5 tips that will help you to manage the clutter in your home.
