Declutter Your Life

It is time to become a declutter queen. It is time to clear out your closet and your mind. It is time to organize your family and schedule. It is time to reclaim your time and your goals.

Clutter is not your friend. Clutter is the thing that keeps you from moving forward in your life. Clutter can be physical, mental, emotional, or relational. Anything in your life that does not support you being a better version of yourself is clutter!

Letting go of the clutter can improve your life. H.G. Chissell said, “Clutter is a physical manifestation of fear that cripples our ability to grow.” What do you want to grow in? Do you want more time to relax and focus on yourself – clear the clutter. Do you want to stop running around doing so much – clear the clutter and get organized. Clearing the clutter will not only clear your space, it will clear your mind and your schedule.

I have shared my declutter queen journey with you – how I realized my clutter was a problem and decided to address it. I started with my closet and changed it from a confused mess to an organized space. Then I moved out to other areas of my home. Clutter kept me from starting this blog for 3 years! “In the process of decluttering things in my life, I was peeling off the layers of my past that no longer mattered to my present life. – Lisa Shultz

Now, I want to help you move forward from thinking about the clutter to tackling the clutter. When you look up checklists for decluttering you will find long lists with an abundance of information. The task will seem daunting and you might want to give up. I think the lists are good but there are truly only Five Steps for a Room Declutter:

1. Clear out all the clutter. Anything that can be moved easily and is not stationary needs to be moved. You need a clean slate.
2. Sort your items into keep, trash, and giveaway. I like to use trash bags when I am sorting. Boxes can get heavy and seeing the items might temp you to keep them. They are also easy to toss in the trash or in your car (if they are being given away for donations).
3. Create a layout of what you want the room to look like. If you don’t have a plan, you plan to fall right back into the clutter. Map out what you want the room to look like for functionality and comfort.

4. Reuse and recycle items for storage. I am a firm believe in recycling items in my home. I use diaper boxes as storage bins. I cover them in nice wrapping paper and put a label on them. I reuse oatmeal cartons and cereal boxes for storage items. There is no need to spend lots of money on storage accessories. Reuse what you have first, before buying anything.

5. Designate a space for everything. Clutter will creep back into your space as fast as you banished it if you do not have a designated space for each item. It is important to know where change from pockets will go every day or where to put a work badge, so it is not misplaced. Also make sure those items you use often are not tucked far away or out of site.

I want to encourage you to start your declutter queen journey. It only takes five steps: clear out the clutter, sort your items, create a layout, reuse items you already have for storage, and designate a space for everything. I challenge you this week to become a declutter queen. Start small and watch how organization can change your life!