

Rest assured that you don’t need an entire book or TV series to teach you how to declutter your home you just need some motivation and a handful of doable tidy-up techniques. While that sounds lovely in practice, how do you make it happen? And if you’re feeling stuck in your overflowing space, where do you start? Taking charge of the energy in our spaces (a major component of practicing feng shui) helps us live in the present, lead a more fulfilling life, and let go of things - and people - from our past that diminish our self-worth, Dr. Monica Vermani, a clinical psychologist in Toronto, Ontario, and the author of A Deeper Wellness: Conquering Stress, Mood, Anxiety, and Traumas. “Many ancient Eastern scriptures suggest that by holding on to items from the past, we hold on to energy from the past that prevents us from living in the present and embracing the future we would like to attract,” according to Dr. Of course, the concept of organizing one’s living space has been part of the collective conversation since long before Kondo’s KonMari Method. What started as a book in 2014 has now become a global empire, including two Netflix series and several follow-up books for adults and kids alike. Discover the mental health benefits of cleaning house, then read on for 10 tips from experts to help you get - and stay - organized.īe honest: Does everything in your living space spark joy? That question was the core philosophy behind Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Organized clutter is still clutter.You gain much more than a tidier space when you declutter your home. Rule #15: Organized Clutter Is Still Clutter

Clutter can even be quite stressful and overwhelming for some people. Rules for decluttering will vary by person. It’s OK if you desire more or less of it than someone else. Rule #14: Not Everyone Has the Same Clutter Tolerance Keeping something “for someday” may be holding you back from living your life right now. Decluttering toys can be particularly painful. Help them learn how to manage their clutter instead of ignoring it. You name it! That’s OK and to be expected. (For example, owning a lot of books doesn’t make you smarter, although reading them might.) Rule #12: Kids Produce a Lot of Clutter You are not defined by the things you keep. Mementos and toys are even more treasured when there are fewer of them. Rule #9: Don’t Declutter Someone Else’s Stuffĭon’t declutter things belonging to others without permission (exceptions for kids who refuse to take care of their possessions).

Struggling with this concept? Try the 20/20 decluttering rule. If you declutter something and discover you need it later, chances are it can be replaced. (For those who want to sell things, check out our guide, Cash In, to learn how to sell your clutter and do it quickly.) Rule #8: Most Things Can Be Replaced A trip to a donation center is encouraged! You can choose to sell something but it’s also OK to give it away if that’s easier.

I am currently decluttering piles of homeschool materials. If someone else thinks something is particularly special, maybe they should store it instead of you. Rule #6: Give Items to People Who Appreciate Them More Rule #5: To Each Their Ownĭon’t allow other people’s ideas of what is important to dictate what you keep or declutter (but keep your loved one’s opinions in mind). If it costs more to store than the value it brings to you, you should let it go. If you haven’t used it in 6 months, it can probably go (but see rule #1). Rule #2: No Duplicate Itemsĭuplicates are (usually) unnecessary. But in case you need it, here is some extra advice for decluttering sentimental items. If you love it, that may be reason enough to keep something. You get to decide what goes and what stays. Don’t let your tough decluttering decisions derail your progress! Rule #1: You Decide When Marie Kondo’s best advice isn’t quite enough to achieve your desired clutter-free home, these simple rules will assist your decluttering process. These 15 decluttering rules can help you decide what stays and what goes.
