We all have those times when we realized that we have too many stuff and we just have to set a "declutter day".
But have you ever started the work with motivation and gave up after an hour because it just seemed so much work? Or maybe you did finish the process, but after a month everything went back to as it was? The reason for this is that you may have come up against one (or more) of these common declutter mistakes.
Here are the most common mistakes and how you can avoid them: 1.
You can't see the end.
The task seems to be endless, depressing and tiring.
This is understandable, not many people like to clean the house.
If you think it's going to be a nightmare, no wonder that after an hour of suffering you will not want to continue.
What to do? The best way to create motivation is to imagine the end result.
If you don't think about the mission itself, but the clean, tidy and decluttered house, it would be much easier.
For that matter you can use interior design magazines, Internet and your imagination.
Just don't fall into the trap of shopping - it is very easy to get tempted and go buying something new that should make your room look better instead of organizing the house.
Remember that it will just increase the clutter rather than enhance it.
If you are missing some item or organizer to create your dream home, first try to use something you already have, or create it yourself - use your creativity! 2.
You don't plan.
Obviously if you intend to declutter the whole house at once, you have a great chance to abandon the mission in the middle.
What to do? I'm not saying it is not possible, it is possible, but only with a detailed plan.
Anyway, if you are just beginning the process and never did it before, or you haven't done it for a long time, it's better not to try to finish everything at one day.
The best is to divide the mission into 7 days at least.
And it doesn't have to be 7 days in a row.
In any case, you need to prepare a clear plan of what you intend to do each day and I'm talking about specific steps, not something vague like "On Sunday, I'm going to organize my bedroom.
" 3.
You dwell on each object.
If you have already started and you have a plan, it is really important to go through the things that need to be sorted quickly and act intuitively.
If you're not sure about an item, ask yourself the four questions: Is this item intact? Have I used it at least once in the last month or the last two months? Is there a clear reason (with approximate time) that I will have to use this item in the future? Do I love this thing?The last question is a bit tricky, because the answer can be misleading.
So it is important to answer it really fast without thinking and analyzing too much.
If the answer is yes, without hesitation, keep it for now.
If you hesitate, or you haven't used it during the last two months - get rid of it.
If you start to dwell on each paper and box, this mission really is endless.
4.
You do it alone.
Sometimes, the reason we resent the declutter task is because it's boring to do alone.
Invite your friend or daughter to organize the closet, and offer her the clothes you want to get rid of.
You can chat while organizing so it won't feel like work at all, and you'll spend some quality time with someone dear.
If you do it with your child, you can even make this whole process a game, which will benefit you both.
5.
You regard it as a one-time task.
Look, I'm not saying you have to organize and declutter the whole house once a week or even once a month.
The idea here is to change your attitude towards the issue, sort of like with eating habits.
How we treat our stuff and our rooms is also a matter of habit.
Every time you think about buying something new - think which item it should replace.
If you bring a new item in, an old item should go.
The same goes for clothing and kitchen supplies.
Try to set a specific place for each item or a group of items.
If you abide by these simple rules, it will make sure your house will be clutter free for a long time.