The Important Step You Don't Want To Miss When Decluttering Your Home

Decluttering is a necessary evil for the home, especially if you frequently bring in new items without getting rid of something else. But too often, people dive into the decluttering process without clear direction, resulting in burning out or feeling overwhelmed. You may start at random by emptying all of your drawers to organize them, only to end up with a huge pile of jumbled clothes with no idea what to do next. Distractions can lurk in every nook and cranny, making it incredibly easy to give up. Without a plan, it's common to abandon decluttering halfway through, with little to show for your efforts. If you find yourself attempting a decluttering project in your home, don't miss a crucial step: making a list. But with a list in hand, you can avoid this trap and make steady, visible progress, space by space. 

A simple list helps map out the problem areas of your home, where you'll start, and what steps you need to take. Otherwise, the random stuff piles up all around you until your drawers won't close and the closets overflow, leaving you wondering what to do next. You can read through strategies for decluttering your home, but you might not finish what you start without a list. Or, you might start, but then jump from space to space without real progress. So, as you reach for your decluttering tools, such as trash bags and donate boxes, grab a pen and paper as well. Here's how to make your list, what to put on it, and where to begin.

Begin by writing down the spots you want to declutter, starting with the areas that are either troublesome or disrupt your daily life. Maybe you'd want to access your closet to rotate out seasonal clothing, but it's so crammed full you can't. Or perhaps your office space is covered with so much paper that you can't work unless you tidy your office desk. Identify the most important rooms you need to address and the specific areas you plan on tackling in each room. You can't just write kitchen and leave it at that, because there are so many spaces within the kitchen that may need work. The pantry may be a mess, or maybe you have cabinets that won't close due to too many unused items.

Breaking large tasks into smaller tasks helps limit the chance of getting overwhelmed, leading to procrastination. It's a popular time management approach that can help you in various aspects of life, including making your home organized. After you have your list, you can give each item an estimated completion time, adjusting as needed depending on how complex the project is. Remember to write down a projected start and end time, then follow the schedule as closely as possible. Try to avoid multitasking and stay on the task at hand. Not only does single-tasking help you keep your focus, but it also reduces your cognitive load. When your brain keeps switching tasks, it causes mental fatigue. As you complete a task, don't forget to check it off. Seeing the completed tasks will give you motivation and momentum as you feel the satisfaction of a job well done.