Transform A Messy Closet With A Decluttering Technique That Changes The Game

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Messy closets can range from always struggling to find the shirt you're looking for to shove-and-close-quickly to avoid an avalanche. Either way, it's completely normal to accumulate belongings as we go through life, but when the sheer amount of stuff we own becomes hard to manage, our mental and physical wellbeing may suffer. You might have tried many decluttering strategies, but nothing matches the potent, deep decluttering power of the out-in-the-open decluttering rule! Advocated by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, i.e. "The Minimalists," it's as simple as it sounds: pick a cluttered closet and empty it completely onto the floor before you start sorting.

Why does this work? One of the biggest culprits that contributes to a messy closet is hidden clutter. Unused items tend to get swallowed up and linger in the neglected, dark corners of your shelves, while your most used items take up the ever-shrinking front area. By emptying out the closet completely, those items can be sorted through and culled. 

Once you have a floor full of items, you can tackle the most important step you don't want to skip before decluttering. Sort all the items into piles of similar things — for example, tops together, and sweaters in another pile. This allows you to identify and remove duplicates or toss older items that no longer suit your style or current wardrobe. Pass on all those items that are no longer useful. It's also a good time to rethink your closet organization and invest in systems like the IZUS Bag Organizer to make everything easy to access.

How do you know when you should be getting rid of something? For many of your belongings, the usefulness test is enough to help you decide, such as clothing items to get rid of for a more organized and clutter-free closet. But when it comes to things of significant sentimental value, that guideline doesn't apply. With this type of object, do a little internal work and see what emotion it provokes. Does it make you sad or anxious? Consider passing it on. Does it bring you joy or stir happy memories? Consider keeping it.

Sometimes when you bring it all out-in-the-open, you'll find some items you don't even remember owning. Those are often safe to part with as you haven't needed them and, let's face it, you're not likely to! When it comes to those middle-ground items that you just don't know about, pack them away for a month or three. See whether you need those items, or if they even cross your mind during that time. If not, someone else can make good use of them.

When it comes to kitchen spaces, get a new organization system, such as the Mlinavn Under Sink Organizer, and fill it with the items that you reach for most often. Assess the products that don't fit in with a strict eye. Items that seldom get used, like the pot-pourri fragranced floor cleaner you regretted buying because it makes you sneeze, can be donated. 

When the mood hits, it's tempting to empty all your closets in the hopes of conquering chaos in a single day. Even if you're a regular declutterer, it's wise to resist the urge. The last thing you want is to get to the end of the day with a floor buried so deeply in belongings that you can't walk without tripping. If you don't get it all done, the temptation to shove it all back in where it came from is huge. Being defeated by your clutter often comes with a sense of failure that can drain your resolve.

There is a better way. Limit yourself to tackling one area at a time. Take on the monumental task of getting organized in small, bite-sized chunks. One closet. One drawer. Possibly a room at a time, if you've got lots of energy and few external demands on your time. You'll be able to pace yourself and avoid feeling overwhelmed. More than that, accomplishing a goal, regardless of whether it's big or small, gives you a dopamine boost that energizes you and floods you with motivation for another area. 

One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to declutter a closet is going into the process with a negative mindset. Whether you're too strict with yourself or you mourn every item that has to go, decluttering will feel hard. Take time to read up on the mental health benefits of decluttering and embrace it with joy.