Simple: 30 Ways to Declutter Your Life (6 page)

Declutter Tip #28: Ask your family to help you

While you shouldn't stress over things you can't control, you should also realize when your housework and organization is too much for you to handle alone.

If you have roommates, children, a spouse, or other relatives who live with you, communicate your needs and desires to them. Don't expect them to know that it stresses you out when they don't put their shoes away or when they pull out a stack of DVDs and don't put them back in the cupboard. Let them know
nicely
. Don't yell, fuss, or argue. That kind of behavior will only backfire on you.

Also remember that your children and roommates shouldn't have to keep their own personal bedrooms clean at all times. Those are their spaces. Let them be. Common areas, though, like bathrooms, the kitchen, and the living room, should be a team effort.

Ask nicely if your kids and partner will help you keep the living room and kitchen as clutter-free as possible. This doesn't mean that the house has to look perfect all of the time. That's just not going to happen. Instead, try to make a conscious effort to involve the other members of your family in making your home a fun and relaxing place to live.

Declutter Tip #29: Take pictures of each room.

One simple way to keep a room clean is to take a picture of what each room looks like at its best. Tape the picture to the wall somewhere so that your family members can see what the room should look like.

This works well for a child's bathroom or bedroom, as well as for places like the kitchen that tend to get messy.

Declutter Tip #30: Reward yourself.

After you've worked hard, done your best, decluttered your house, downsized your garage, sorted through your closet, and learned how to maintain a nice, neat looking house, it's time to reward yourself.

Consider going out to dinner with your family, spending some quality time with your spouse, or just spending time indulging in an activity that you love to do alone.

After a lot of hard work, it's important that you take the time to relax. Instead of jumping into another project right away - even another decluttering project - take a break. Give your body, your mind, and your spirit time to rest. This will help you from becoming overworked and when it is time to start cleaning again, you'll be ready.

Congratulations!

You now have 30 ideas for organizing your home and decluttering your life.

As we close, I want to address the emotional challenge that many people face as they begin to get rid of the "junk" that permeates their lives.

If you live with the stress that a cluttered home brings, chances are that you feel like you can't relax. You probably feel like you're constantly overwhelmed trying to manage all of your things. You might even feel like you can't talk to anyone about your hoarding because it's such a sensitive, embarrassing topic.

It's true that decluttering can be freeing. It's true that getting rid of the "stuff" you have in your home can bring extreme relief. No longer will you have to be scared to invite people over. No longer will you have to worry that someone will find out just how much junk you have in your house.

That said, even when you decide that you want to start downsizing your home, you might feel mixed emotions. Getting rid of personal items like baby blankets, childhood toys, or even clothes that you used to fit into can be difficult. Even if the items that you're getting rid of are things that you no longer use or want, you might feel an emotional tug toward them.

This is normal, but it's important to work through it.

Remind yourself of your goals. Remind yourself why you're downsizing. Remind yourself of how good you'll feel when you can walk into your closet without stepping on a pile of clothes. Remind yourself how amazing it's going to be when someone can stop by unannounced and you won't have to feel scared that they might see your pile of junk on the kitchen table.

It's going to feel great.

And you can do it.

One way that you can start to deal with the many emotions you'll feel as you downsize is to start a clutter journal. Each time you get rid of something, write in your journal. Each time you make an effort to become more organized, write about it in your journal.

You don't have to be a good writer to keep a journal. You don't have to use proper grammar or spelling.

Remember that this journal is just for you. No one else is going to see it, so you don't need to worry about making your entries perfect.

Writing, even if you aren't a good writer, can be therapeutic.

Write about how you feel. Write about your goals. Remind yourself what great progress you're making.

You can even imagine what might happen to your belongings once you get rid of them. Why not write a story about what happens to that blanket you donate? Why not have a journal entry exploring what your teddy bear is going through?

Getting rid of things can be difficult no matter how old you are, no matter how big your house is, and no matter how much stuff you have to sort through.

Remember that you are not alone.

You can do this.

You are strong, you are dedicated, and you are brave.

Congratulations on starting your journey to a less cluttered, less messy lifestyle.

You're going to love it.

If you're looking for even more ways to start decluttering and downsizing, you're in luck.

In this chapter, you'll find several fantastic places to get more information on decluttering your home, downsizing your belongings, and keeping your house organized and in check. Whether you've got five kids at home or a dozen grandchildren who love to come visit, you'll find ideas for organizing children's bedrooms, guest rooms, backyards, tool sheds, gardening tools, hobby stuff, and more.

Declutter Daily
-
This blog is now closed, but there are still plenty of posts up to inspire and encourage you on your decluttering journey.

Simple Productivity
- This website is designed to give you the boost that you need to get started with simplicity. Learn what it takes to run a clean house and find the tools you need to get you there.

Organized Mom
- This website has a lot of fantastic tips for anyone who wants to run a more organized household.

Life Optimizer
- While this website is not necessarily geared toward personal decluttering, it does contain plenty of information on reaching for your goals.

365 Less Things
- This blog is simple, fun, and helpful. Learn what it takes to declutter your house and find out how you can stop caring so much about your "stuff."

Real Simple Magazine
-
Check out this article on 31 ways to organize your home. This article is specifically written with budget-conscious families in mind, so it's perfect for anyone who wants to get organized but doesn't have a lot to spend on organizational tools.

The Budget Decorator
-
This blog has a list of 50 simple organizational ideas. None of these are complicated or overwhelming. In fact, many of the suggestions are things you can try today!

Living Simple, Free & Happy: How to Simplify, Declutter Your Home, and Reduce Stress, Debt & Waste
 
-
If you enjoy the simplicity of reading books, this one will help you on your declutter journey.

BuzzFeed
- This website is known for its fun lists and quizzes, and this set of 52 organizational tips won't disappoint! This list includes ideas for any family size and lifestyle. The tips are all easy-to-implement and simple to understand.

How to Nest for Less
- This is one of my favorite resources. Check out these 15 simple do-it-yourself crafts you can try to stay more organized at home.

Minimalist: A Minimalism Guide for Decluttering Your Life and Living a Wonderfully Simple Lifestyle
 
-
Staying true to the title, this brief eBook will help you find out how to live a more simple lifestyle without overwhelming you.

The Simple Living Guide: A Sourcebook for Less Stressful, More Joyful Living
 
-
Another fantastic book on what it takes to live a simpler life. Remember that "stuff" does not equal happiness. Sometimes downsizing what you've got can help you to enjoy the things that you
do
have.

10 Reasons to Toss Clutter
-
If you aren't feeling convinced that clutter-free is for you, read this helpful blog post that lists 10 reasons your clutter has got to go.

10 Reasons I Keep My House Clean
- Do you need a little inspiration? Find out 10 reasons this mom keeps her house as clean as possible.

The Joy Of Minimalism: How To Simplify Your Life With Less (Simple Living, Declutter, Organized Life)
 
-
Another eBook on what it takes to start living with less stress and less junk.

Living Well, Spending Less
-
Your dream closet is worthless if you can't even get inside. Find out what it takes to downsize your closet to just 40 hangers.

BuzzFeed
- I know, I know: another Buzzfeed article. This one is all about shoes, though. How can you get them organized? Find out some crafty, simple ways.

Clean Mama
-
Don't leave the health of your kitchen cupboards up to chance. Instead, check out Clean Mama's tips for organizing and maintaining your kitchen cupboards.

In the end, remember that no matter how much reading you do or how many blogs you explore, decluttering comes down to you.

You're the only one who can say, "I've had enough." You're the only one who can say, "I'm tired of junk. I'm tired of stress. I'm tired of my disorganized life."

If you're ready to start decluttering your own personal space, you
can
. You can do it. You just have to be willing to try.

Beth Jones is an author whose work has appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines, including Central Oahu People and USA Today. Many of her books focus on home organization and working from home. As a military wife, Jones realized that many women were forgoing careers due to frequent moves. This inspired her to start finding ways that moms, especially military moms, could work from home while their husbands served. Jones loves hearing reader feedback and would love it if you would consider leaving a review of this book.