How to Declutter your Home, One Day at a Time

Clutter is a problem for most people's homes, you may even be looking around you now at the clutter in your own home. But don't fret! It's easy to fix and it doesn't have to take forever. It may seem like an impossible job, but by taking it one step and one day at a time it's easy!

1) Write a list
Write out a list of the areas in your home that are in serious need of decluttering. Now break that list down into smaller areas. For example, your list may look like this:

Bedroom

• Wardrobe
• Bed side table
• Book shelf
• Left Cabinet
• Right Cabinet
• Under bed

2) Once you have a list...
Once you have a list of the areas that need decluttering, decide on a time or times that you can work on an area. It doesn't need to be long, an hour a few days a week is more than enough when you get stuck into it.

3) Set up a cleaning schedule
In your planner, diary or calendar pencil in the times you've allocated for decluttering and give yourself a goal for that day, for example:

Monday 16th: Clean out wardrobe
Tuesday 17th: Clean out bed side tables
Wednesday 18th:
Thursday 19th: Clear out clutter on bookshelf
Friday 20th: Clear out clutter in left cabinet
etc.

I say pencil in only because some days you may feel motivated to do more than your goal and on others unexpected things might pop up that will stop you from working on that task. Don't stress about it, plans change! As long as you're putting some effort in a week, you're getting closer to your end goal!

4) DO IT!
There's no point in writing about it or scheduling tasks if you're not going to do it. Turn on some music and think of your home once you've finished all of your areas. Take a moment to look at the areas you've decluttered and look at just how good they look!

While you're decluttering, make sure you're also organizing things in a way that works for you. This might be making sure all of your most used utensils are in one place in the kitchen drawer or that your never worn clothes aren't in the way of your staple items in your wardrobe.

5) Keep on top of it - set up a clutter station
Once you've decluttered and organized an area, keep it that way! This means making sure you don't just throw pens into your desk drawer or dump your clean clothes on the floor of your closet.

One idea is to set up a clutter station in a high traffic area of your house, for example you may come home and always throw your things onto the kitchen bench or bookshelf by the front door. Make sure you aren't just leaving your things there to get lost or clutter up the space by keeping a tray or box to put things into that need to be organized later. Set aside a few minutes a day to sort out your clutter station and put things in the right spot.