Living Simple Part 2: Declutter You Living Space

Spring is in the air, so it is the perfect time to declutter your living space! I am no Marie Kondo but I do belive that a clutter free living space really reduces my overall stress levels. I really think the key to living simple is to live with as few material objects as possible and to focus on experiences. If you are just starting out on your minimalism journey and have been accumalating a lot of "stuff" over the years, then you will most definitely need to declutter your living space. 

There are several different techniques that people use to declutter and I will discuss a few of them below:

• 1 room technique: This technique involves you decluttering 1 room at a time. You can pick a certain time in the day or week to tackle 1 room and then move on to the next room. You can pick nap time each day if you are a SAHM or a certain time on the weekend that you have free and tackle 1 room at a time. This is the technique that I used most often. I started with the guestroom (now nursery) and moved on from there. As I declutter, I take the time to organize and sanitize the area. I usually make a pile for garbage, donations, and stuff to sell. 
• Box technique: This technique involves putting everything you own in a box for a specified period of time (i.e. a month)...absolutely everything! As you need the stuff, you take it out and put it back in place. At the end of the month, all the stuff you didn't use and that is still in the box, you either donate, sell or throw out. I have never tried this technique but I know of a few people who swear by this technique because it really takes out the guess work. It really illustrates how little we actually use on a regular basis. 
• Friend/Family - this technique involves you getting a friend or family member to help you sort through all your items. Obviously this method would be beneficial if you are trying to tackle a large area in a small amount of time (whole house before a move) but it also helps if you are the type of person that has trouble letting go of material objects. A friend or family member can be more objective. I know of people who put all of their trust in the other person and actually have them sort through everything because they really hate getting rid of stuff. There are even companies you can hire to help you declutter such as Abode Staging 
• 1 item per day: This technique is simple enough. Get rid of 1 item per day. At the end of the year, that is 365 less items in your house. These can be large items or small items such as old magazines. It takes no time at all on a daily basis but it really adds up over time. This is the perfect technique for a busy person. 

As you can see, there are several different ways you can approach decluttering but it does take commitment. Personally, I find that having 1 area that is clean and organized really motivates me to tackle the larger areas and it has a "snowball" effect. After you have decluttered your living space, you really need to make an effort to limit the amount of junk you bring back into your house.

The 2 rules I follow before making a purchase is:

1. Is there a spot - if there isn't a spot for this item in my house, I don't buy it. I actually think BEFORE I buy it, where it would go and make sure that I have room for it. If there is no room, I get rid of an item BEFORE I buy it. 
2. Is there a purpose/function - does this item actually have a useful purpose or function? Do I need it? If it is just another pair of jeans or black shirt (and I already have 5) I don't need it. I usually think if I already have something similar or if I have something that could fill its function at home. If I do, I don't buy it. 

By taking the time to think of these things at the store, BEFORE you make a purchase, you avoid buying extra stuff that you don't need. 

Ready, Set, Go Declutter!