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| © primark When you get to actual decluttering, be methodical. Do a room at a time and make sure you complete each task you start before the next. Don’t half declutter a cabinet, only to move onto the bookcase. If you don’t have time for both in one session, so be it. |
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| ©pexels To begin the decluttering you need to question some commonly-held beliefs: Do we really need to upgrade our tech every time there's a new handset? Why do we reward hard work with buying treats? Do we need to buy our the kids the newest toys to show our love? Is it really important to keep our wardrobe at the cutting edge of fashion? |
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| ©pexels Not everything you own is clutter. And some things that are beautifully organized can still be clutter. New minimalists believe everything we own should support our vision for the life we want. So our home offices should be inspirational spaces where we can do our best work, so a clutter-free space is more important to creativity that a collection of pens or tons of stationary. |
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| ©MADE.com The KonMari method of tidying suggests we should only keep items that spark joy. Her best-selling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up advocates being more conscious of our emotions about our belongings. She suggests taking time to thank the items that you want to get rid of for their service and treasure the items that you keep. So successful is her own brand of decluttering that you can now hire professionals to KonMari your home for around $50 (£38) an hour. |
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| ©pexels For a set period of time, ban all new purchases aside from essentials. There’s no point reducing your clutter if you’re going to add to it and putting the brakes on for a few weeks also breaks the habit. Some wannabe minimalists try a month-long ‘shopping ban’. Instead of buying, write the item down and come back to it after the ban is lifted. If you still want or need it, go for it. But there’s a good chance time has reduced your desire for it anyway. |
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| ©Shutterstock When you’re ready, it’s time to actually tackle the clutter. This process of sorting through and getting rid of clutter shouldn’t feel like punishment. Take your time and remove the excess so you can appreciate the things you choose to maintain. Don’t be too harsh in your first round, as being too extreme might cause you to react negatively and rush out to fill the gap. |
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| ©pexels The New Minimalist way is: “Rather than begin with decluttering your child’s room, start instead by modeling the type of behavior you desire by decluttering adult and shared spaces. Have open conversations about why you are donating your unused items and the benefits of doing so.” |
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| ©Marekuliasz/Shutterstock Tidying is moving things from one place to another, it’s organizing cupboards and drawers while maintaining the status quo. Decluttering really does involve getting rid. This can be difficult, especially as organized drawers feel like they can be left as they are just because they’re neat. To make real change, you need to deeply connect with your objects and make conscious choices about what to keep and what to get rid of. |
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| ©Primemark When you get to actual decluttering, be methodical. Do a room at a time and make sure you complete each task you start before the next. Don’t half declutter a cabinet, only to move onto the bookcase. If you don’t have time for both in one session, so be it. |
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