I admit that I have been feeling in a bit of a funk lately. Having to stay stuck inside more has made me a bit stir crazy and more in check of my surroundings. To relieve some of this funk I started doing some decluttering and simplifying in many realms of my life.
I have found that when I declutter I feel a sense of relief. It almost feels like a weight has been lifted and feel a bit freer. Simplifying things can be very simple and just require very simple tweaks. Sometimes the hardest part is getting the motivation. Today I am going to share my simple tips for decluttering to hopefully help motivate you.
1. Clean out and Unsubscribe to Emails
If you are like me then you may leave emails get backed up without reading them. You may have years worth of emails that get sent to you that automatically gets sent to the trash folder. It can get overwhelming at times.
If there are emails that you consistently send straight to the trash bin then it is not even worth the time to receive them. I receive alot of emails from stores I no loner shop in, political emails I don’t remember even subscribing to, and emails from stores and restaurants back up in Chicago area which I no longer live in. Time to unsubscribe.
Unsubscribing is very easy. Most of the emails have the ability to unsubscribing by just going to the bottom of the email. It takes a matter of seconds and will save you time and declutter your inbox for the long haul.
If you want an easier option I have used the app Unroll.Me. You connect the app to your email and it will go through all your emails. They will show you the companies/groups that are sending you emails and you can decide if you want to keep the emails or unsubscribe. The app will automatically unsubscribe you. It has been a very helpful app in decluttering and getting rid of those emails in big batches.
2. Clean Out The Junk Drawer
Let’s be honest. We all have a junk drawer. You know, it is that one drawer where we just stick a bunch of random things in to probably never look at again. If these stuff is in a junk drawer it is probably not worth saving.
Now is the time to go through that drawer. If it is really something you don’t need and haven’t used in a year then it is time to toss it. Sell it. Give it away. Throw it in the trash. Whatever you have to do to clear out some space and get rid of that “junk”. When I clear out those drawers I find I have space for things that really need a drawer like pictures, my kids art or keepsake items.
3. Clean Out Those Kitchen Cabinets
I recently cleaned out some of my kitchen cabinets and it felt so invigorating. In particular, I focused on those old tupperware and storage bowls that I needed to part with. Anything in bad shape, missing lids, or just looking stingy I either tossed or donated.
I decided to only keep glass containers and purchased a set of restaurant quality white plastic containers. The nice thing is that the containers come in 3 sizes but all the lids are the same size so I don’t have to worry about finding the right lid. I purchased mine HERE. The containers have stayed in very good shape and are both microwaveable and dishwasher safe. I went from having two drawers of tupperware to only one. Our house is small so any extra storage space is very appreciative.
4. Clean Out Your Clothes
This is by far the hardest for me, but when I get the urge to purge it is the most exhilarating feeling. I have noticed my style continues to evolve as I get older. I have started focusing less on buying something just because it is cheap or buying just what is on sale. I have become more intentional in my purchases. I might purchase more expesnive items but I notice they last longer in my closet. I have been purchasing items that can serve multiple purposes or match several things. It may not give me the ability to buy as many items but at least the few items I buy will last me.
I do enjoy having some statement pieces but as of late I have been purchasing more of those classic pieces. These are items that will stay in style and with great quality. If items in my closet are not fitting the bill I donate it. If the quality isn’t there anymore I donate it. If it doesn’t fit I donate it. If it is out of style I donate it. If I haven’t worn it in at least a year, I donate it.
I definitely need to get myself in a mind space. It is easier to convince myself I will wear this item one day or I will fit into it. I love clothes so I have a hard time getting rid of any. I have to convince myself of the benefits of purging or what purging will mean for my future purchases.
I then free up some room in my closet for those classic pieces. I always feel such a sense of accomplishment. As I type this, I have two garbage bags full of clothes to donate to the local Goodwill.
You can also go the route of selling on Poshmark or ebay. I typically don’t do this just because when I want to get rid of it I just want it to go rather than hold on to it and wait for it to sell. If you aren’t in a rush then it could be a great idea to try to make some extra money and then it gives you the extra spending money on those intentional purchases. Win Win!
5. Clean Out and Organize Paperwork
Maybe you are like us and just hate the idea of going through paperwork. You put bills and documents into a pile, in a drawer, or some kind of container and let it sit there. I do this with coupons, catalogs I say that I am going to read, etc and it just doesn’t get organized.
Anything you do not need such as expired coupons, bills that have been paid, old catalogs and magazines, junk mail, etc needs to get tossed. If you have a shredder then shred it.
For things that you do need such as tax documents, bills that need to be paid, medical statements, pay stubs, etc then I suggest organizing it. Get an accordion folder like this one from Amazon. This way everything is in one spot and organized to your method. A locked file cabinet is best for storage as it helps protect your important information from any intruders, or those guests who you don’t trust from rummaging through your stuff. I found one for a pretty reasonable price also from Amazon. It is easy to store in an office or in the garage.
Decluttering is definitely a process and takes time. I honestly feel such a sense of relief whenever I get rid of things I do not need. I would suggest picking an area you want to focus on first, maybe the one that is the easiest to tackle or one that is causing the most stress, and clear it out!
Leave a Reply