In week one of our Family Declutter Challenge, we discussed preparing for changes; our thoughts are equally crucial to decluttering as having the box to collect items. Training our minds to make decisions and letting go of things that will ultimately open up space is essential. In week two of the Family Declutter Challenge, we will get clear on our goal for our space and begin to make decisions.
Decluttering the mind is as powerful as decluttering our space. We can feel trapped in both. – The Unclutter Angel
1. Declutter Goal Setting
If we don’t take the time to be clear about what our goals are with our space, we don’t know what we are working towards and will probably stop working. Like other projects and essential things in life where we write down goals, we can do the same here.
What space did you choose to focus on in the next three or so weeks? Your bedroom? Your closet? The kitchen? It can be different for each family member.
Younger family members may want to focus on sorting and organizing toys or a play area. Maybe for older kids, it’s their clothes closet or a collection. For parents and adults, maybe it is a hall closet, office space, or kitchen. What would feel good to get completed by the holidays?
Set your goal, and then you are ready to start making decisions in your space.
2. Declutter Decision Making
For many, making decisions about stuff we own, whether to keep or get rid of, can be the most challenging step in decluttering. But if you break it down and make the decisions simple, you will build the declutter muscle, making decisions easier and faster over time.
Questions You Can Ask Yourself:
- Do I love this?
- Have I used this in the last year? The last 6 months?
- Do I feel good wearing this?
- Would they want me to keep this if they knew I didn’t use it or like it?
What other questions would help you to make decisions? Having questions will help make the process easier and feel better about what you decided.
3. Declutter Action Taking
Making decisions means you are taking action. Taking action can feel great! I recommend having a set time to work on projects. Some people go all out and work on their decluttering project for too long and get burned out.
Setting a specific time, like 15-30 minutes a day to make decisions, sort, and organize, may keep you from getting burned out. If you feel you are in a good flow, keep going, but take a break when you are starting to feel drained.
Action Steps:
- Decide where you want to declutter
- Have a set time to work
- Use questions to help make decisions
- Put items that you are letting go of in a container, box, or bag
Conclusion
I hope that you will take time in week two to start the decluttering process in the room or space you chose. Make it fun by listening to music or making a game out of it. We do this in my classes for kids, which makes the process so much easier and fun!
Keep up the great work! When you have a box filled with items, make a list for donations if you want to use them for taxes and decide where you will take them to or where ever you would like to gift them. That is the last important step in the action-taking step.
Next week we will cover what to do with the space we decluttered and cleared and the decisions we will make going forward.
