By Organize with Lorinda – Virtual Professional Home Organizer and ADHD Specialist in Groton, MA
(Providing online home organizing and decluttering services. Serving Central MA, Southern NH, and nationwide.)
Buying the bins/containers first – Everyone wants that Pinterest perfect photo of their professionally organized space. It’s tempting to want to buy those beautiful bins or containers first. However, you truly have no idea what you are going to need until you have finished decluttering. Buying things ahead of time is just going to add to the clutter. Go ahead and bookmark bins that you find attractive, but resist the temptation to buy them until the end.
Trying to do it all at once – You didn’t accumulate the clutter overnight. It’s not realistic to think you’ll eliminate it all in one day. Decluttering is emotionally and physically exhausting. Pace yourself. Start with 5 minutes a day and slowly work your way up to an hour. It’s even fine to break that hour up into four 15-minute sessions. You’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish in just a short amount of time. Plus you won’t risk burnout or decision fatigue.
Declutter your loved one’s stuff without permission – Whatever you do, do not attempt to declutter someone else’s stuff without them knowing. Nothing good is going to come from it. You risk damaging your relationship and losing the trust of that person. Instead, focus on your stuff and only your stuff.
Wasting time trying to sell your stuff – Chances are the things you have things that you believe are valuable. It’s exciting to think that you’re going to make some money selling it on Facebook Marketplace or EBay. Be aware that others may not want your things. Don’t underestimate what your time and energy are worth. You need to take photos with good lighting, create the listing, answer questions from potential buyers, deal with spam, and then deliver the item. Set realistic limits – such as only listing things worth $50 or more and if it doesn’t sell within a week then donate it.
Stuff shuffling rather than decluttering – Beware of stuff shuffling trap. It’s filled with good intentions such as buying more bins to put the clothes that don’t fit in the closet then bringing them to the basement. It’s not getting to the root of the problem. If the clothes don’t fit in the closet then you likely have too many clothes. It’s time to look at them with a critical eye. If they are stained or damaged, recycle them. If they haven’t fit in a year, donate them. The goal is to only keep what fits comfortably and looks good on you.
Did you find this helpful? Contact Organize with Lorinda for a free virtual organizing consultation and get started on decluttering your own space.
Organize with Lorinda is a Virtual Professional Home Organizer, ADHD Organizing Specialist, and Registered Nurse in Groton, MA providing online organizing and decluttering services to Central MA and Southern NH as well as nationwide.