“6 Month Rule for Decluttering”
“5 Day Declutter Challenge”
“4 Box Method of Decluttering”
“3 Second Rule of Decluttering”
“2 Essential Organizing Items”
“1 In 1 Out Rule”
Oh my goodness! All the organizing and decluttering headlines are overwhelming. I just have one word that I think makes such a difference is so many areas of life.
“Habit”
That’s it.
Make decluttering/organizing a habit.
We are our own potters; for our habits make us, and we make our habits. – Frederick Langbridge
Habits take a while to form, so stay with it. Habits that stick usually start small. Who says, “I’m going to walk two miles every day!” and makes it stick? No one I know. But if we say, “I’m going to walk around the block every day.” That is a do-able goal. You can stay around the block, or you may gradually increase and end up walking two miles each day. Ether way, you are doing something good for yourself. Be realistic in the habit you choose.
You know the old joke: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. That is all a habit is. Taking one bite at a time. Every day.
Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in day out. – Robert Collier
I’m going to propose a 15 minute/day habit of decluttering. I usually recommend setting a timer. Use it to either make a game and see how much you can get done, or simply to give yourself an ending time. Because life gets overwhelming some days and just need to know that there is a stopping point.
What can you do in 15 minutes?
Sort the mail. Unload and load the dishwasher. Put shoes away. Take the trash out. Clean off a dresser top. Put the laundry away.
Where do you start? Wherever it is driving you the most crazy. Start in one corner and just make your way around the room.
Just 15 minutes.
Everyday.
You can do it.
One bite at time.
Photo by Nathan Lemon on Unsplash