Clear out and declutter

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

clear out and declutter

Time to clear out and declutter

Now I do not know about you, but every so often I need to clear out and declutter.  Thereare ways that you can start decluttering your home.  I first look in my closet and dwarers, where I make some hard core decisions about the clothes that are making the trip to good will.  I have my skinny clothes, fat clothes, clothes I currently use, and my classic clothes.  These classic clothes, include dresses, and suits that do not go out of fashion.  So, I do not touch that section of the closet, as I feel it will come in handy every now and then.  Now, become the tough, hard core decisions, on what to keep, and what to give away.  Decluttering is never easy, and it takes a disciplined mind to be up to the task.

The first task is to separate clothes you have not worn at all in the last two to three years.  Put these clothes in one pile.  In fact, put these clothes in a big plastic bag and put it away in your storage area of the basement.  The next task is to get rid of clothes that you wear, but do not flatter you.  They don’t flatter you because they may be too young for you, emphasize areas of your body you do not want emphasized, or the color or the fit is wrong.  These are the clothes you put in a plastic bag and give away.  Last, but not least, get rid of your fat and skinny clothes, unless you are seriously considering a diet lifestyle change and see yourself in those skinny clothes.  These clothes  should be  given away.  Now, you have room to arrange your clothes by color, season, or whatever organizational method you may decide upon.  If after six months, you never find yourself in need of the clothes that you put in the storage area, give them away to good will.  Decluttering your closet just got easier!

Decluttering may involve rearranging your furniture.  You may find you have too much furniture in one room.  Decide where these furniture pieces would be better served.  If you find you have too much furniture, run an ad in the paper to sell it, give it away, or sell it at a garage sale.  Take a look at the extra stuff that is placed on tables, end tables, etc. and decide if it is worth all the dusting.  Personally, dusting is my most least favorite job.  Except for pictures, one does not see many knick knacks in my house.

Decluttering for me, is a sense of accomplishment.  The hardest declutter job for me is getting rid of paper.  I just seem to collect paper.  In order for it not to get out of hand, I must deal with it on a daily basis.  I try to store any paper with important information into the correct folder, where I will be able to retrieve it when I need it.  Other unnecessary papers I throw in the recycling bin. So get yourself in hand and clear out and declutter!