15 Decluttering Hacks Every Hoarder Needs to Try!
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Hoarding disorder is characterized by persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save the items. The International OCD Foundation reports that approximately 2%—6% of the global population suffers from hoarding disorder. This means there could be 158-474 million hoarders in the world. According to estimates, between 5 million and 14 million people in the USA have hoarding disorder.
For those who are prone to hoarding, cleaning out possessions seems impossible. Many factors can be at play: sentimental attachment, the assumed need someday, or just plain inertia from amassed things. Consequently, clutter builds over time, and a cycle ensues that feels impossible to break.
Start Small with One Room at a Time
Focusing on one room at a time can help reduce stress when you feel overwhelmed by clutter. Breaking down the decluttering process into manageable sections gives you a clear goal and reduces the feeling of being swamped.
This approach makes the task less daunting, allowing you to work at your own pace. You can enter another room and start cleaning up until you have finished cleaning the room to your satisfaction.
Group Similar Items Together
Sorting by category rather than location can make the process much easier. Grouping similar items, such as all the clothes, books, or electronics, can help you know what you have and what is necessary. This way, there is no chance of returning items to their old places, and decisions are made much faster.
When similar items are in front of you, you’ll see more clearly, which will help you decide what to keep, throw out, or donate. It also prevents distractions from the details of one particular room.
Set Clear and Realistic Goals
Realistic and specific goals set the pace to keep the ball rolling in the entire process of decluttering. An explicit, actionable goal breaks down the enormity of such a task into something more manageable.
Setting small milestones helps because one feels one’s accomplishment as one reaches each milestone. Realistic expectations mean you are going strong along the way. These goals help create a sense of direction and keep you focused on what needs to be done.
Make Use of the Four-Box Method
The four-box method is one of the most popular ways to simplify decluttering. This method sorts items into four categories: things to be kept, tossed, donated, and relocated. Immediately categorizing items helps you make quicker decisions without overthinking them.
It also keeps you from being distracted or having any clarification. This process will reduce decision fatigue to a minimum, enabling you to go through your belongings more clearly and swiftly.
Let Go of Items Emotionally Tied to You
Most people find it difficult to let go of items attached to memories or good times. However, this is the time to realize that the memory or feeling associated with an item might be retained without keeping the actual object. Focusing on the positive emotions attached to the item, rather than the item itself, makes it easier to let go of things.
Photographing the item or writing down your memories associated with it helps in the letting-go process. Releasing unnecessary sentimental items can bring more peace and clarity to your home.
Be Ruthless When Deciding What to Keep
When deciding what to keep, being honest with yourself about what adds value to your life is essential. If it is something you have not used within the year, you will not miss it. Being ruthless helps you get rid of things that occupy space.
Ask yourself whether an item has a purpose in your present life or is used to remind you of how things were. Setting aside things that no longer serve you frees up space for things that matter.
Develop a Daily Decluttering Routine
One of the best ways to prevent clutter from building up is to make decluttering a part of your daily routine. Take just 10 or 15 minutes a day to organize one small area. Doing so will prevent clutter from building up over time and make life easier.
A daily clean-up habit dispels the feelings of overwhelm and helps you live in a clutter-free home. Regular decluttering habits make space clean and peaceful without making you feel like you are constantly working on cleaning.
Apply the One-In-One-Out Rule
The one-in-one-out rule will prevent clutter from building up because, with something new coming, something old must go. This rule helps you be more aware of what you bring into your home and keeps possessions in balance. This rule is valid for clothing, books, or household gadgets.
If you’re not careful enough, these things could quickly build up. As time passes, this rule helps you avoid clutter while maintaining considered consumption.
Get Professional Organizers
Sometimes, a professional organizer can provide the expertise and motivation you need. They can help you create an operating system that fits your needs and lifestyle. Working with someone else can make the job more accessible since they bring new perspectives on letting go of items to which you may have attached sentimental value.
A professional organizer can also offer long-term strategies for keeping your home tidy. This can lessen the stress and isolation usually associated with decluttering alone.
Digitize Important Documents and Photos
Clutter often builds up from the physical documents and photos occupying space. Digitizing these items is a great way to preserve important memories and records without cluttering your home. Scanning photos and documents allows you to store them on cloud platforms or external hard drives, freeing up physical space.
This makes it easier to organize and have access to such items while your important items are safely backed up. Going paperless can greatly reduce the overall clutter in your home while keeping important records intact.
Donate or Sell Items You No Longer Use
A very effective way of de-cluttering is to give away or sell things you no longer need. Giving away or selling items in good condition involves assisting others while creating space for your home. Donating items you no longer want is a great method.
To earn additional income, you can donate online or organize a garage sale. This practice will also help you manage your possessions better, as you will reduce most of the stuff you don’t use or find valuable.
Apply Efficient Storage Solutions
The most effective way to prevent clutter is to have an excellent place to store things. Dream Modular suggests investing in efficient storage solutions like bins, shelving, and closet organizers to keep your house neat and organized.
Organizing items into labeled containers and designating a place for each thing ensures everything has its place. It also reduces frustration because you’ll spend less time searching for items, which makes you more productive. Well-organized storage maximizes space and brings calm into a clutter-free environment.
Mindful Consumption Practice
Minimalist Adept states that the practice prevents you from bringing things into your home that you don’t need. You are conscious of what you buy, ensuring only items that add value enter your space. This would keep impulse buys at bay and help you make more adequate decisions about your needs.
Mindful consumption would be crucial to sustainable living since fewer things equate to less waste and clutter. Quality over quantity creates a more organized, non-cluttered home and contributes to ecological balance.
Regularly Reassess Your Belongings
Regular reassessment of your belongings keeps clutter at a manageable level over time. Armored Storage Eugene explains that this periodic reevaluation allows you to identify items that serve or no longer serve a purpose and thus may be released.
You could reevaluate seasonally or yearly to eliminate items that no longer serve your current needs. This helps to keep the home clean and eliminate unnecessary possessions. Doing it often allows your living space to be organized and decreases stress due to clutter.
Celebrate Your Progress
Celebrating minor milestones along the decluttering process is a way to motivate yourself according to the Simplicity Habit; sometimes, just taking a break or spending a little time admiring your accomplishments motivates you to continue the journey. Each step toward completion helps reinforce positive habits and motivates you further.
Decluttering can sometimes be long, but celebrating your progress keeps you energized. These tiny celebrations give the feeling of already accomplishing the job and that you are doing something meaningful.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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