If you are thinking of what to do to beautify and give your home a “new look” this summer, why not try decluttering it for a change? This may sound like such a boring task to undertake, but it is a good thing to do if you are looking for something to do this summer. Of course, this is easier said than done because you have collected all those stuff for so many years and maybe spent a great deal just to obtain them. Somehow, it is hard to part ways with your “collection.” However, without noticing it, they have occupied a great deal of space in your home and have made your life more complicated.
You may be wondering how the things you have collected over the years could complicate your life. This was the same question I was asking myself before I started to adopt the “decluttering” challenge in my life. How? To begin with, I used to be an avid “collector” of all the nice stuff I could see. I would spend money on things I liked and collect, stock and pile them in my room. Before I knew it, I had so many boxes of stuff inside my room and very little space to move around. Every time I needed something, I would spend a lot of time “searching” for it. This would ruin my entire mood and make me upset. Then, I finally came to terms with myself and realized that I have made a “mess” of my life with all those things I have collected for many years. So one day, I have decided to get rid of that clutter and my life has become better and more “breathable.”
Below are some tips on how to declutter your home this summer:
Adopt the “Decluttering Challenge”
The minute I realized that I must get rid of those things that clutter my life and adopted the “Decluttering Challenge,” I started to change my perspective about things and possession. I started putting this practice into action every summer. Whenever I would go back to my home country for my summer vacation, the first thing I would do is take up the “Decluttering Challenge” and get rid of all the things that clutter my room. This has taught me how to “detach” myself from material things and simplify my life.
Declutter one room at a time
Getting rid of the clutter in your home doesn’t need to be done in a single day. Start small. You can do your “decluttering” one day at a time so that it wouldn’t overwhelm and stress you. Select the area in your house that you would like to declutter first. It could be your room, the kitchen, bathroom, hallway, or the children’s rooms. This would give you ample time to relax and get back into shape before you move to the next room or area in your home to declutter.
Donate clothes that you no longer use or want
Go through your entire wardrobe and choose those clothes that you seldom or no longer use or want. Make sure that they are clean and pack them nicely before you donate them to charity. If you do this, the receivers of your clothes will be happy and thankful for getting such wonderful and neatly organized clothes. It is useless and downright “uncharitable” to donate items that should have been “thrown away” to the trash bin.
Start a garage sale or thrift shop
If you want to earn additional income, you can start your garage sale or “thrift shop” and sell those things you no longer want or need. Make sure that those things are still in good shape and reusable so that people would buy them.
Make decluttering a habit
It is very important to make decluttering a habit or a regular activity so you can remain focused and continue with this project. You can start decluttering your home monthly if you are too busy to do it. Or if you have plenty of time, you can do it weekly, say during the weekend. If you do this regularly, you will be amazed at how much “clutter” you can remove from your home and your life!
Teach family members to declutter
Imagine if your entire family is an avid collector of stuff? Then, your home would be a big mess! It is important to teach and encourage each member of the family about the importance of keeping your home clean and clutter-free. Give them a trash bag to put inside their room and to select those items that they are not using or wanted to get rid of. This would encourage them to put an order in their room and life and make it more livable.
Reward yourself after decluttering
Each time you accomplish your goal, you should reward yourself so you would be encouraged to continue doing it. But remember, you must not reward yourself with another “item” that would pile up and use space in your room. You can either treat yourself to your favorite movie or eat in a fancy restaurant as a motivation to continue your project.
Learning to declutter your home has a lot of benefits. It will make your life a lot easier, manageable, and simpler. The lesser your possessions are, the easier to manage them. You can have more space around the house and focus on more important stuff than what you own or collect. This will make you happier and your life less complicated. So go ahead, get a trash bag and start decluttering your home! Remember, less is more! Good luck in decluttering your home.
