How to Know When It's Time to Declutter

Clutter is the kind of thing that accumulates over time. The problem is that we can put our clutter blinders on until it adds up. Unfortunately, there is no easy way around decluttering. With some awareness you are better apt to spot clutter before it gets to the point of overwhelm. Tackling this from another angle, how can we know when it is time to declutter before it gets really bad?

1. When you are not able to find what you’re looking for in 15 minutes or less. Hide and seek with your “things” is just not fun, is it? A good organizing system is one that makes you more functional and finding things quickly will definitely enhance your living space.
2. No room in your closet. This is an absolute clutter wake up call. It is widely known that we only wear 20% of what we own 80% of the time. Best practice is to get rid of 2 items when purchasing one.
3. Having difficulty putting things away because there is nowhere to put them. Realistically, it is necessary to understand how much space you have and live within your space. Shoving and stashing are not the best techniques to live organized, it will come back to rear its ugly head in the end.
4. Buying things you know you have but cannot find. Saving money is a benefit to decluttering. Going through what you have and donating or selling anything that is a duplicate or triplicate is a great place to start the declutter process.
5. Your home is making you feel anxious. Clutter can affect all aspects of your life, your living space included. This is no exaggeration! Unclear spaces , not being able to find things and guilt over having a lot of stuff can bring with it stress. It is amazing to see how much better people feel when they have been able to let go of clutter.

Decluttering comes more easily the more it is practiced. The five points of awareness above can help you know when it’s time to declutter. The goal is to not have so much!