10 Easy Ways to Make Decluttering Fun
Dorothy Parker once said that she hated writing, but loved having written. Now, I love the process of writing, but I can totally get on board with her point of view when it comes to housework. I dislike most of it, but love having a neat and clean house.
So with all of the good results that come from decluttering, why do we have to make it such a chore? You don't have to be a naturally-neat person to love decluttering, and with these easy and inexpensive tips, you can make the process itself enjoyable.
10 ways to enjoy decluttering
1. Use entertainment.
Upbeat music is a great accompaniment to decluttering because it adds energy and movement. You can create a playlist or turn on a favorite radio station. But if music isn't what you're craving, play a watch-it-again movie or TV show in the background, or listen to a podcast or audiobook. Be sure to choose something that won't distract you to the point that you don't get anything done.
2. Lighten up.
A darkened room makes me want to curl up with a book, or maybe binge-watch Breaking Bad. For cleaning or decluttering, I need to set the stage. Lamps, open curtains and fresh air all tell my brain it's time to get moving and get things done.
3. Beat the clock.
If you're competitive, set a timer and see how much you can accomplish before it goes off. This is a great technique because it helps you think about time instead of overthinking every decision about what to keep and what to discard.
Get yourself revved up with short decluttering bursts of 10 to 15 minutes before you try longer work periods. You might be surprised how much you can accomplish in just ten minutes, and it will feel like almost no effort.
Setting a timer also lets you see how long tasks really take. When I learned that it took only 2-3 minutes to make my bed, and about one minute to get the garbage ready to go out, I stopped hating those chores quite so much. We often believe that things we don't like to do (such as dealing with the mail) will take more time than we want to give, but the truth is that most jobs can be finished quickly if we haven't let them pile up for a week or longer. If you think about them like that, they become pretty painless.
4. Play a game
Many of us are motivated by competition, even if we just want to better our own record. So figure out how to gamify decluttering. You could make a list of possible areas to declutter and write each on a slip of paper (use different colored papers for 10 minute, 30 minute, and longer jobs). When it's time to declutter, randomly choose a slip to match the time you have.
Ask a friend to join you, and create a decluttering scavenger hunt. Or subscribe to get my free Decluttering Bingo card.
5. Get support.
Speaking of friends, ask one to work with you, and then you can return the favor. This strategy is great when you want someone who has no emotional attachment to your stuff. Your dear friend will have no trouble telling you – kindly and sweetly, of course – that you'd be crazy to hang on to that whatchamacallit for another second.
6. Cure clutter-blindness.
If you've lived with clutter for a while, you may not even see it any more. Your home feels fine until the doorbell rings, and then you're suddenly embarrassed by the clutter because you're seeing it with a stranger's eyes.
Cure clutter-blindness by taking before-and-after photos. It's a magical way of seeing what you've been missing while also documenting your accomplishments. You can post on social media, but be sure to keep the photos in a file on your computer. When you're feeling bogged down and defeated by how much you still have to do, take time to look at the progress you've already made. You'll feel proud and inspired, even if you're not completely finished.
7. Turn clutter to cash.
You might be motivated by the money you can make by selling the items you're decluttering. Open a separate savings account and put all the proceeds there so you can enjoy seeing them grow.
Sell your unwanted things:
- to friends and family
- at a garage sale
- at consignment shops
- online through Facebook Marketplace or other sites
If you also do a Buy Nothing challenge, keep track of the things you see, want, and resist buying. If you like, you could deposit the amount you saved by not buying something you don't need into your "cash for clutter" account.
Use the money you collect to make your life better. You could be practical and pay down debt, or you could treat yourself to a spa day or a concert.
8. Pay it forward.
Nothing is more fulfilling than helping others, so you'll get a big boost when you donate all of your unneeded stuff to various charities. If you're worried that getting rid of something you "paid good money for" is a waste, think of it as a charitable donation instead. You're not using it, but someone else will. That's not a waste.
9. Start with SUE.
This is a great idea from professional organizer Emily Rooney. Set yourself up for success by starting with SUE: Small, Unemotional, Easy spaces. Tackling the basement or all of the things you inherited from Mom first thing will likely be so overwhelming you'll decide to quit. By starting with SUE, you accumulate a bunch of wins and feel excited about continuing. Start with one drawer, one cabinet, or one shelf.
10. Be kind.
Imagine the cluttered house of a friend who has asked for your help in creating a calm, pretty, spacious home. How will you treat her when she gets tired after decluttering for a short time? What will you say when she opens the door to "that" space, the space she's most ashamed of?
You'll be kind, right? Encouraging. You'll praise him for the small wins. And if he can't see them, you'll highlight those accomplishments for him.
Okay... the friend is you. Can you be kind to yourself? If you're constantly berating yourself for having a messy home, your clutter will be an even bigger source of stress than it already is, and you'll doubt your ability to deal with it in any way.
However, if you give yourself the empathy and patience you'd show to a loved one, you'll be more able to appreciate your efforts and celebrate the results of your hard work.
You can do this.
* This blog is reader-supported, with no ads! If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.
And for a great gift, consider my new hardcover Minimalist Basics: The Omnibus Edition. It includes Decluttering: The Simple Guide from A to Z, plus two more volumes from the Minimalist Basics series.
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