Self Help
5 Common Decluttering Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
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If you’re like most people, you’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what to keep in your home.
But have you ever thought about what not to keep?
It’s true.
All of those things that are so easy to take for granted can actually be pretty damaging to your mental health and quality of life.
If you’re ready to start decluttering, check out these common mistakes and how you can avoid them!
What Is The Easiest Way To Declutter?
We’re all about decluttering, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to start.
If you’re looking for the easiest way to declutter your home, I’ve got some tips for you!
First, determine whether or not you need certain items in your home.
If they don’t serve a purpose or they don’t bring you joy, it’s probably time to get rid of them.
Next, make sure that you have some sort of plan for what will happen to those items as soon as they’re out of your house.
Don’t just throw them out.
Find a way to recycle them or donate them so that they go to good use instead of just getting thrown away!
Finally, get ready to feel happy and free in your newly-decluttered space!
What Is The 20/20 Rule Of Decluttering?

The 20/20 rule of decluttering is a simple way to determine whether or not you have too much stuff.
The idea behind the rule is that if you can see all of your belongings in one glance, and they take up less than 20% of the space in your home, then you are probably not hoarding.
If, however, you can’t see all of your belongings at once because they are covering more than 20% of your home’s floor space, then it’s time to start purging.
This is a great rule for those who want to start paring down their possessions but aren’t sure how much they need to get rid of.
What Should You Not Do When Decluttering?

You’ve got a lot on your plate.
You’re trying to figure out how to make rent, you have a new job that’s stressing you out, and you’re looking for a way to just… slow down.
But no matter what you do, it seems like there’s always more stuff.
It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to decluttering your space.
And I get it!
It can be overwhelming, but there are some common mistakes that people make when trying to declutter their homes.
Here are five of them:
1) Not Knowing What Needs Decluttering

So, you’re ready to declutter.
You’ve identified the areas of your life that could use some extra love and attention, and now you’re ready to go for it.
Before you do, though, there are a few things to keep in mind.
The most common issue people run into is not knowing what needs decluttering.
It’s too easy to start with one thing or even a small number of things that seem like they might be good places to start.
And before long, you realize that you’re just not sure how far down the rabbit hole goes or whether the problem really lies in those few things or in something else entirely.
To avoid this problem, start by taking stock of the area at hand.
If an area feels cluttered and disorganized, take note of what items are causing the problem.
Is it clothes?
Papers?
Food?
Trash?
By identifying what’s causing clutter in a specific space, you’ll have a much better idea of what needs decluttering as well as where best to begin.
2) Not Having A Plan

One of the biggest decluttering mistakes is not having a plan.
When you’re trying to get rid of clutter, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the stuff in your home (or office!).
Without a clear idea of what you want to keep, what you want to get rid of, and where each item should go, it can be hard to know where to start.
It’s important to start with a plan because without one, you’ll end up just throwing things out without really thinking about whether they’re useful or not.
This means that you’re more likely to donate things that still have value and keep things that could be donated elsewhere.
If you don’t have a plan and just start tossing things out willy-nilly, it’ll be impossible for you to see if there are any valuable items hidden in piles of junk!
3) Trying Too Hard To Clean Up Too Much At Once

When we try to clean up too much at once, it can feel like we’re never going to get done.
And the more you try to do, the more overwhelmed and discouraged you may feel.
To avoid this mistake, make sure that you’re only cleaning one area at a time.
You might decide to focus on your kitchen cabinets today and your bathroom closet tomorrow.
And then take a break for a few days before tackling another space.
That way, you’ll have time to reflect on what’s working well and what isn’t as you go along.
So that when you start again, you can approach the next area with an eye toward improving your previous work.
4) Not Getting Rid Of Things Fast Enough

When you declutter, it’s really important to resist the urge to wait and see if you actually need something before getting rid of it.
This can be especially tricky when you’re trying to get rid of things that are sentimental or hold a lot of meaning for you.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years, it’s that letting go of things too slowly is one of the biggest mistakes people make when they declutter.
The longer you hold on to something, the more attached you get to it.
And that means the harder it becomes for you to get rid of anything at all.
So here’s my advice.
When you’re decluttering, don’t ask yourself if you need something.
Ask yourself if there’s any reason why this item needs to be in your house right now.
If there isn’t, then it needs to go!
5) Not Taking Breaks

Taking breaks can be the difference between being able to declutter your home and getting overwhelmed.
It’s important to take a breather every once in a while because feeling overwhelmed by clutter is one of the biggest reasons people don’t get started on their projects.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed just thinking about the prospect of decluttering your house, try taking small steps instead of trying to tackle everything at once.
For example, try only cleaning one area of your house at a time and only that area!
It might take longer than you’d like, but it’ll make the process much less overwhelming and help you stick with it longer.
In order to avoid becoming overwhelmed by clutter, it’s also important not to feel guilty when you do have breaks.
Instead of beating yourself up for taking time off from cleaning or organizing (or whatever).
Just remind yourself that taking breaks is part of what makes this process work!
What Are The Tips To Stay Organized?

Are you a high-achiever who has trouble keeping up with all your responsibilities?
Or are you a person who likes to keep things simple and organized?
Regardless of which camp you fall into, there is one thing that we can all agree on.
Staying organized is important.
Whether it’s for work or home, being organized can make your life much easier.
It makes it easier to find things when you need them and keeps your mind less cluttered.
It even helps you feel more confident and productive.
But how do you actually stay organized?
How can you maintain an organized home and business even when life gets busy?
I’ve got some tips for you!
1) Use A Planner Or To-Do List

There are a lot of ways to stay organized, but we think the best way is to make a plan.
A planner or to-do list can help you get your life on track.
It’s easy!
All you have to do is write down all of your responsibilities for the day and the week.
Then check them off when they’re done.
You’ll be amazed at how much more productive you feel!
2) Write Your Daily Goals And Tasks, Then Schedule Things In Advance!

Sometimes the best way to stay organized is by writing down your daily goals and tasks.
Writing things down helps you keep track of what needs to be done and when, so you can avoid feeling overwhelmed by a long list of tasks.
It’s also really helpful to schedule things in advance, because then you won’t have as many unexpected tasks popping up all the time.
You can plan out your week or month so that everything gets done on time and without stress!
3) Prioritize Tasks With Urgency

There’s no question that staying organized is a challenge, but it’s possible.
The key is to prioritize tasks with urgency and tackle them first.
If you have an important deadline looming, focus on that task immediately and make sure it gets done on time.
Once you’ve completed the urgent task, then move on to the less urgent ones.
This will help ensure that you don’t get overwhelmed by all the tasks that need to be done.
And also help prevent procrastination from creeping in when there are too many things on your plate at once!
Declutter Now!
Are you ready to declutter?
Do you know what we love?
The feeling of a fresh start.
That’s why I am here to help you get rid of all the clutter in your life, from your closet to your kitchen cabinets, from your car to your bathroom drawers.
I know that it can be hard to let go of some of those items that have sentimental value but trust me.
Your home will thank you for clearing out the clutter and making space for new things!
And if you need extra motivation, remember that when you declutter now, it’ll be easier to find things later on when you need them.
So go ahead and declutter now!
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Alison’s Notebook
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