4 easy steps to declutter your home for a fresh start to 2021

We are all hoping for a better year in 2021 than we had in 2020, and decluttering your home is a fantastic way to start fresh for the New Year. 

We know now more than ever the effect that your home can have on how you feel, due to the amount of time we have all spent inside this year, but sometimes it can feel overwhelming know where to start in improving your space. 

We've complied 4 easy steps to help you welcome 2021 with a fresh, clutter-free home. 

1. Pick one project at a time

Which space do you want to tackle first? You may want to start small and begin with a space that isn't too cluttered, or get the worst room out of the way first. Either way, it's best to pick one project at a time so the task doesn't become overwhelming.

Our tips:

• Pick something that makes the most noticeable difference with the least amount of time, so you feel like you're making progress from the beginning.
• Pick something that contains items that are easy for you to sort through.

It's a busy time of year, so you may only have 1 hour per week to dedicate to decluttering. You’ll see much more progress if you devote 4 hours over the course of a month on one area…than if you spend an hour in 4 areas.
 

2. Break it down into smaller tasks

Overwhelm is very common when you’re faced with clearing out years or decades of clutter. One step that helps you decrease overwhelm when you declutter your home is to make each task more manageable.

For example, if you're cleaning out your study or guest room, break it down into manageable tasks:

• Declutter desk.
• Declutter closet.
• Go through the pile of random items stacked on the chair.

Ask yourself, “Does this task take less than 15 minutes to complete?” If the answer is no, break it down more.
 

3. If it’s not used then discard

After choosing an area to focus on, gather every single item that belongs in that category and spread them out. 

Pick out anything that is ready to be thrown away such as damaged, soiled or broken items as well as anything that is no longer in style or is not loved anymore. Put those items in a box for the local op shop or gift or dispose of them in some other manner.

By starting the with that are clearly damaged or you are sure you no longer want, it will be easier to build momentum to donate or discard items that you may have placed into the 'maybe' pile, when deep down you know they have to go in order for you to enjoy your clutter-free home.
 

4. Focus on progress, not perfection

This last step to declutter your home is not as strategic, but important nonetheless.

Perfection is a myth; it doesn’t exist. Yet is a concept that is so prevalent in our modern day society that we often see sharable, social media-friendly organisation 'inspo' as the goal, which makes us see anything less as a failure. 

Instead of focusing on meeting an impossible standard, focus on progress. Every little step you take towards the dream you created in step 1 is a reason to celebrate.

Recycled the old magazines that were covering your coffee table? Great job!

Broke down the many delivery boxes you had stacked up from all of those lockdown online purchases? You're doing amazing!

Every step you take towards your goal, no matter how small, is progress and should be celebrated.

Focusing on progress makes you feel good about yourself, which then motivates you to go onto bigger and bigger projects.

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