I'm in the middle of a major home decluttering project. With 3 kids I'm not sure I'll ever be done, but at least I'm working on it. Really I'm tackling clutter from BEFORE I was married. Not only that, but I'm working through Neall's clutter from before we were married. I think I deserve a bit of extra time considering the years I'm having to go back through. I thought I'd share some things I've learned, in case anyone wants to embark on their own adventure.
1. Don't declutter alone! Decluttering alone is painful and a waste of time. This is rule one for a reason. It is especially important in the beginning until you really get the hang of it. I've been going for a couple of months now and still work much more quickly and efficiently with someone here to hang out with me. If you have children, this rule should be entirely capitalized. If you have to stop 17 times in 1 hour to make a meal, break up a fight, wipe a nose, or any other child-centered behavior, you'll go mad and never get anything done. Someone else to step in when you're on a roll is essential. If your decluttering partner has children it's especially nice. The kids keep each other busy while you work.
2. Find the happy middle. There are a couple of different kinds of decluttering styles. My friend Becka (a favorite decluttering buddy) is the "brutal declutterer". She gets rid of EVERYTHING. My husband is tending toward the "pack rat" (it's not his fault, he got it genetically :oP). I'm sort of naturally on my husbands side when he's not here to defend his things. Becka tries to be brutal, I try to be too mushy, somehow we balance each other out and actually manage to get stuff done. Find someone to balance your style of decluttering.
2b. If you don't know your decluttering style, assume you are a pack rat. If you were a brutal declutterer, you wouldn't be decluttering, right? Seems like a simple thing that doesn't even need to be spelled out but you'll know why this is important to list when you get started. First time declutterers are pack rats, plain and simple. Go on that assumption and you'll be fine. Before you know it you might move up a level. Nothing wrong with being a pack rat. Knowing is the first step.
3. Begin with 2 empty bins, tubs, or boxes and 1 trash bag. Bags don't work as well for anything but trash but will do in a pinch. Start by picking one clutter space in your home. Don't make this too big. One shelving unit, one cabinet, one cupboard, one tabletop. Starting is hard. So is the last little bit of finishing (we'll get to that later). In one bin you place items to keep. In another bin you place items to donate or sell. Into the trash bag goes trash (duh!).
3b. You cannot keep everything. If you find yourself keeping everything, or putting "maybe I'll keep this if I have space" into the keep box, get another box. The maybe box should have only items that you feel very strongly about. You'll see what I mean. If you put it in the giveaway box and keep glancing at it as if you are afraid that it will disappear simply by putting it there, put it in the maybe box. This will become unnecessary in time, but at first you may need practice deciding what to keep.
4. Have a goal and meet it. Don't set your sights too lofty. One decluttered shelving unit is plenty of work for a day. It doesn't seem like it, but it is. Aim low at first and add small areas if you have more time. Don't set a goal like "declutter the living room" until you've had experience with how much you can do in one day. If you're tired after meeting that small goal, stop for the day.
4b. Decluttering is emotional work as well as physical. If you are emotionally tired and need to process what you've done, stop and do it (as soon as your goal is met). Being a pack rat is an emotional affliction. Consider WHY you keep the things you do, even though you have no room for them. You'll see what I mean. If you need to, take a break for a couple of days before starting another space. This will get easier, I promise.
4c. Remind yourself often of your goals and their importance. A clean and decluttered house is proven to be beneficial to one's health. You will actually feel better, really. Keep your motivation in mind, whatever it is.
5. Reward yourself. Once your space or room is finished, redecorate. Paint the walls, buy a new couch, put a framed picture up that you didn't have room for before. Buy the new candle for the living room. Put a prettier bedspread on your bed. Do something that makes your space yours, show it off to yourself. Don't feel stupid about gazing lovingly at a clean and organized shelf. You should be proud of your accomplishment.
So there is my list. If I think of anything else I'll add it in future blog posts. This is just a snippet of my decluttering world. Happy decluttering.
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