13 Different Approaches to Delve into Decluttering

There are many methods to decluttering out there but what works for one person may not work for another.

Take a look at these different approaches to delve into decluttering. Which one is right for you?

The more comfortable you are with the way in which you approach decluttering the more likely you'll be able to stick with it, gain progress and maybe even enjoy it ... a little ... or not.

If you're in a hurry ...

1. All at once.

Do it all in one day, a large room, a whole floor or even your entire house.

You may be rushed to take drastic measures, such as a sudden move, divorce or even death.

You may just be an all or nothing kind of person.

It's probably a good idea to enlist friends in this scenario.

If you need to see visual progress ...

2. Pull everything out.

You may want to take everything out of the space and start fresh, putting back only those items which you truly need and use, leaving the rest in the donation box.

This is a good way to start fresh but you may become overwhelmed part of the way through and have a new mess where you put all the stuff you had pulled out.

Start this kind of project at a time when you have lots of energy or are feeling motivated.

3. Collect everything.

Like Marie Kondo, you may want to collect everything from one category and put it in a pile.

This is a great way to see how much of something you truly have. Sometimes we just don't realize it until we see it with our own eyes.

This can also have the potential to get overwhelming, so be ready before you take this one on or at least put this pile somewhere out of sight yet easily accessible so that you can work on it in segments.

If you're feeling hesitant ...

4. Start with the easy stuff.

If you're especially hesitant about decluttering, it can be a good idea to start out with the easy stuff, garbage, stuff on the floor, anything out of place.

With this method you can see clear progress as you work, which may provide you with the confidence and motivation to take on more.

5. Baby steps.

If you're very busy or you're just not that stoked about decluttering, you may like to do it this way. Just work on one small area at a time, one drawer, one surface. Although this may take a little longer it will also allow you to put more time and attention into each individual area, possibly making greater progress.

If you're feeling energetic and motivated ...

6. Start with the hardest space.

You may like to tackle the hardest space first and then work your way to the easiest. This is a good method if you've feeling extra motivated and have a lot of energy but comes with the risk of burning you out before continuing on to the next space or even finishing this one.

7. Start with the room or space that's bothering you the most.

This may be a good idea because you'll feel the difference immediately, if it's a space you use often or in which clutter is really impeding your daily life.

This feeling may motivate you to do more.

8. Go with your mood.

Are you ever in the mood to declutter? Some love it, some hate it. It can be hard to predict when we're going to have the energy and motivation to do this but sometimes it pays off to just dive in to decluttering whenever the mood strikes us, as we're more energetic and willing to let go at that time.

If you have a busy schedule ...

9. Weekend worker.

Because of our work and family schedules, sometimes it's just not feasible to pay any attention to decluttering. In this case, it may work best to just wait until the weekend. Aim to work when you can focus on the task at hand and are feeling most energetic.

10. Schedule it.

You're never in the mood or you never seem to get around to it but you know needs to be done. In this case, you may want to schedule a specific amount of time each day or each week until you've accomplished your goal.

11. Time it.

Maybe you can only tolerate decluttering for so long or maybe you might even go the other way and spend too much time, getting lost in the process and distracted admiring all the junk you're supposed to be going through. If you set a timer this can help you focus and avoid burning out. Increase the timed sessions as you gain your stride.

If you love to declutter ...

12. All the time.

If you just love the feeling of decluttering, this one may be for you. Whenever you are in any space in your home you mind find yourself scanning for anything amiss and ready to pounce on anything that doesn't belong.

13. By the room.

Room makeover time! Exciting, right? Right? Okay, maybe not for everyone. Choose a room that you want to work on and dive in. This may not get accomplished in one day, so take it on when you're not depending on using that space because it may get much messier at first. Be sure to take before and after pics so you can bask in your progress. Work by area or category and keep going until you've cleared out all that clutter.

At the end of the day, no method is going to work for everyone. We all have different schedules, personalities, tolerance for cleaning, amounts of stuff and various styles of homes. Figure out what works best for you to be the most effective at decluttering. If these methods don't work for you, do it the way you like to. After all, liking it is half the battle.

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