Kim Kubsch
Tired of living with all of that clutter, yet health challenges don’t allow you the ability or energy to get rid of it? Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you navigate the decluttering process:
1. Take it slow.
It’s totally okay to acknowledge any limitations you might be facing and adjust accordingly.
It may take weeks, months, or even years to accomplish your goals. Taking a slower approach to decluttering is absolutely acceptable. Adjusting your expectations is going to be part of the process.
Decluttering isn’t a competition. The last thing you want to do is leave yourself physically injured or mentally overwhelmed and exhausted. Don’t compare your progress with anyone else’s—this is your own journey.
2. Set realistic goals as you go.
The idea of tackling all of your clutter at once might be completely overwhelming.
By celebrating little wins along the way, you’ll be able to recognize the progress you’ve made and continue building momentum for the rest of the task at hand.
Want to declutter your kitchen? Focus on one drawer at a time.
Want to declutter your closet? Focus on one type of clothing at a time.
Narrowing your focus to a very small area or category will help you to make progress without feeling so overwhelmed.
Give yourself grace, and be patient. Progress is progress, no matter how small.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
While most of us feel like we need to declutter our space all by ourselves, for some, this isn’t realistic. There’s nothing wrong with asking for a little help.
If you can afford it, hire a professional decluttering service to come in and help you sort through your stuff to determine what stays and what goes.
As a trained professional, I can help you make hard choices around what you should and shouldn’t keep and get rid of trash and items to donate. I also provide systems and solutions that will help keep your home clutter-free.
4. Find long-term solutions to work for you.
Decluttering is a two-part project. First, get rid of all the existing clutter in your space. Then, create an organizational system for the stuff that remains, and figure out how to keep it from becoming cluttered chaos like it was.
It may be hanging storage solutions on walls—something visible that you can’t easily ignore or forget. Or maybe it’s filling drawers with organizers to make it easy to find and grab whatever you need. Create a permanent home for all your items.
Creating decluttering habits in your home will help you to maintain your space so that you can enjoy your simplified home where you can relax. Keep the end goal in mind of owning less stuff, less to clean, less mess, less debt, and less stress.
While decluttering with either physical or mental health challenges can certainly be more difficult, using these tactics can help. And don’t forget that help is only a phone call away!
To learn more about secrets of being organized, visit Amazon for Kim’s books Joy of Downsizing and Getting Your Life Together. For Kim’s free 30-minute downsizing consultation, call 480-720-8566 or email Kim@JoyfulDOWNSIZING.com.