For many people, one of the most overwhelming aspects of maintaining a home is figuring out where everything belongs. Tools, kitchen utensils, paperwork, keepsakes and everyday belongings can quickly accumulate, making it difficult to find what you need when you need it or simply enjoy the space around you.
Knowing where to begin can be one of the hardest parts of getting organized. Finding the time to create a system takes effort, and for many of us, time is already in short supply. There is also an emotional side to sorting through our belongings. Certain items may carry memories, sentimental value or family history, making the decision to keep, donate or discard them more complicated than it might seem.
But creating a more organized environment can help lighten the mental load that comes with clutter and make your home feel more comfortable and manageable.
Why Decluttering Matters
Clutter can be more than a visual distraction. It can contribute to feelings of stress and being overwhelmed. A survey conducted by the National Association of Professional Organizers found that 54% of Americans felt overwhelmed by the amount of clutter they had, while 78% said they were unsure what to do with it or found it too complicated to deal with.
The good news is that organizing your home does not have to mean tackling everything at once. Small, consistent changes can make a noticeable difference.
Simple Ways to Get Organized
Start small.
Set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes and focus on one small area. It could be a drawer, a shelf, a countertop or one section of a closet. Making progress in short bursts can feel much more manageable than looking at your entire home as one enormous project. Consider working in one room at a time rather than trying to organize the whole house in a single weekend.
Take care of things when they happen.
Small habits can prevent clutter from building up. When you come home, put your belongings where they belong instead of creating a pile to deal with later. Sort through the mail when you bring it inside rather than allowing it to accumulate on the counter. Taking a few extra minutes in the moment can save you from a much larger task later.
Give everything a home.
One of the keys to staying organized is making sure the things you use regularly have a designated place. When everything has a home, it becomes easier to put things away and easier to find them later. Organization is less about making everything look perfect and more about creating a system that works for you.
Make organization a habit.
Decluttering is not necessarily a one-time project. Build small organizing tasks into your regular routine. A few minutes spent putting things away each day can help prevent clutter from becoming overwhelming again.
Decluttering Before a Move
Moving to a new home is one of the most common times people take a closer look at their belongings. After living in one place for many years, it is natural for possessions to accumulate. Moving provides an opportunity to decide what you truly want to bring with you into your next chapter.
However, decluttering during a move can also add stress to an already emotional process. Going through years of belongings can bring back memories and make decisions about what to keep especially difficult.
One simple approach is to divide your belongings into three categories: keep, donate and discard.
- Keep: Items you use regularly, need or truly value.
- Donate: Items that are in good condition but are no longer useful to you and could benefit someone else.
- Discard: Items that are broken, damaged, expired or no longer usable.
Another helpful strategy is to group similar items together. For example, put all your sweaters in one place, all your hats together or gather your kitchen utensils into one area. Seeing everything you have in a particular category can make it easier to recognize when you have more than you need.
You can also try a “move-in” approach without actually moving. Imagine that you are preparing to move into a new home. What would you choose to bring with you? What would you leave behind? This mindset can encourage you to look at closets, shelves, cabinets and other areas that may not receive much attention during your normal cleaning routine.
While this approach may require some time and effort, it can provide a refreshing opportunity to clean, simplify and create a home that better reflects how you live today.
Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff
Decluttering does not mean getting rid of everything that has meaning. In fact, part of organizing is finding ways to preserve the memories that matter most while letting go of possessions that no longer serve a purpose.
Matt Paxton, known for his work helping families declutter and organize their homes through the television show Hoarders, has spent years exploring the connection between our belongings, our memories and our homes. He is also the author of Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff, which focuses on simplifying our possessions while preserving what is truly meaningful.
Paxton will bring his practical and inspiring perspective to an event, “Treasures at Tales” at the Hilltop Theatre & Concert Hall on October 21st, for a powerful evening filled with laughter, storytelling, and heartfelt reflections on the objects that connect us to the people and experiences we cherish most. Reserve your spot for Matt Paxton’s presentation at: SunHealthFoundation.org/Matt-Paxton
Whether you are preparing for a move or simply looking for a fresh start at home, decluttering can be an opportunity to create a space that feels lighter, calmer and easier to enjoy. Start small, give yourself time and remember that the goal isn’t perfection, but it is creating a home that works for you.
