How to win the battle against clutter

Let's not wait until the end of the year to get rid of all the unnecessary items we’ve accumulated so far.

If we do it now—halfway into the year—it’s going to be less of a challenge to rummage through piles of paper, racks of unworn clothes and stacks of books and old magazines.

Let's remember that eliminating clutter can transform our space dramatically and leave us feeling lighter.
But, before we start dumping everything into garbage bags, let us keep these organizing tips in mind...

1.  Clear out stuff over a period of 2 to 3 weekends.

Let us not underestimate how much time we need to clear things out. We may just be working with a 25 sq.m.studio or even just one closet, but sometimes, like many people, we underestimate how much time we need to clear things out. Organizing is a physical task and can be time-consuming so let us plan accordingly.

2.  Categorize and label.

Let us categorize the stuff we sort through. Let's keep one pile for electronics, another for work materials, another for entertainment, and so forth.

Let us put small objects of the same category in bins or boxes and label them. All we need is a roll of masking tape and a felt-tip pen!

Staying organized even while sorting will help keep our head above water throughout the process.

3.  Keep in mind that people use only 20% of the things they own.

Professional organizers go by the adage that people can do without 80% of what they own. So, when sorting through our stuff, we should not let sentimentality get the better of us. Instead, we should make practical decisions.

For example:

KEEP: Old books from childhood.

THROW: Math notebooks from grade school.

KEEP: Pretty paper bags we can reuse in the future.

THROW: Dried-up mascara in pretty packaging.

TIP: Before throwing something away, let us ask ourself how essential it is to us. What’s the worst that can happen if we decide to throw it away?

4. Buy a box of Ziploc bags.

Let's use the bags to store knickknacks and keep them dust-free.

Let us label our bags and store them in a catchall box.

Let's resist the urge to just dump all our random items without sorting through them—even storage boxes will benefit from labeling.

5. Get a uniform set of hangers.

Sometimes, all a messy space needs is some streamlining.

A messy walk-in closet will get an instant sprucing up with a uniform set of hangers.

Let us group clothes according to category (short sleeved tops, long sleeved tops, pants, shorts, long dresses, short dresses, evening dresses, etc.).

That way, our closet will be more functional and cleaner to look at. ☺