The 7 Most Powerful Clutter-Clearing Tips
For Beginners

Clearing clutter is not about your stuff. I know that’s a fairly bold statement. And now I am going to back it up, and then some.

After working with thousands of clients, helping them clear out their space and transform their lives, I have learned that you need 7 key factors to be successful in clearing out your clutter.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these 7 factors and how they help you clear clutter easily, quickly, and in a way that lasts.

Start small – Most people who decide it’s time, once and for all, to clear out their clutter try to tackle the entire job all at once. And then they wonder why they get stuck part-way through, exhausted and overwhelmed. Start much smaller than you had planned…start with one drawer. Or one bookshelf. Or one tiny section of the garage.

Finish each section – And once you have started small, focus on finishing that small area before you start the next section. Give yourself the opportunity to experience what it feels like to thoroughly go through one area to completion. Get to done. See what that feels like. Then, if you are still motivated, choose one more small section and finish it completely.

Give yourself time – If clearing clutter were easy, you would have already done it, right? So give yourself plenty of time; in fact, give yourself much more time than you think you will need. One thing most people don’t fully recognize is that your clutter is not about your stuff…it’s about the stories and emotions you have attached to your stuff. And those emotions and stories are going to come up when you are going through that small section you are working on.

Learn how to identify clutter – Learn how to easily and quickly identify your clutter. You may believe that clutter will be obvious, like it has a big neon sign on it that says “here I am…here’s the clutter.” But most clutter will not be obvious…it might be expensive or well organized, and still be clutter. Clutter is stuff that no longer brings you joy in your life RIGHT NOW (not “someday, maybe”).

Ignore convenient distractions – Because clearing clutter brings up often uncomfortable emotions or questions, you may find that you conveniently distract yourself with other activities to avoid having to delve into those emotions. If you are serious about clearing out your clutter, turn off your phone, shut off your computer, and send the kids on a play date.

Look for what brings you joy – The whole point of clearing out your clutter is to surround yourself with only those things that bring you joy in your life right now…and to get rid of the rest. So you need to start looking at what items in your home, in your office, and every other area of your life actually do bring you joy.

Reward yourself – Clearing clutter is one of the best forms of self-care, and it can also be initially tiring. So make sure to plan a wonderful reward for yourself after your round of clearing out your stuff. Plan to do something you really enjoy, whether it’s a simple as a long, hot bath, or a movie and dinner.

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