Fire up your Minimalist Lifestyle: 10 Things You Must Declutter First - PLUS 100 More to Lighten Your Load!
Decluttering is the very first step to minimising the possessions in your home. For most of us, it is the simplest way to begin a journey into minimalism. However, when we look closely at all we own, it can become overwhelming, and we don’t know where to begin. We end up suffering from “Analysis paralysis” which freezes us from taking any action at all.
Making a start will begin the snowball of minimalism momentum. As you experience the results of having more space and the lightness of owning less stuff, you will likely want more of the same.
Focus on 1 of the 10 following areas, work at it and move onto the next.
When you are ready (if you want an extended challenge), attempt the checklist at the bottom of the blog for the next 100 items or download your FREE pdf checklist!
10 Things To Declutter First
Beauty products: Make your beauty regime simpler every morning by culling the old, expired and no longer used items. You will find it much easier to get yourself organised each day without having to wade through all your products.
Children’s toys (especially if you are an adult and still have toys!): Teach your children to let go and donate the stuff they no longer play with. Don’t force them though!
Clothes: It’s time to take a look at your clothing. Tackle one category at a time: shirts, t-shirts, trousers, jackets, socks, underpants, coats, sportswear, accessories, dresses, skirts and shoes. Drag out one category, compare what fits and suits you best by quickly trying them on, which are worn out and cull the excess or the clothing that you simply just don’t wear so much anymore. Wouldn’t it be great to only put on the clothing that you love?
Expired food and ingredients: Choose a cupboard and cull the out-of-date food or put near-expired food to the forefront and vow to use it up in the next few meals.
Extra cutlery, bowls, plates and food-ware: Be rid of the excess eating and drinking tools as you are not a commercial café/restaurant. Keep and use your best stuff and don’t let it languor in the back of your cupboards and drawers taking up space collecting dust.
Junk drawer: Get stuck into the mixed items, get rid of the duplicates and, well… junk!
Single items which have lost their pair or group: Get rid of those incomplete sets and missing pairs.
Things you are storing for others: If you find things that belong to others (especially your grown-up kids) it is time to give them an ultimatum and ask them to collect it or sort it out for themselves. If someone is storing things in your household, it is obviously an inconvenience to them and now an inconvenience to you.
Anything that makes you feel indifferent or “Meh!”: Things that serve no useful function or inspire no joy can simply go.
Anything that makes you feel negative or unhappy: Sometimes the sentimental items we hold onto bring us sadness and remind us of our loss or pain. There is no real point holding onto these items. Instead, pass them onto someone they might bring joy too.
The 100 Area Declutter Challenge
Tip: Take a digital photo of anything you wish to keep a memory of.
Artwork and paintings
AV cables
AV components
Baby clothes
Baby supplies
Bathroom Linen
Beauty appliances
Bed linen
Blankets
Boardgames
Books
Candles, candle holders and Candlesticks
Caps and hats
Car parts and supplies
CDs
China
Cleaning products
Cleaning supplies
Clothes hangers
Coats
Cookbooks
Costumes
Craft supplies
Crystal-ware
Cushions
Digital cords
Discount vouchers
DVDs
Empty boxes and packaging
Excess celebrations decorations, such as birthdays and xmas.
Expired liquids
Figurines
Foreign coins or outdated currency
Fridge Magnets
Furniture
Garden furniture
Garden supplies
Garden tools
Hair accessories
Hardware – screws, nails, fixings etc.
Jars and glassware
Jewellery
Jigsaw puzzles
Jugs
Kid’s art
Kitchen appliances
Kitchen gadgets
Magazines
Make-up
Manuals
Medicines
Mugs
Music scores
Musical instrument accessories
Musical instrument supplies
Musical instruments
Newspapers
Non-essential paperwork
Office supplies
Old batteries
Old brooms and mops
Old celebration cards from birthdays and events
Old perfume and fragrances
Old schoolbooks and study materials
Outdated game systems and games
Outdated Tech
Party supplies
Pens and pencils
Pet supplies
Phone books
Photography cables and supplies
Photos
Pillows
Plant pots
Plastic bags
Plastic containers
Playing cards
Present and Gift supplies
Purses
Rubber bands
Rugs
Saucepans and pans
Scrapbooks
Sewing equipment and supplies
Sporting goods
Sports collections
Stuffed animals
Suitcases
Tablets
Timber and off-cuts
Tools
Toys
Tupperware
TV’s
Unused mobile phones
Unwanted and unused presents
Vases
Video tapes
Wallets
Winter gear
Click here now for your pdf checklist of all these items and sign up to receive the latest news and occasional FREEBIE plus your FREE 22-Page “Beginning Minimalism” booklet!