Organization through decluttering, minimalism, mindfulness and productivity.

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Fire up your Minimalist Lifestyle: 10 Things You Must Declutter First - PLUS 100 More to Lighten Your Load!

Andrew-John Paterson

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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!

  3. 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?

  4. Expired food and ingredients: Choose a cupboard and cull the out-of-date food or put near-expired food to the forefront and vow to use it up in the next few meals.

  5. 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.

  6. Junk drawer: Get stuck into the mixed items, get rid of the duplicates and, well… junk!

  7. Single items which have lost their pair or group:  Get rid of those incomplete sets and missing pairs.

  8. 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.

  9. Anything that makes you feel indifferent or “Meh!”: Things that serve no useful function or inspire no joy can simply go.

  10. 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.

  1. Artwork and paintings

  2. AV cables

  3. AV components

  4. Baby clothes

  5. Baby supplies

  6. Bathroom Linen

  7. Beauty appliances

  8. Bed linen

  9. Blankets

  10. Boardgames

  11. Books

  12. Candles, candle holders and Candlesticks

  13. Caps and hats

  14. Car parts and supplies

  15. CDs

  16. China

  17. Cleaning products

  18. Cleaning supplies

  19. Clothes hangers

  20. Coats

  21. Cookbooks

  22. Costumes

  23. Craft supplies

  24. Crystal-ware

  25. Cushions

  26. Digital cords

  27. Discount vouchers

  28. DVDs

  29. Empty boxes and packaging

  30. Excess celebrations decorations, such as birthdays and xmas.

  31. Expired liquids

  32. Figurines

  33. Foreign coins or outdated currency

  34. Fridge Magnets

  35. Furniture

  36. Garden furniture

  37. Garden supplies

  38. Garden tools

  39. Hair accessories

  40. Hardware – screws, nails, fixings etc.

  41. Jars and glassware

  42. Jewellery

  43. Jigsaw puzzles

  44. Jugs

  45. Kid’s art

  46. Kitchen appliances

  47. Kitchen gadgets

  48. Magazines

  49. Make-up

  50. Manuals

  51. Medicines

  52. Mugs

  53. Music scores

  54. Musical instrument accessories

  55. Musical instrument supplies

  56. Musical instruments

  57. Newspapers

  58. Non-essential paperwork

  59. Office supplies

  60. Old batteries

  61. Old brooms and mops

  62. Old celebration cards from birthdays and events

  63. Old perfume and fragrances

  64. Old schoolbooks and study materials

  65. Outdated game systems and games

  66. Outdated Tech

  67. Party supplies

  68. Pens and pencils

  69. Pet supplies

  70. Phone books

  71. Photography cables and supplies

  72. Photos

  73. Pillows

  74. Plant pots

  75. Plastic bags

  76. Plastic containers

  77. Playing cards

  78. Present and Gift supplies

  79. Purses

  80. Rubber bands

  81. Rugs

  82. Saucepans and pans

  83. Scrapbooks

  84. Sewing equipment and supplies

  85. Sporting goods

  86. Sports collections

  87. Stuffed animals

  88. Suitcases

  89. Tablets

  90. Timber and off-cuts

  91. Tools

  92. Toys

  93. Tupperware

  94. TV’s

  95. Unused mobile phones

  96. Unwanted and unused presents

  97. Vases

  98. Video tapes

  99. Wallets

  100. 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!