Four ways to maintain a clutter-free home in 2020
Did you know that clutter can negatively affect your mental wellness? Keep your home and mind clutter-free with these easy tips.
We are one week into January and by now most people have jotted down their New Year's resolutions - lose weight, quit smoking, and travel more.
But there is one more thing you might want to add to your "to do" list for 2020 - declutter your home.
It might not seem like a big deal to some, but clearing up all the clutter in your house can do wonders for your mental health.
Clearing your personal space of clutter can help reduce anxiety and stress. It can even boost your mood.
Studies have found links between clutter and procrastination, which means you could get more work done in a home free of clutter.
Here's how you can make your home clutter-free.
Make a list
Write down the areas of your home that have the most clutter and take stock of all the items in the room. You can use the list to decide which area of the home you want to start with first. Some people like prioritising rooms that have the most clutter, but tackling those areas first can demotivate you if it takes a while. Starting with a smaller area and working your way to bigger ones is a great way to get inspired to complete the rooms with the most clutter.
Work on one room at a time
Doing a lot of work on multiple areas at one time can make it harder to see your progress. At the end of the day, all the areas will still feel cluttered. Pick a room, set a goal, and give yourself a time-frame to complete the area.
Create a system
To make the process easier, sort your items into categories such as "keep", "put in storage" or "get rid of". You can also create a separate categories for your children's toys and items that can be donated to charity.
Do I really need this?
Letting go of items you have had for years is hard. But if you want a clutter-free space you need to decide if you really need an item. Oprah Winfrey is a big fan of clutter-free spaces for better emotional well-being. She revealed on her website, oprah.com, how she decides to get rid of things that are taking up unnecessary space in her home and life.
"When you look at your relationship to things —and the energy they contain—ask yourself if they promote joy, beauty, and usefulness, or are they burdensome?" she wrote.
Watch the video below for more tips: