Almost everyone has a problem with clutter. For some, clutter stays for a season until a friend or relative announced a visit, and lo! and behold!, everyone in the house join in clutter expulsion. But for some people, clutter stays and grows and grows until you can’t almost breath. And we don’t want that.

Clutter brings headache. Not only does it accumulate dust allergen, it can also bury useful items. Joshua Becker, shares ways on how we can live in a clutter-free home and enjoy the priceless value of an extra space.

I. Simple Guide to Keep Our Homes Clutter-Free:

1) Tell yourself that you can get rid of clutter. We envy a sister whose house is clean and organized. But we seem to lose hope that we can ever achieve such skill for organization. Believe that you can do small change for a better life one step at a time. The first step for clutter-free life is to make a decision that you will rid yourself of clutter, one space at a time. He quoted William Morris guide to decluttering: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” We can also use this as a guide to expunge the undesirables in our drawers, then in our closet, then in our room. Before we know it, we are able to multiply space and enjoy the relaxing feeling it brings.

2) Remove the excesses. Clutter appears in homes that are full of things and the occupants keep on buying and buying. Yet, the fewer we own, the easier it is to keep clutter at a minimum. The first (and most important) step in keeping our home clutter-free is to remove the excessive possessions that file one after another in a cramp space.

But how we can remove the clutter? According to Becker, we must first have a working definition of clutter to aid us in this step. Clutter is defined as:
a) Excess stuff in too small a space;
b) Anything that we no longer used or loved
c) Anything that led to a feeling of disorganization.
These question should guide us in getting rid of clutter. We should remove everything that satisfies these definitions. If there are items that are too sentimental to throw away, the author suggests a temporary resting place – a box to contain our baby sweater or those love letters from our love interest/s. But we sure to deal with it soon.

3) Implement habits to manage your clutter. Getting rid of excess is a major step, but it will be easier after that. The next step is to have a system to maintain a clutter-free home. Develop a habit to keep your home tidy like:
a) Cleaning the kitchen after each meal.
b) Placing daily-used items (clothes,books,toys) back in their designated “homes”.
c) Fully-completing projects around the house.
d) Developing an evening routine. Empty the sink of dishes, mop the floor, clear the kitchen counter, clear tables, leave the living room clean, etc. We can come up with our own system.

4) Slow the accumulation of possessions. Most people are drawn to possess more and more in our materialistic culture. When what goes in the house is greater than what goes out, clutter multiplies. If we will minimize our accumulation of things, clutter will be reduced. Thus we need to evaluate our purchases first. Realize that what is indicated on the price tag is not really the price of the item. There are hidden costs we need to consider such as time, energy, and effort to clean and maintain them once they enter our home. Before buying ask these questions:
a) Is this item really needed?
b) Do I have a place to store this when I get it home?
c) How much extra work will this possession add to my life?
d) Am I buying it for the right reasons?
It is a fact that sometimes the thing we purchase can create more inconvenience than the convenience it has promised to offer. We must be discriminatory in buying. Do we really need that 42-inch TV? Do we really need another shoes or bag or blouse when our closet is already bursting with unused items?

II. The Right Evening Habit

Too much to do, too little time. That is the dilemma we face everyday. When we have so much work in our to do list, we can’t see the morning in its glorious brightness. But we can brighten up each morning – and our day – by a 10-minute cleaning ritual. Many people think that you need to spend hours to clean the house. But ten(10) 60-second decluttering efforts before you go to bed can do the trick and you will wake up stress-free.

1. Return shoes/coats to closets. Don’t let shoes lie on the floor. Keep it out of sight.

2. Keep your table or kitchen counter space clutter-free in the morning by removing notebooks, mail, receipts, wrappers, bags, etc., the night before.

3. Put away articles of clothing. Some go in the laundry. Some go back in the closet. But none should be left on the floor.

4. Store media out of sight. Put back all DVD’s, CD’s, video games, and remote controls that were used during the day.

5. Clean your bags and remove receipts and other undesirables. Your wallet will be happy that you did.
6. Clear all bathroom surfaces. The first place you’ll go in the morning is the bathroom. It’s surprisingly easy to keep it clutter free. Invest the 60 seconds every night to have a quick clean-up.

7. Clean-up study table. Clear the table of papers and books and other items. Ask the children to do the same in their own study area.

8. Put kitchen items away. Use up 60 seconds to clear up things you were not able to put away after you have done your after-dinner cleaning.

10. If you have children, put away toys and books and other kid’s things away.

If may not be our habit for now. But once we got the hang of it, it will be as easy as ABC. And you will face the morning with great expectations.

Reference:

10 Minutes to a Clutter-Free Morning. http://www.becomingminimalist.com/clutter-free-morning/
Simple Guide to a Clutter Free Home. JOSHUA BECKER. http://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-simple-guide-to-a-clutter-free-home/