Reading Time: 14 minutes Clear the Clutter, Embrace Peace: 9 Strategies for a Happier Home
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Americans are increasingly burdened by their own stuff, and it’s coming at a high price. Recent statistics reveal that, cumulatively, US residents spend billions a year on self-storage units.
This is an astonishing amount just to store things they don’t have room for in their own homes and apartments.
In an era when living spaces are filled to the brim, many are looking for ways to reclaim not just square footage but mental clarity.
The idea of simplifying life and decluttering is more than just a seasonal fad of clearing out a messy closet or garage; it’s about taking a measured approach to possessions.
Table of Contents
The Cost of Clutter
It’s easy to see why the saying “out of sight, out of mind” is popular among those who rent self-storage units. These renters pay substantial fees for the luxury of keeping items they seldom use, fees that often go unnoticed in monthly budgets.
Nationally, these costs add up to $30 Billion each year, representing a significant financial commitment to storing stuff many forgot they own.
$30 Billion is a huge number. That comes to nearly $100 a year for every man, woman, and child in the United States just to store stuff.
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Choosing the Right Decluttering Rule for Your Home
There are many other methods and “rules” of decluttering. The most important rule is to find one that works for you. There is no right or wrong way to declutter.
Here are nine different decluttering methods. They all work. You just need to figure out which one works for you.
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The One-Year Rule To Decluttering
To combat the amount of clutter in our home, I developed the One Year Rule. The One Year Rule is if an item hasn’t been touched in a year, it is sold, donated, or discarded.
Implementing the One-Year Rule can dramatically change one’s living space and mindset. By regularly reviewing your possessions and asking whether or not they’ve been of any use or joy in the past year, you can make more intentional decisions about what to keep.
This approach clears physical space and alleviates the psychological burden of maintaining and storing unnecessary items.
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What is the 12 12 12 rule for decluttering?
The rules are simple: locate 12 items to throw away, 12 to donate, and 12 to be returned to their proper home. This method breaks decluttering into manageable tasks, making it less overwhelming.
By using the 12-12-12 framework, you’re able to make immediate decisions about what belongs, what can be repurposed, and what needs to go, all in a single, structured session. It’s a quick yet impactful way to restore order to your space.
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What is the 90 90 rule decluttering?
Have you used that item in the last 90 days? If you haven’t, will you use it in the next 90? If not, then it’s okay to let go. This approach focuses on immediate relevance, helping to eliminate unnecessary items by evaluating their current utility.
It’s a more aggressive strategy that prioritizes the present moment over sentimental attachment, encouraging faster decision-making for a clutter-free home.
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What is the 5 year rule for decluttering?
The five-year decluttering rule says that if you haven’t used an item in five years, you probably don’t need to keep it in your home. This method is designed for people who may struggle with letting go of long-unused items, but still need a guideline to make decluttering decisions.
It provides a generous timeframe for evaluation, making it especially useful for larger or more sentimental items that accumulate over time.
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What is the 333 method of decluttering?
Choose 33 items (or less) including clothes, shoes, jewelry, and accessories. Pack up and hide everything else, and then you don’t have to think about shopping or what to wear for the next three months.
By limiting wardrobe choices, this method encourages simplicity and creativity while reducing decision fatigue. It promotes a minimalist lifestyle, helping to streamline both your space and your daily routine.
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What is the 80 20 rule for clutter?
You can incorporate the 80/20 rule in your home by filling in the time between a ‘big clean’ and tidying 20 percent of your things more regularly.
This keeps your home tidy on the surface and makes it feel less intimidating when deep cleaning the other 80 percent of your home.
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What is the one touch rule for clutter?
The One Touch Rule for managing clutter is a simple yet effective principle designed to help keep spaces organized and reduce the buildup of clutter.
The core idea is that when you handle an item, be it your shoes, mail, or a coffee mug, you deal with it immediately in one action, placing it in its designated spot, rather than setting it down somewhere temporarily and having to move it again later.
This rule encourages immediate decision-making and action, such as putting things away right after use, opening and filing mail as soon as it’s received, or washing dishes immediately after eating.
The One Touch Rule helps in preventing clutter from accumulating by ensuring items do not pile up through procrastination or indecision.
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What is the quiet decluttering technique?
The “quieting” decluttering technique is a mindful approach to organizing and simplifying your living or working spaces.
Unlike more aggressive decluttering methods that might involve large-scale purging or strict categorization rules, quieting focuses on gradually refining and calming your environment.
The quieting technique is especially appealing to those who may feel overwhelmed by larger decluttering tasks or who prefer a more gentle and reflective approach to organizing.
It emphasizes the journey of creating a calming environment, encouraging individuals to take their time and find joy in the process.
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What is the golden rule of decluttering?
The Golden Rule of decluttering is often summed up as “Keep only what brings you joy or is useful.” This principle encourages individuals to evaluate their possessions based on emotional and practical criteria, promoting a living space that is both functional and joyful.
The rule suggests that if an item doesn’t serve a purpose or make you happy, it’s probably time to let it go.
This approach helps create an environment filled with meaningful and valuable items to the individual, reducing clutter and enhancing overall well-being.
Originating from the KonMari method by Marie Kondo, this principle has gained widespread popularity for its simplicity and effectiveness in transforming cluttered spaces into serene, organized environments.
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An Observation About Decluttering
One thing that really stands out to me about all the different rules to decluttering is that they are all saying the same thing. “If you don’t use it, lose it”.
The only real difference is the timing.
How to Start Decluttering
Decluttering can feel overwhelming at first, but breaking it down into steps makes it more manageable. Starting with a clear plan allows you to tackle the process thoughtfully, reducing stress and maximizing results.
The key is to approach decluttering gradually, so you’re not burned out and can make intentional decisions about what stays and what goes. Follow these steps to make your decluttering journey more efficient and rewarding.
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Take Inventory
Begin by assessing what you have. It might be overwhelming, but understanding the extent of your possessions is the first step. This helps you get a clear picture of what you’re dealing with and highlights the areas that need the most attention.
By acknowledging how much stuff has accumulated, you’re already one step closer to creating a cleaner, more organized space.
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Apply the One-Year Rule (or any of the rules listed below)
Question the necessity of each item. If it hasn’t been used in the last year, consider letting it go. This approach forces you to evaluate whether the item still serves a purpose in your life or if it’s simply taking up space.
By applying a specific decluttering rule, like the One-Year Rule, you’re ensuring that the process is consistent and that unnecessary items are removed from your home, creating more room and peace of mind.
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Categorize
Divide your items into categories – keep, sell, donate, or throw away. This step adds structure to your decluttering efforts, making it easier to sort through large quantities of things.
By giving each item a clear destination, you’re simplifying the decision-making process, avoiding unnecessary hesitation, and ensuring that clutter doesn’t return to your space. Plus, categorizing helps to see what can benefit others through donation or sale.
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Act Immediately
Once you decide to sell or donate an item, follow through. The longer it sits in your home, the more likely you’ll second-guess your decision. Taking swift action is essential to prevent re-cluttering and to maintain momentum in the decluttering process.
It also keeps the excitement and satisfaction of a cleaner space alive, as you see the physical results of your decisions in real time.
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Avoid Recluttering
Once you’ve made space, resist the urge to fill it with more things. Appreciate the open, tranquil areas you’ve created. Decluttering is not just about removing excess items but about adopting a new mindset toward consumption.
By valuing the spaciousness you’ve gained, you’re less likely to impulse-buy or hoard things in the future, ensuring long-term success in maintaining an organized home.
Practical Tips for Effective Decluttering
Decluttering is easier when you have a clear strategy in place. These tips are designed to make decluttering less overwhelming, helping you tackle your home step by step.
They also encourage mindful decision-making, ensuring that once you declutter, the results are lasting and meaningful.
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Set Small, Achievable Goals
Instead of tackling the entire house in one day, focus on one area or room at a time. Completing smaller tasks can provide a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to continue.
This approach helps prevent burnout and makes the process feel more manageable, allowing you to maintain progress over time. By breaking your home into zones, you can address clutter systematically without feeling overwhelmed by the scope of the task.
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Use the Four-Box Method
For each decluttering session, bring four boxes or bins labeled Keep, Donate, Sell, and Trash. This visually organizes the process and makes decisions clearer and simpler.
By sorting items into distinct categories, you minimize the confusion of where things should go and create a streamlined process. The Four-Box Method keeps you on track, ensuring that each item has a purpose and that nothing lingers without reason.
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Implement the 20/20 Rule
If you’re hesitant to get rid of something because you might need it, ask yourself if it can be replaced for less than $20 in less than 20 minutes. If so, it’s okay to let it go.
This rule helps you overcome the fear of scarcity and reinforces the idea that most things are easily replaceable. By using this practical mindset, you’re more likely to let go of items that are cluttering your space, confident that you can get them again if absolutely necessary.
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Digitize Where Possible
Reduce physical clutter by scanning documents, photos, and other paper items that you want to keep but don’t necessarily need in hard copy. This not only saves space but also makes items easier to find.
Going digital allows you to keep memories and important information without the bulk of physical storage. By embracing technology, you can organize your digital files and enjoy the benefits of a clutter-free physical environment.
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Organize as You Go
Instead of merely decluttering, take the opportunity to organize the items you decide to keep. Invest in storage solutions that will help maintain order and prevent future clutter.
By arranging your belongings thoughtfully, you’re creating systems that make it easier to keep things tidy in the long run. Be it shelves, containers, or labels, organization supports a clutter-free lifestyle and ensures that your efforts have a lasting impact.
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Involve the Whole Family
Decluttering should be a collective effort, especially in shared living spaces. Make decluttering a family activity where everyone participates and decisions on communal items are made together.
This not only distributes the workload but also teaches valuable lessons about responsibility and organization. When everyone is involved, it fosters a sense of ownership over the home’s cleanliness, ensuring that the whole household is invested in maintaining a decluttered space.
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Decluttering Is Hard
Decluttering is not easy. I get rid of things that I thought I cared about, but I am pretty loyal to the One-Year Rule. If I haven’t touched something in a year, I get rid of it.
This means things like trophies are at risk. I make a few exceptions. Pictures on walls are safe. Books and paperwork can be tricky. My spouse’s items are safe.
It’s hard to let go of things that have sentimental value. Focus on decluttering all the things around your house that do not have sentimental value. You haven’t touched that shirt in a year, do you need it? No.
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Benefits Beyond the Physical
The impact of decluttering extends far beyond the immediate result of a tidier space. It fosters an environment that enhances clarity, focus, and productivity.
When physical clutter is minimized, it reduces the cognitive overload associated with excess stimuli, allowing for a more focused mindset.
This can lead to improved mood and decreased stress levels, as the act of decluttering can be incredibly therapeutic, providing a sense of control over one’s environment.
Furthermore, decluttering can positively impact one’s financial health by revealing hidden assets that can be sold or donated, potentially benefitting others in need.
The process of decluttering doesn’t just transform your space; it can transform your mental wellbeing and lifestyle.
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Final Thought
In modern life, it’s easy to accumulate things that we think we need. However, by decluttering, we can keep our homes and minds free of clutter.
Next time you open that overflowing storage unit or closet, ask yourself if it’s really worth holding onto items you haven’t touched in over a year. The answer might just set you free.
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