9 Simple Steps to Declutter Your Home in a Weekend

Marissa considers herself a minimalist mom and believes it’s her mission to help everyone conquer their clutter. According to the girl, it’s easier than it seems – here are the rules that will help you complete this task in a minimum of time.

Don’t replace the items you throw away with new ones: that’s Marissa’s best advice. If you have not used something for a long time, the same thing will happen with a “fresh” analogue, so there is no need to spend money on this.

“We must stop the influx of disorder. It seems obvious, but in reality, stopping buying isn’t as easy as it seems. I didn’t succeed right away – I learned to deal with the feeling of guilt of a broken promise, telling myself that the excess can always be sold on the Internet. But in reality, I was just adding work to myself, turning decluttering into trying to replenish a swimming pool with water gushing from a fire hose,” she says.

Marissa calls this hack “trash bag therapy,” which you don’t use anymore, etc. “, explains the blogger.

Opaque plastic works better than a basket where everything is visible: you’re unlikely to rummage through what’s in the bag, wasting time. Let’s be realistic: most of the things that seem “useful” to us, we don’t even remember them later, let alone use them.

Don’t get distracted when decluttering: set a schedule and stick to it.

“Let’s say you have 15 minutes to wage war on waste. You go to the kitchen and realize that you forgot to do the dishes in the evening, that the bucket is full and that several objects are out of place. You start thinking about what to do first, and as a result, 15 minutes pass and, at best, you have completed some of the tasks at hand, forgetting what you came for. Don’t get distracted: don’t try to clean or organize. Focus on decluttering,” advises Marissa.

Yes, selling your old items means you will make money. But if you throw them away or, for example, take them to church, you will get rid of waste much faster. “Don’t bother with discussion forums or add extra items to your already busy to-do list. Prioritize your peace of mind: it’s worth more than you can get,” advises Marissa.

How many skirts do you have in your wardrobe that you don’t wear? And the sweatshirts? How long do silicone muffin pans sit in your kitchen cupboard, never used?

“If you’re wondering if something should be kept, this is probably the item you should get rid of. If there is no clear “yes”, it means “no”. Don’t create a life full of mediocre maybes when you can fill it with things you love and bring joy,” the blogger explains.

Don’t try to deal with each unnecessary thing separately – create a dump zone. “It’s a designated place where you can drop off your trash. You’ll sort it later when you have time, or you’ll throw it all out at once,” advises Marissa.

It’s also called the 80/20 rule: approximately 20% of the effort produces 80% of the results. Simply put, you need to be able to highlight the minimum of the most important actions: it is they that will lead to success, while the rest will require time and effort.

“This principle applies to many areas of life, including decluttering. For example, to give your eyes a rest, you need to remove visual clutter from easily visible flat surfaces: kitchen counters, dining tables, shelves,” says Marissa.

This will help you really concentrate. “You can accomplish a lot even if you only have 15 minutes – just don’t waste time. I once set a timer and was able to clean the house in 30 minutes, spending five in the six areas where we spend the most time,” says Marissa.

Marissa reminds us that decluttering should be fun, and there are different ways to do it, like listening to music, an interesting podcast, or chatting with a friend through headphones.

“Some people take photos before decluttering: they like to see the progress they’ve made. You can look for other ways to turn the process into a game, like printing out a bingo to declutter or taking part in a marathon,” advises the blogger.

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