There’s nothing wrong with having a bit of extra stuff, but when a home becomes cluttered, moving, relaxing, and even living can end up being much more difficult than necessary. A large number of individuals feel frustrated and annoyed with the clutter around their house. More broadly, clutter in life—not necessarily around the house—is also troublesome.

For those who are looking to leave clutter behind “Team Clutter” (and those who’d like to take preemptive steps to avoid clutter), the good news is that doing so is as easy as making a plan, committing, and enjoying the benefits.

 

Donate

Donating goods to charity is an outstanding way to decrease a home’s clutter. To decide which items are ideal for charity, think about which items are frequently used. If it takes a few minutes to remember the last time that an item saw the light of day, it’s probably worth giving it to those who are in need; these items commonly include clothing, kitchen utensils, old toys, and household appliances.

There’s no need to go overboard when donating goods; dropping off 10 boxes at once is sure to make a massive dent in clutter, but gradual donations are similarly effective, and they don’t require nearly as much effort. An important thing to remember when undertaking the task of decluttering is that it is a process; trying to get rid of everything all at once will result in an unnecessary amount of stress.

 

Organize

As countless other professionals have noted, decluttering isn’t all about getting rid of things; in many instances, it’s simply about putting things where they belong.

Consequently, it’s recommended that every decluttering effort include some time to organize items. Closets, cabinets, and under-bed spaces are great storage options, especially when the items are neatly placed in containers and bags before they’re added to these locations. While getting rid of items can certainly free up space, organizing your things in a logical, functional way can help declutter your home, as well.

 

Tend to Non-Physical Clutter

Last but certainly not least, clutter doesn’t have to be physical; plenty of people suffer from digital clutter, and many of these individuals don’t even know it!

Tech is an important part of modern living, and the more difficult tech is to use, the harder it is to live. That might sound dramatic, but the reality is that encountering trouble where it’s not supposed to be found—like on the web and on tech devices—is a surefire way to become tired and annoyed. Needless to say, tech-produced fatigue and annoyance negatively impact other facets of life.

Uninstall useless apps, delete unimportant contacts, unsubscribe from less-than-stellar email lists, and enjoy a freer, more straightforward life.

These decluttering tips will help individuals who are looking to be as happy and stress-free as possible. Remember that decluttering initiatives begin with a single step; beyond getting started, consistency and time are necessary to produce significant results.