8 Easy Tips on How to Declutter Fast
Are you looking for ways to declutter fast? Decluttering can be a really positive thing in your life but, while you're going through it, it can feel a little bit stressful.
I'm sharing some tips that I use to help the decluttering process go faster and smoother.
1. Two-minute rule
Decluttering can feel overwhelming when you’re first getting started. That’s why I suggest using the two-minute rule. It’s perfect for times when you've got so much to do that you don't even know where to start.
Grab a box, go through one or multiple rooms, and see how much stuff you can put in the box in two minutes. Then donate the box. Get rid of it immediately.
Spending a couple of minutes to do a little bit quickly will give you a jumpstart. You’ll notice things just got a little cleaner. Do that a couple of times a week, and eventually, you'll start to make an impact.
You don't have to start with a huge week-long project, ripping apart your house. Just go through a room, fill up a box, and move on with the rest of your day.
2. Set a firm deadline
The amount of time something takes to get done will expand or contract depending on the amount of time that you give it. You can declutter your house for a year if you give yourself a year.
If you have a firm deadline, you'll figure out a way to get it done if it's a big enough priority. I like to set firm, kind of scary deadlines for decluttering.
3. Use a prize
Use rewards to motivate yourself. You can sell the things you’re getting rid of and spend that money to get yourself something you want. Using a prize will incentivize you.
In my first month of decluttering, I made so much money selling stuff. I put it into my vacation fund. That was really exciting for me and an incentive to sell some stuff around the house. The prize doesn't have to be money. Use a reward that motivates you.
If you’ve managed to declutter multiple times, and gotten things down to where you want them, reward yourself in whatever way works for you. Picking an exciting prize and rewarding yourself is very helpful.
I set goals for myself and then I reward myself for hitting those goals and it trains me to do what I need to.
4. Get an accountability partner
Having an accountability partner is a complete game changer. If you're having problems reaching your goals, having somebody who will check in with you every day for a week or every day for a month on whatever goal you're shooting toward is extremely helpful.
This works especially well if it's somebody you respect. You’ll be less inclined to buy a bunch of stuff you don’t need if you know you’ll have to tell them about it.
I have a friend who's holding me accountable for a couple of habits I'm starting right now and it is super helpful.
4. Enlist a friend
Try to enlist a friend to help. You can even pay them. Especially on your first go around, having a spouse, friend, or relative who doesn't care as much about your junk as you do is super helpful.
They’re not emotionally attached to your things so they can see more clearly what you can get rid of. Pay them 50 bucks for the day or buy them pizza. Enlisting somebody's help will make decisions a lot easier and can really speed up the process.
5. Throw it in a box
If you have things you’re unsure about, throw them in a box for a month or more. This is a helpful technique for stuff you’re on the fence about. If you haven't used an item in the last 30 days, put it in a box out of the way.
Put it in storage, whether it's in the attic, the basement, or a friend's house. When you come back to it 30 days or three months later you’ll probably realize that you don't need any of that stuff.
If there is stuff that you actually needed, and had to get it from the box, then you hang onto that. The rest of it can be donated or thrown out.
6. Put on motivational music, a podcast, or a video
I listened to a couple of books and podcasts while I was decluttering and dove into a bunch of videos. I was listening to music and just really keeping my energy up and I got so much more stuff done.
When you're distracted you can really dive into it. Listening to other people about their journey is really helpful and you can work a lot faster.
7. Get mad
Anger can be used as fuel. I get really angry at my stuff. I'll use that as motivation. If there's tension in my life, I will release it on something that I need to get done. It's really helpful when you're decluttering.
If you're mad, just get a bunch of stuff done at your house as opposed to yelling or taking it out on other people. I find it really helpful to channel my anger towards something productive like decluttering.
You can get a lot of stuff done with that energy. It's super helpful.
8. Take action
You can watch videos, listen to podcasts, and read books, but unless you actually go out there and take action nothing's going to happen. The first step towards action is usually the hardest step. Just take that first step and get yourself into action.
How to declutter fast
These tips have helped me a great deal in my decluttering journey.
Decluttering doesn’t get done in one day. It takes time. Use these tips to help get started and help you progress.
These strategies will give you the momentum and direction you need to make an impact. Comment your favorite tip down below!
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