Whether it’s at home or in the office, de-cluttering can make such an incredible difference. Maximising space, minimising dust and generally creating a more pleasant environment, it’s essential to occasionally go about a comprehensive de-cluttering project.
And when the time comes to your next clear-out, here’s a quick overview of the 10 most important rules to follow during the process:
Rule One: Be as ruthless as necessary and take no prisoners. There’s nothing worse than coming out the other end only to realise you’ve wasted your time and made no real difference whatsoever.
Rule Two: If it hasn’t been touched, used or thought about within the last 12 months, it is probably something you don’t need. Therefore, something you can get rid of.
Rule Three: Under no circumstances throw anything away that could be given away or donated to charity. Always consider the value it may have to somebody else.
Rule Four: If you insist on keeping various random bits and pieces that have no immediate purpose, store them in boxes and label the respective boxes clearly.
Rule Five: Allocate plenty of time and do not try to rush the job. If you are dealing with a relatively large space and a small mountain of clutter, think about tackling one small chunk of it at a time.
Rule Six: Never go about these kinds of projects alone as you cannot rely solely on your own judgement. You need at least one other person to advise accordingly on what should be kept them what should be disposed of.
Rule Seven: If you come across anything you aren’t sure what to do with, put it in something of a miscellaneous box or bag to be revisited a few days later. Unless you are 100% sure you want and need it, it shouldn’t be put back into storage to simply sit there and gather dust.
Rule Eight: Don’t ever fall into the trap of thinking you will get everything done in one go. Even if you simply look to tackle one room at a time, there’s every chance you’ll need to stagger the process over several sessions.
Rule Nine: Speaking of which, it’s also a good idea to have a relatively meticulous plan of action in mind, before getting started. Decide which rooms and areas you are going to tackle in which order, ideally with some kind of timetable to follow along the way.
Rule Ten: Last but not least, trust your first impressions and try not to worry too much about potential regrets, further down the line. The simple fact of the matter is that when you’re done, it’s inevitable that you will start thinking “maybe I should have saved this and that” etc., but it’s all part of the process. If you come across anything and your first instinct tells you it is pretty much pointless for you to hold onto it, this is good advice you should probably be listening to.