Whether we've raised children or traveled the globe in the younger years of life, we end up with a home filled of the things we've collected and cherished throughout those years. And although that sounds nostalgic, those things become clutter in our later years and can be a source of stress.Decluttering is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety, because too much stuff affects our daily mental well being. It can also feel like an overwhelming task as each day passes. But there is an approach we can take to remedy this situation and prepare us for a simpler, cleaner, clutter-free lifestyle as we age:
- Develop a list of all the areas or categories in your home that reqire decluttering. By making a list, we decouple the task at hand with the emotions surrounding it. A flow chart of the steps in the process of removing clutter can also help take the thinking out of the project and let us focus on the 'doing' part.
- Always start with the storage aras of the home first, so that there is a place to store the items kept. Storage clutter usually holds our oldest memories and experiences which also make them the most emotionally difficult places to.tackle.
- Only touch an object once, and make a decision to keep or toss before putting it down.This is the most efficient process and helps avoid procrastination or indecision.
- Keep only those items that you use on a regular basis or that represent your lifestyle, passions or milestones. It's also a good idea to reduce clutter by keeping only the most significant item from a memorable event or experience and let the rest go.