Mission: Declutter

Expert Advice to Help You Organize Efficiently

This article was originally published in Kroger’s January 2019 edition of MyMagazine.

Our organization expert, Leticia Pfeiffer, Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) for Styled & Organized, shares tips on how to start the process and make it a part of your daily routine.

What are the benefits of decluttering? 

At the end of each organizing session, my clients say how much better they feel now that the clutter is gone and the space is appealing. Then they give me a big hug! Decluttering can lift a weight from your shoulders, clear your mind and bring positive energy into a space, allowing you to start living.

Why can it sometimes be so difficult? 

An overwhelming feeling can strike after looking at a pile of clutter. Where should I start? Where will everything go? Should I throw it away or donate it? The best way to overcome the “decluttering freeze” is to start small — very small. Pick a small drawer, room or closet that contains the least number of items. Turn on some music, have a tasty snack and water available, then set a timer for 30 minutes. Now breathe as you pick up your first item. If items can’t be taken care of because they rely on someone else to make a decision, create a space to set them aside. Remember, you can work on anything for 30 minutes!

Any tips for the rooms that tend to give people the most trouble when it comes to organizing? 

One of the hardest spaces to declutter is a desk or office because paper flows through every day. Attend to paperwork and mail as it arrives, sorting into categories like recycle, trash, read later, to-file and to-do, so you can quickly see what needs to be accomplished. Try not to let items marked for reading later, filing, or to-do go untouched longer than a week. Tackling a few pieces of paper and mail every day beats looking at a large pile at the end of each week.

What are some out-of-the-box ideas for decluttering? 

It all starts with trash day. Since this day is typically reliable and consistent, mark it on the calendar. The day before, clear expired food from the fridge and pantry, tidy both, make the grocery list, then buy your groceries. Be sure to allow 15-20 minutes to unload groceries. Routines can help keep clutter at bay. By creating this small routine, you can start regularly decluttering one area of daily life. Look for other ways to create routines and the grip of clutter can begin unraveling.