Have you ever stared in your closet and felt like you had nothing to wear…even though it’s completely full? What about kid’s toys? Are there more toys than one child could play with in an entire day? If you were to clean out your closets would you find items you haven’t looked for or used in over a year?
If you’ve answered yes to any or all of these questions, it’s time to purge. When your home is overwhelmed with items you no longer use, need, or want, you’ve got three choices- keep it, donate it, or throw it away!
Marie Kondo, founder of the KonMari method and star of the recent Netflix series Tidying up with Marie Kondo, shares how homes are cluttered with personal items that aren’t in use. Her method categorizes items into groups and asks owners to see if the items “spark joy.” If so, then they are kept and if not, they are removed. Rather than focusing on what you don’t want, she focuses on what you do.
Here are some dos and don’ts to help you decide if you want to keep it, donate it, or throw it away-
- Do keep items you love
- Do get rid of items that are broken or worn out
- Do donate items that are useful but not used up
- Do be realistic about the items in your home
- Don’t be afraid to let something go
- Don’t keep things that don’t have a purpose
- Don’t refuse to make a decision
- Don’t accumulate more things
Do keep the things you love- As Kondo says, keep the things that spark joy. If you find that everything is sparking joy, you may need to rank them in order and keep your top five or less. Focus on the items that really matter to you and serve an important purpose in your home and life.
Do get rid of worn-out items- From faded clothing to broken appliances, many people keep things that are no longer functional. If something is broken or well past its usefulness, be willing to let it go.
Do donate as much as possible- Many of your items have a lot of life left in them. That’s when donation is the best idea. Just because something still has use, it doesn’t mean it should remain in your closet or cupboard. Be willing to donate items to reduce clutter and be of benefit to someone else.
Do be realistic about what you own- If you are struggling with too many items in your home, you’ll need to be realistic about them. If you are holding on to it for no specific reason, it’s time to release it and throw it away or donate it. Saving things for the off chance that you might use it one day will only contribute to the chaos in your home.
Don’t be afraid to let things go- Sentiment is a powerful thing. It keeps people tied to objects long after their usefulness. Ask yourself if you are clinging to something due to sentimental reasons. If you must, get help from someone who is not emotionally tied to the object to help you decide what should be done with it.
Don’t keep things that don’t have a purpose- If something isn’t extremely sentimental or functional for your home, it should go. If you have multiples of an item, reduce them to the minimum you need. If you don’t have a specific use for the item, it should be given or thrown away.
Don’t refuse to make a decision- It might be hard to decide to keep, throw, or give certain items away. Don’t refuse to decide. Sleep on it if you must but make a decision and stick to it.
Don’t accumulate more things- After you purge your home, it’s important to adopt a new mindset before acquiring new things. Ask yourself why you want to buy or take something home. Does it spark joy? Will it contribute to the clutter at home? Use your newfound decision-making skills to keep you from unnecessary purchases.
When your home is in chaos you’ve got three choices- keep it, donate it, or throw it away. Sort through your things and you’ll streamline your home and make it more peaceful for everyone.
