Decluttering for Retirement (The Best Way to Spark Joy!)

Declutter to make sure your possessions don’t own you.

Downsizing for retirement comes with many challenges – not least of which is coming to terms with all of the material possessions one accumulates. Thankfully, decluttering doesn’t have to feel overwhelming… Find out how to make it more manageable.

Steps to Decluttering:

1. Make Molehills of the Mountain

First things, first! The best way to start decluttering is to make lists. Itemizing the challenge at hand helps to chunk it down into smaller, more easily accomplished tasks. We suggest starting off by listing the rooms/spaces in your home which you’ll be decluttering. Bedrooms, bathrooms, garages, sheds, and kitchens can all be tackled individually and are much less daunting individually than they are combined.

2. Label Containers

Set aside cardboard boxes and label them: “Bin”, “Recycle”, “Donate”, “Keep”. Once you have these boxes assigned, you can go from room to room on a decluttering spree. When deciding which box to put your possessions into, follow your instincts. You’ll know instinctively when an item is something truly worth keeping.

3. Declutter at Your Own Pace

Remember, there’s no rush. Go at your own pace when decluttering your home. It doesn’t have to be a physically demanding task and it can be done slowly. But if you’re concerned that you might procrastinate, you can always ask friends or family to help.

4. Prevent Future Clutter

Decluttering your home can be liberating but if we don’t address the behaviours that lead to accumulating clutter, we’ll find ourselves at square one in no time. To prevent more clutter, follow these easy practises:

• Buy to replace

Buying only to replace the items you need is one of the best ways to prevent clutter. For example if a mug or plate breaks, don’t buy a new set. Buy only a replacement. You can apply this to your clothing as well. If you spot a beautiful garment at the shops that you simply have to have, remove and donate an item from your wardrobe at the same time.

• Make sure everything has its place

Give every item you own a home (and make sure it lives there). When everything has its own place, it makes it much easier to keep our living spaces free from clutter. And if you find that something doesn’t have a designated place, then there’s a good chance that you don’t need it.

Remind Yourself of All the Good Reasons to Declutter

There are so many benefits to decluttering one’s environment! 

• Rediscover, and reminisce 
• Cleanse your home of allergens
• Reduces tripping/falling hazards
• Makes moving easier, and new beginnings even fresher
• More space for activities
• Give to charity

Declutter Inspiration with Marie Kondo