What if I told you that there's no point in organizing your space without starting with a good decluttering session? The first thing we do when we want to organize a space is just that: organize. It's only natural. That said, decluttering is an essential step to complete before even organizing your space. But why? Well, it's simple: the more objects you have, the more difficult it will be to organize the space and, above all, to keep it organized.
Beyond that, decluttering has a therapeutic effect. Owning fewer superfluous objects, which add nothing positive to our lives, allows us to gain invaluable mental clarity. As you have to experience it to understand it, I encourage you to continue reading this article to find out how you too can regain control of your space through decluttering.
What is decluttering?
First things first. The act of decluttering is “to get rid of what clutters” (Larousse, 2024). What clutters our spaces is different for each person, but here are a few things to think about: clothes you haven't worn in years, the gift your great-aunt gave you that you don't like, or the pizza cutters you own in quadruplicate.
Benefits & where to start
Studies show that visual clutter ( a cluttered space) has a negative impact on our mental well-being: we feel more tired, experience more stress and anxiety, and find it harder to concentrate. So it goes without saying that getting rid of the clutter in our home greatly improves our psychological well-being.
Stages of decluttering
To begin the process, I recommend the following steps:
1. Start with a small space that has no sentimental value for you.
By starting this way, you'll quickly gain confidence and avoid discouragement. A small space can be, for example, a single kitchen or bathroom drawer.
2. Create 5 categories:
- Items for donation
- Items for sale
- Items to keep
- Items to keep but move to another room
- Items “on hold” that you're not sure you want to part with
3. Place each item in one of the 5 categories
Go through each item, one at a time, and decide if you want to give it away, sell it, keep it, or if you're not sure you want to keep it.
Things to consider to help you sort out
- Condition of the object
Is it too worn? Is it broken? If it's broken, will you take the time to repair it, if it's repairable?
- Quantity
How many copies of this object do you own? Do you really need that many?
- Frequency of use
How often do you use this item? Is there anything else you own that could be used for the same purpose?
How do you maintain your space?
The best advice I have here is to review your consumption habits. The aim isn't to beat yourself over the head, but rather to become aware so that you don't find yourself in this situation again. It's not just about what you buy - it can also be about politely refusing an item that's offered to you for free if it's not going to do you any good. If you can do this, organizing your space is the next step to ensuring that you maximize!
By completing a good decluttering session, you'll quickly feel the benefits this can bring you. By owning less, your home will be cleaner and you'll spend less time cleaning. Eventually, you'll be able to devote that time to something that brings you happiness: more quality time with loved ones, taking up a passion, or even reading for pleasure again.
What's more, you'll notice an improvement in your mental health: a reduction in stress and mental workload. So, which space are you committed to decluttering to reap these priceless benefits?
Text by Jasmine Grignon
Having experienced first-hand the detrimental effects of a cluttered environment, Jasmine became passionate about decluttering and organizing spaces. After years of exploration and refinement, she has developed effective strategies for transforming spaces into soothing, functional places. Convinced that living in such an environment lightens the mental load, promotes well-being and saves time and money, Jasmine founded her company, Organisation par J.
Her mission: to help people create harmonious spaces that improve their daily lives and enable them to concentrate on what really matters.
www.organisationparj.com
Photo credit: Elie Jade Photographe
References
Definitions: désencombrer - Larousse French Dictionary
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