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Clutter can be overwhelming can’t it?

Paralysing.

Even when we work out where to start, we still get stuck.

We just can’t make the decision of what to keep.

And what to let go.

And the more time we spend on it. The more mess we make!

If that sounds familiar, you are so NOT alone!

Despite the advice of declutter gurus, it IS hard to let stuff go!

And there are BIG reasons why it’s so hard. You can read about them here.

BUT I have found a tiny magical key that unlocks the declutter process, for those of us drowning in our clutter.
 

1. The Tiny Key That Unlocks the Declutter Process

And boy was I drowning in clutter!

I live in one of those crazy narrow houses, London is so good at.

And it was bursting at the seams.

Boxes crammed under every bed.

Storage baskets tottering on top of every cupboard.

And snuck in every spare space.

And more and more stuff piling up everywhere.

I spent whole weekends purging bags of stuff.

But I still felt utterly out of control.

And the clutter kept creeping back.

Until I discovered a totally different approach to letting stuff go.

And got hooked on the daily declutter habit.
 

2. The Daily Declutter Habit

Now, daily habits are super powerful.

And that’s BECAUSE they let us do things easily on autopilot.

WITHOUT thinking about them too much.

And for lots of us that is key when we declutter!

Our brains – if we let them – can come up with a million and one reasons NOT to let stuff go.

With the daily declutter habit I have let go of OVER 100 bags of stuff.

Toys. Clothes. Shoes. Mugs. Saucepans. Kettles. Bikes. Towels. Sheets. Cleaning stuff. Grotty make-up. Old toiletries. In fact just about everything on this HUGE declutter list.

AND I’ve done it without all the anxst of : should I? shouldn’t I? will I need it sometime? maybe?

Decluttering has become something I just do every day.

In the same way I just clean my teeth.

I don’t have to psych myself up. Or motivate myself.

Or try and find time.

It’s just 5 or 10 minutes everyday. Automatically.

It feels so good.

I finally have space to live in again.

And everyday that little daily habit of letting stuff go makes me feel calmer.

Less anxious. Less under attack. And just happier.

So HOW – you want to know – do you get the daily declutter habit?
 

3. Building The Daily Declutter Habit

Well basically it’s simple. Just let things go everyday. I aim for 10.

Now that might be enough for you to just go off and do it.

BUT lots of people need help to build that habit.

And really get hooked on daily decluttering.

So I recommend this super simple two week programme.

It might seem very slow.

But honestly it really entrenches the declutter habit.

AND it was only when I cracked this that I could shift all those boxes under the bed!

SO do give it a go …
 

Day One

OK. The very first thing you NEED to do is treat yourself.

NOT to a thing.

BUT to a tiny experience that makes you feel good about yourself.

It could be as simple as going for a walk, calling a friend, sitting down for a cup of tea.

There are loads of ideas here.

Just don’t be tempted to skip this.

BECAUSE the better we feel about US – ourselves – the easier it is, to let things go.

Put aside the five or ten minutes you need everyday to make these tiny soul snacks a habit.

 

Day Two

Day two is very simple.

All you’re going to do is empty ALL your bins.

Or take out ALL the trash if you’re an American … (hello, there from London!)

Physically letting stuff go – getting it out of the house – everyday is crazily super powerful.

It gives us a bit of closure every day on our busy lives.

And lets us know – deep down inside – it’s OK to let go.

 

Day Three

Day three is about cleaning your teeth before bed.

It’s a daily habit we’re nearly all good at.

So we’re going to build on it.

As you’re cleaning your teeth, just take a moment.

And look round the bathroom. Or open your bathroom cupboard.

Open your eyes and notice things again.

The ancient sun cream. The shampoo that irritates. The mouldy bath toys.

Just pick out one and right then, right there – whilst cleaning your teeth – bin it.

And every night when you clean your teeth, do it again.
 

Day Four

Day four is about emptying the dishwasher.

We have to do it daily, don’t we?

When you’re putting the cups away, just stop for a moment.

Open your eyes and see what’s actually there.

The stuff you’ve been ignoring.

The cracked plate. The mug you hate. The long grown out of sippy cup hiding at the back.

Just take it out of the cupboard. Put it in your charity bag. Or bin it.

And tomorrow when you empty the dishwasher do the same.
 

Day Five

On day five we’re going to peep under the sink.

When you go to grab a cloth and a cleaning spray to wipe the counters, stop for a moment.

Take in that long unused cleaner that makes your hands raw. The spray that makes you cough.

The essential oils you thought you might use two years ago.

Take one and bin it. Then shut the door.

And forget about them until tomorrow when you go to wipe the counters.

Then repeat.
 

Day Six

Now you can see how this works can’t you?

We’re just using the power of the good daily habits we already have to build a new one.

AND let little things go everyday.

On day six, stop for a moment whilst you’re making dinner.

Open your utensil drawer. Or look at your utensil pot.

Notice the peelers, can openers, knives, wooden spoons, pizza cutters, apple corers, ladles, graters, cork screws, lemon zesters, whisks. The duplicates and the multiples.

Just take one you’ll be happier without.

And put it in your charity bag.

And tomorrow when you’re making dinner do the same.

 

Day Seven

At bed time on day seven stop for a moment as you’re hanging clothes up.

Look at a drawer you’ve got open. Or the wardrobe or closet.

Notice the t-shirt the moths got. The tights with a ladder in. The odd sock.

Or the scarf you’ve never worn. The jeans that can’t be mended.

And take one and put it in the recycling.

And at bed time tomorrow, notice another thing and let it go.
 

Week Two

OK. You’re a whole WEEK into the daily declutter habit. Hurrah!

And you’ve got seven tiny rituals helping you let stuff go everyday. Well done!

BUT you’ve got the nagging feeling this will NOT help clear your garage FULL of boxes, right?

Trust me. It will.

By letting little things go everyday – without fuss or effort or anxst – we get good at it.

AND then when we’re ready to work through the garage or the boxes under the bed, it is EASY.

These tiny rituals touch the essential things we do everyday – eat, sleep, wash and clean.

IF you use them to let go of five things everyday for a year you’ll be OVER 1,500 things lighter!!!

That’s pretty amazing for a tiny daily habit.

AND in week two you will make your daily declutter habit even stronger.

By building on more exisiting habits. SO this week when you:

1. Put laundry away: notice your kids outgrown clothes and put in your charity bag
2. Write your shopping list: spot the can you won’t eat and drop off at the food bank
3. Put the shopping away: chuck out a packet of expired stuff
4. Change the sheets: put the torn, stained, unloved duvet cover or pillow slip in the recycling
5. Dust the living room: pull out the book you’ll never read or the ornament you don’t like
6. Get fresh towels out: take out the old ones at the bottom unused for ages
7. Hang up your coat: empty your pockets of receipts and hankies and what not
8. Come in from the park: grab the too small wellies, trainers with holes in or odd gloves rather than piling everything up on top of them

Don’t make a big deal of it. Just stop in the moment.

And notice the things you’re actually ready to let go.

AND at the END of week two TAKE your charity bag or box to the charity shop.

AND your recycling to the recycling.

So you truly have let them go. Great job.

Now, AFTER week two you need to keep up your daily declutter habit.

BUT you’re also ready to ADD in these 10 quick declutter projects.

They are easy so they will build up your confidence AND momentum.

And before you know it, you’ll be powering through those boxes in your garage!

Have fun.

AND for more hands on help, tips, routines and check-lists sign up for my FREE declutter support mails and declutter with me …

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