The Anti-Perfectionist Decluttering Method
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It's common knowledge that living in a decluttered and organized home will reduce your stress, will save you money, and will make your home more inviting to your friends and family. Taking the time to get your home decluttered and organized now will make it easy to maintain going forward. No last-minute running around to clean up after your messy family!
But when you strive for what I call "Pinterest perfect"...completely beautiful and color-coordinated organization…you might feel stuck and overwhelmed, not knowing how to achieve this level of organization.
What we need to learn is that we aren't striving for perfection in our homes. Our goal should be a home that is warm and inviting, where we don't have to step over piles on the floor, and that fits our family at that given moment in time. This idea has been dubbed the "anti-perfectionist decluttering method." This method emphasizes making progress rather than striving for a flawless outcome, which can be very unrealistic for the busy family. By breaking down large projects into smaller, bite-size pieces, and focusing on consistent, small wins, you'll find that the task isn't as overwhelming as originally thought.
Step 1: Small, consistent steps. Instead of tackling an entire room, start with just a single drawer, shelf or area. Keep working through this space, one small area at a time, until it is fully decluttered and organized.
Step 2: Set a time limit. You'll be surprised by how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes a day. And often times when you're timer goes off, you'll spend just a few extra minutes to complete the task at hand. By working in small amounts of time you will avoid getting burnt out.
Step 3: Follow the "touch it once" rule. If you pick something up, decide immediately if you are keeping it, donating it, recycling it or throwing it away. And then don't just put it down. Put it away where it belongs. Not only is this useful when decluttering and organizing your entire home; it's key to maintaining your home going forward.
Step 4: Focus on progress, not perfection. Celebrate the small victories and remember that "done is better than perfect."
Step 5: Embrace imperfection. Remember, you are doing the best you can with the time and knowledge that you have and that's okay.
Step 6: Break down tasks. Divide larger projects into more manageable, bite-size projects to make them less daunting. In your bathroom, organize one drawer or one shelf each day and in a week or so, it will be complete.
The benefits of this more relaxed approach are that you will reduce overwhelm, increase your motivation, improve mental well-being, and it is adaptable to all styles and families. By embracing the anti-perfection approach you will overcome the barriers of perfectionism and make significant progress in decluttering your home.
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