Decluttering before a move can save you time and hassle, not to mention money. It can be an emotional process though, especially when you are already going through so much change. I’ve found that many times I hold onto things, not because I want them, but because it’s just hard to let go of an item that I may be sentimentally attached to.
Decluttering can be a freeing experience though, and it leaves you more time and energy to focus on the things in your life that are really important.
Here are my top tips for decluttering before a move:
1. Go Room by Room – I need to see progress when I’m working on a project. It’s much easier to stay motivated about packing and decluttering when that progress is visible. Going room by room allows you to tackle one project at a time and see nearly instant change. It doesn’t hurt that you can avoid making a mess out of your entire house at once.
2. Pack The Important Stuff, First – One of the great things about moving is you can declutter a bit backwards. Usually you pull out the things you don’t want. When you move, you can start by packing the things you DO want and aggressively decluttering the rest. I find that it’s much easier to pick out what I do want than to pick out what I don’t want. As you look at the odds and ends that you have left over at the end though, it’s easier to decide what you don’t need.
3. Be Honest with Yourself – It’s easy to convince yourself that you need something that has sat on your shelf, unused, for years. Decluttering requires you to be completely honest with yourself. Do you really see yourself using the item in the future? Is it something you love? If not, then it’s time to pass it on to someone who can make use of it.
4. Out of Sight, Out of Mind – There are always going to be things that you go back and forth about whether you really want to get rid of it. For things that you are unsure about, put them in a box and set them in a corner in your garage or somewhere you won’t pass by it often. I think of this process as letting my donation box age. If a month goes by and you don’t go hunting for anything in the box, then it’s usually safe to donate the whole thing. At that point I don’t want to add the clutter back into my home anyway so it’s easier to say goodbye to than it was when I sorted the items in the first place.
5. Envision your New Home – It’s so much more calming to set up your new home without all the extra clutter. When packing, picture what items you really have room for in your new home. If it’s going to be too big or doesn’t go well in your new space, get rid of it before your move.
What are your tips for decluttering before a move? Let us know below in the comments section.
This post has been a guest blog by Rachel.
Rachel writes at BusyMommyMedia.com where she helps moms beat the busy by providing simple solutions for every day life.