How to Declutter Super Fast

When most of us think about decluttering, we think of a long, drawn out process that will take a TON of time and energy.  But it doesn't have to be that way!  I'm going to share my simple tip to make your decluttering go super fast!  Check out the video here, or keep reading to find out how to speed up the process!

What NOT to do

What is the worst way to declutter?  You might open a drawer (without a plan), peruse the drawer, and then start thinking about the items.  This is a recipe for going down a rabbit hole and ending up nowhere.  Ask me how I know!!

The enemy to decluttering is distraction.  To be successful, you need a plan, and you have to stay focused.  The best way to do this is to reduce the thought process as much a possible to stay on track!

Make fast decisions

The best way to speed up the decluttering process is to choose quickly.  Follow your gut instincts about items, and move through them as fast as possible to keep momentum going.  In order to make decisions quickly, I only give myself five options, and I use bins to keep myself on track!

Option #1: Keep it here.

Some things will stay right where you find them.  You need them, use them, or love them, and they are right where they belong.  So they just go back in the drawer or back on the shelf.

Option #2:  Keep it elsewhere in my home.

These are things I am keeping, but they shouldn't stay where you found them.  Maybe they belong in another room, or you want to move them somewhere that makes more sense.

The key here is not to start thinking about what will happen next.  Put them in a box or laundry basket for now.  Make no decisions about where they'll go.  You'll deal with this later, but you don't want to get distracted and lose momentum on decluttering!

Option #3:  Return.

Maybe these are items you purchased that need to be returned to a store.  Maybe you need to print off labels for online returns.  Or it could be a library book or something you borrowed from a friend.  Don't go printing labels now, but put all of the return items into a bin or laundry basket to deal with later, and keep decluttering!

Option #4:  Donate

Put items you no longer need or want into a donate box or bin.  Be sure the items are still in good condition. You can put the donation boxes in your car, provided that you have a SCHEDULED DATE to drop these things off or have them picked up.  We don't want you driving around for months with boxes to donate in your trunk (yeah, been there, done that, too…)!

Option #5:  Trash

Sometimes you'll find things that are literal trash, like wrappers.  Other times things are just broken or not even good enough to go into the donation box.  These things can go straight into a trash bag.

After Decluttering

Once you're done with your decluttering session, now it's time to make all the decisions that you put off in order to stay focused.  How long your declutter session lasts depends on you.  If you're a Cactus Blossom or a Daisy, you're probably dedicating several hours or a day all at once to decluttering.  If you're a Lavender or a Rose, then you might be doing smaller sessions (like 15 minutes a day), and it might be a good idea to leave your boxes/bins out so you can keep working the next day.

If you have NO IDEA what I'm talking about with the flowers, LOL, then check out my decluttering personality type quiz here.  It will really help you play to your strengths and find a decluttering method that will work best for YOU!

Other tips to make decluttering fast!

• You can always take your bins with you from one place to the next.  You can even move them to another room.  There's no need to deal with them until they're full.  Just keep going!
• Do one thing at a time, and don't cherry pick items!  Do an entire shelf or an entire drawer before moving on.  You'll be able to see and feel the progress this way!  If you bounce from one thing to the next without fully finishing an area, it will feel like you haven't accomplished anything.
• Once your boxes are full, deal with them then.  You don't want tons and tons of boxes to pile up.

How to deal with your bins/boxes.

• Keep Elsewhere box:  You can carry this basket or box around with you and put items where they go.  Don't let this box pile get overfull.  You don't want ten bins like this to deal with because it will get overwhelming.  Once you have a full basket, deal with it so you can start fresh again.
• Returns:  Once you have a full bin here, print your labels, package, take to the car, and/or stick in your purse for the next time you see someone.
• Donations:  These can go in the car, but schedule a firm pickup/dropoff date in your calendar!!
• Trash:  This is fast and easy!  The trash can go outside in your trash bins!

Hopefully this gives you some inspiration for your next declutter session.  The best thing you can do is make a plan to limit your distractions.  Anything you can do to speed up your decisions will make decluttering go SO much faster!

Organization that actually sticks for busy, happy lives