My daughter once jokingly mentioned that my son-in-law, a very neat and organized CPA, thought my husband and I might be hoarders. At first, I laughed it off—after all, as a Realtor, I spend my days advising clients to clear out the “stuff” that clutters their homes. My house seems tidy enough with clear counters and minimal knick-knacks, but when you peek into my closets, drawers, and—don’t even get me started on the garage—it’s a different story. There’s plenty of unnecessary clutter hiding in plain sight.
My excuse? I’m a busy professional. Between work, family, and everything in between, organizing has often taken a backseat. As a Realtor, I’m constantly evaluating homes, including opening drawers and closets to assess space for clients. I confess, I secretly sympathize with their disorganized spaces—after all, who hasn’t been guilty of shoving items into drawers during a busy week?
But after the comment from my daughter, I decided it was time to tackle the mess. I set out on a mission to clean out my home, one drawer at a time. Every day, I work through a new space—whether it’s a drawer, cupboard, or closet. The good news? My cleaning lady is more than happy to take anything I no longer need, and I’ve donated winter coats for a local clothing drive.
The cycle of accumulating, storing, and purging is a reflection of our consumer culture, where we’re constantly encouraged to buy more. It’s hard not to fall into the trap of keeping items “just in case,” even when we don’t need them.
Are you on the fence about downsizing? Check out our post about why downsizing might be right for you. Click here to read the blog.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by clutter too, here are a few steps that might help:
- Start Small: Focus on one drawer or closet at a time. Trying to declutter your entire home all at once can be overwhelming.
- Create a System: As you go through your things, decide if each item serves a real purpose. If not, donate or dispose of it.
- Set Time Limits: Work for 30 minutes at a time to keep the task manageable. You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in a short burst.
- Embrace Imperfection: It’s about progress, not perfection. Some spaces may need to be revisited, and that’s okay.
- Get Help: Enlist the support of family, friends, or a service to help you manage donations and organize items you no longer need.
Decluttering is a journey, but it’s worth it. Make space for the things you truly need and love, and let go of the rest.
Looking for more homeowner tips? Here are a few more blogs you might enjoy:
- Will Smart Home Features Increase My Home’s Value?
- Finding the Perfect Home to Meet Your Changing Needs
- How to Prepare Your Home for a Move
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