You finally scored your dream apartment, building, or home. That’s great! Now it’s time to prepare for the moving process. You have to clean, pack, and sort through the seemingly never ending pile of clutter you own. This process is not for the faint of heart. It can sometimes feel impossible to know which things to donate and which to keep.
Fortunately, UF Mover Guys is here to help with your decluttering. Our expert moving professionals can assist you with storage, junk removal, box labeling, and even disassembling large belongings. Contact us today regarding your next Gainesville, FL move.
Make Three Piles
It sounds intuitive, but the ‘three pile’ decluttering technique is popular for a reason. The purpose of the ‘three pile’ process is to assist you with narrowing down your belongings to only the ones you truly love, cherish, or frequently use. To participate in this method, make three piles on your floor. Section each one off. In total, you will need a ‘Donate,’ a ‘Toss,’ and a ‘Keep’ pile. In some cases, you may need to construct a fourth pile for ‘Maybe’ items that you haven’t yet decided on.
Any items that you no longer use, but are still in good condition, can be donated to a friend, a local charity, or a nonprofit organization. This act keeps clothes, toys, and accessories out of landfills. It’s decluttering you can feel good about!
Likewise, any objects you no longer use that are broken, ripped, scratched, or in disrepair should be appropriately disposed of.
Schedule Breaks
Decluttering can be tedious and difficult. It can cause stress and frustration in even the most experienced packers. To prevent burnout, it is important to avoid cleaning all in one batch. Take the process one step at a time. Write out your steps in a to-do list, and only focus your attention on the current task at hand. If you can, be sure to rest and relax every few hours to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Depending on what best relieves you, you can light candles, play music, read a book, or talk to friends in between.
Utilize The 90/90 Rule
Despite its name, no, the “90/90 rule” is not a diet or weight loss plan. This rule refers to the practice of asking two essential questions while decluttering your home. One: Have you used this particular item in the last 90 days? If you are moving an item with you, it should be something that you use frequently. Secondly, will you use this particular item in the next 90 days? If not, it is unlikely you will ever need to utilize it again. It is not worth the struggle to pack and move an object, simply in hopes that you might need it in the future. Instead, try practicing these reflective questions to determine if an item is significant enough to move.
Tackle Your Papers
It’s very easy for loose papers to pile up around the house. Homework, documents, and notes can quickly accumulate in your backpacks and desks. To conquer this mess, create three piles for your papers: shred, file, and recycle. For any out of date scratch papers, gather them together and take them to your nearest recycling bin. Think to yourself: what are the chances you will need your 8th grade biology homework again? This thinking helps you keep old, outdated items from taking up space in your new home.
If the paper you no longer need is confidential, shred it with a paper shredder. This simple device can reassure you that your private information will not fall into the wrong hands.
If the paper you are examining is sentimental, recent, or contains information you will likely need to refer back to, invest in a personal filing system. Manila folders and labels are an affordable and excellent way to organize similar documents in one centralized location.
Delay Purchasing Organizers
Organizers can be cute, stylish, and trendy. However, you should try to manage your temptation to purchase one immediately. Wait until after you declutter to research storage options. This way, you can get rid of unnecessary items first and accurately anticipate the size and type of storage you will need. You don’t want to buy a giant shoe rack just to donate half of your old sneakers!
