How to prevent clutter before it starts, and habits that help you keep it that way
Most people would prefer to live in a tidy and organized home, but the reality is that we all accumulate clutter regularly. That clutter, however, can make a home look untidy and stressful. Not to mention that clutter can reduce the amount of space you have to live/work and make it harder to find important items.
So how can you maintain an organized and clutter-free home? Here are some habits the whole family can develop to help prevent clutter.
I will admit that habits are hard to break and that starting new ones can be challenging. But there is one thing I know: our habits can create the life we desire once we achieve it.
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1. Stay away from the aisles of shame
That’s right; I am talking to you and myself. Ya know, the dollar section of Target, the Aldi isle of shame, we’ve all been there one too many times. When it comes to accumulation, these fun but dangerous habits can do more than damage your wallet.
When out shopping, avoid these aisles. There is a reason why they are placed where they are. The same goes for end caps; they are all marketing techniques to get you to buy more.
2. Stop buying momentoes (hint, a picture is worth more)
My husband and I love to travel with our kids internationally, and when you visit new places, you are presented with so many new things. Sometimes you want a piece of it to bring home.
And that’s not a bad thing, but it’s a bad habit if you keep buying and buying. Consider reducing the number of mementos you get during your travels. Maybe take a picture of the item you were thinking about buying instead.
This can also be applied to sports stuff. Even when you buy all those glow-in-the-dark wands or toys for kids at events or shows.
3. Avoid the sales
Clearance sales, garage sales, estate sales, holiday sales, etc. They all give the appearance of scarcity and invoke the emotion of FOMO (fear of missing out) and/or the thought process of (I am getting a bargain) can’t beat that, right?!
First off, sales happen all the time and every season, so the fear of missing out should no longer control you. And are you really saving money if you buy things that end up collecting into piles later, only to be used for a short period of time? Or worse, never used at all.
Sales are great, but buying items on sale or at a discount isn’t serving you in the long run.
4. Buy items that are multiple-purpose
So, have you jumped on the Instant Pot trend? But still, own a crockpot? Or have an air fryer and another kitchen appliance. Have you run out of room to store them, or is your counter so packed you can’t even cook on it?
The same applies to printers that opt for all-in-one models capable of handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
The kitchen gadget gurus have gotten smarter, as there are a few products now that fry, cook, and do more than one sole purpose.
See a few of these below.
5. Shop online but avoid the add-ons
Walking into stores is a lot of fun because we get the full experience with our senses. This can create a stronger urge to buy. Touching a nice sweater or a furry pillow can evoke a comforting feeling and make you want to keep it.
But when you shop online, you don’t experience all of these things. Which can help reduce the number of items you buy. What you do need to watch out for is the upsells or add-ons.
A simple trick I use is to keep items as favorites. If there are products, you often keep make a list, buy only from it, and move on.
Then shop online for other things you need, but try to avoid the pop-ups.
6. In with the new, out with the old
In life, new things come all the time, maybe it’s friends or people, and naturally, we will leave old friendships, old homes, maybe places we used to visit, to make room for the new things. But oftentimes, we don’t do this with the items we own. We accumulate, collect, become emotionally attached, attach a memory, or give life to our possessions.
Make it a point to give room for life and new things. Letting go of old items may be letting go of your old life, and that is ok.
7. Opt for experiences over tangible gifts
One thing I have noticed when it comes to preventing clutter, especially among kids, is that the gifts they receive year-round are enough to fill bins. It could be a gift for a special occasion, a holiday, or to celebrate a job well done. They all bring more stuff into the home. One practice we have tried to implement is choosing adventures over outings as rewards or even gifts. It’s something we do during the Christmas season.
This can also work for family members who love to spoil their little ones. Ask family members to give tickets to a fun event or spend the day doing a unique activity instead of buying a new toy.
When we rethink what a gift should be, it should add value to your life rather than become an item you later struggle with. Because of either not being able to get rid of it due to sentimental value, or because you feel bad for getting rid of something someone bought you.
8. Let go of items that no longer serve you
While we are on a mission to prevent clutter in your home, another habit is to ensure you regularly purge. Often, we have things in our home that have outgrown our current lifestyle, season, or family. When these items become less useful, they are stored in a box or closet. Then often forgotten about.
It is beneficial to discard items regularly to prevent outgrown items from accumulating in unseen areas and taking up space in our home.
Some ideas are like clothes, toys, knick-knacks, kitchen appliances, shoes, etc.
9. Borrow items
Often, there are items in our home that we need, perhaps for a one-time or specific purpose. But we bought the item instead. So now it sits in our home because we invested in it financially. When you find yourself in a pickle for a particular item, is there a way to borrow it from a friend or neighbor?
Another example of this is books and magazines. You buy a book you wanted to read, but ended up either not liking it or finding it useful. You could have borrowed it from the library, then decided whether it was worth purchasing and whether you would refer to it often. I am guilty of this.
You can also get digital versions of books to reduce bookshelf space.
10. Ask yourself 3 questions
Before you bring anything into the home, ask yourself 3 questions.
How often will I use it?
Will it grow with my family?
Do I need it, or is it just a want? (If I want, come up with 3 reasons why it will benefit you)
Adopt a minimalist wardrobe
Most people have way too many clothes. But embracing a capsule wardrobe is life-changing, especially for kids. You might also consider minimalist clothing brands that can help.
Try to limit the amount of clothes you own and get more pieces that mix and match. Always remove an old item before you put anything new in your closet.
How do I prevent clutter from coming back?
Conduct regular checks of your home. Do you see areas that stick out?
Often, we start to see our daily environment as a blur, walking past things that aren’t in their right places. Pile shifting unconsciously to make room.
It’s important to pause and assess whether you need to purge or adjust your habits.
Clutter is one of the most difficult and frustrating challenges to address. It’s hard to define what clutter is, and it’s even harder to define what clutter is not. Some people define clutter as “stuff,” while others define it as anything that’s not currently in use.
Clutter is the silent killer of productivity. It can easily creep up on you, slowing your workflow to a crawl, and before you know it, you’ve got a full-blown clutter problem on your hands. But it’s not too late to turn things around! It’s easy to prevent clutter from accumulating in the first place with these simple habits you can create in your life.