It’s the start of a new year, and many of us feel motivated/compelled to organize and declutter once all the holiday decorations have been put away. There are myriad decluttering methods and organizational strategies out there. It can be hard to know which to choose when there are so many headlines and social media posts touting different methods. Below I’ve broken down five popular decluttering methods to help you choose the right one for you.
KonMari method
This is the brainchild of tidying expert Marie Kondo, and the subject of an oddly relaxing Netflix series. This method directs us to declutter by category, not location, and keep only those items that “spark joy.” We declutter and organize clothes, books, paper, miscellaneous items, sentimental items in that order by taking out literally everything in a category (e.g., remove all clothes from a closet), sorting each item, and returning items we’re keeping to their locations in a neat and tidy way. We thank the items we’re getting rid of for their service and move on.
Who this works for: KonMari is great for people who are willing and able to devote considerable time and space to the decluttering process, and for those who need/want the mental exercise of determining what brings them joy and, conversely, what they can let go. Fans of the method swear by the happiness and lightness they feel once the process is complete.
Drawbacks: This method is time-intensive – once you begin to declutter a category, there is going to be stuff ALL. OVER. YOUR. HOUSE until the category is complete. This is not a situation where you can work for 20 minutes here and there. Some of the categories are extremely broad (hello, “miscellaneous items”), so unless you refine them further, you will have to tackle everything from kitchen gadgets to children’s toys to mini shampoo bottles in one go.
swedish death Cleaning
Well, the name certainly grabs one’s attention. The concept was introduced to the world by Swedish author Margareta Magnusson. This particular method is not so much a method as a mental state. We are encouraged to approach decluttering and organization with an eye to taking responsibility for the task so others won’t have to when you’re gone, and then to enjoy the resulting freedom of minimalism while you’re still alive. Magnusson asks us to consider “will anyone be happier if I save this” when decluttering.
Who this works for: This approach may work for people who already know how to declutter and organize, but just need to get into the right headspace for it. Without, of course, being reduced to an ineffective mess when confronted with the thought of their own mortality.
Drawbacks: Because there is no true methodology or hard-and-fast rules, Swedish Death Cleaning may be too open-ended for some.
20-minute Method
This method is simple – we set a timer for 20 minutes and GO! Pick an area, declutter as much as possible in the allotted time and we’re done for the day.
Who this works for: The 20-Minute Method is perfect for people who are generally pretty organized and don’t have tons of stuff to declutter, those who will stick to a consistent habit of decluttering in short bursts (this is not a one-and-done process), or folks who need a low-commitment push to get started on their decluttering journey.
Drawbacks: 20 minutes is definitely not enough time to get into bigger projects, so the result may be that the junk drawer and medicine cabinet are in great shape, but the kids’ playroom and garage remain a disorganized mess.
minimalist game
This “game” was developed by Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn of The Minimalists. To “play,” we pick a month, and on the first day get rid of (trash, donate, or sell) one item; get rid of two on the second day, and so on for the entire month. At the end of a 31-day month we will have rid our homes of 496 items.
Who this works for: This method is great for people who will commit to the daily habit for a month, and don’t need a lot of rules or structure to help them.
Drawbacks: To win this game, you need to be disciplined – if you fall behind (especially near the end of the month), it can be overwhelming to get back on track. In addition, the open-ended structure does not provide guidance for those who have difficulty making decisions about what to keep and what to let go.
four box method
This method is very simple, and there are numerous variations and iterations. I’m guessing it was originally conceived as a step up from the old “create three piles” decluttering method. This version calls for labeling four boxes: Throw Away (or Trash), Give Away (or Donate), Put Away (or Keep), and Undecided. The “undecided” box is helpful because it allows us to defer a decision and move along without getting stuck on a particular item. As long as we put some sort of limit on the undecideds… otherwise, we’re right back where we started.
Who this works for: Anyone. This method is simple and straightforward, and can work for decluttering projects large and small.
Drawbacks: You need to be a bit disciplined (see the note on undecided box limitations above) and have a plan for tackling various spaces and item categories.
Have you tried these decluttering methods (or any others)? Share your experiences in the comments below! And before you go, check out my tips for environmentally friendly organizing.
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