Clean Out the Clutter Immediately to Feel Better After Decluttering.
At the first opportunity (of course, I’ll give you a few minutes to finish reading this article) you should quickly clean out the trash in your home. This is something you probably already do throughout the day, but more formal decluttering is a fundamental part of any cleaning method: even if you don’t have time to clean up more thoroughly afterwards, it will yield quick and immediate results. improvement, and it may even encourage you to clean up later.
Why clean up the trash right now?
Sweeping trash—where you walk around and throw away anything that could be classified as trash—can be a starting point for mastering a cleaning technique like the Five Things method , which asks you to sweep a room several times, first picking up the trash. , then linen, dishes, things that have a place, and things that don’t. Likewise, you do the “calendar” method , where you throw out a certain number of items depending on what day of the month it is.
It can also be an easy way to quickly and noticeably change the state of your environment, even if you don’t proceed with a more complete cleanup afterwards. This can give you a sense of accomplishment, which can motivate you to keep cleaning, but it can also be effective in making you feel more comfortable immediately. When too many things clutter the space around you, they compete with other things for your brain’s attention , so you may feel overwhelmed or unfocused and not even be able to understand why.
Whether your home is currently a mess or is struggling to keep up with renovations, junk removal is something that requires a little effort and can have a big impact. But you still need to find a little spark of motivation to do it. Personally, I find that I take out the trash at the most unpredictable times. I’ll be relaxing on the couch, and then suddenly I’ll decide that this is the moment, and I’ll pop up and get to work. Will I start a full cleaning after this? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I just enjoy using that impulse when it hits me. By now I’ve realized that I do this when I’m feeling overwhelmed or unfocused. Getting some things out of my way frees me up in some ways and I can work on other things more efficiently, whether it’s deep cleaning or other work, or even just relax better.
So maybe the semi-aggressive message in this post that you should show up and get to work now might be the spark for you. You may not be able to do it right now, but it will plant a seed in your brain and you will be inspired to do it when you can. You have other options. Try setting some random reminders on your phone, such as days and times when you’re most likely to be home. For a more structured approach, add trash cleaning to your existing schedule by committing to do it, say, every Monday afternoon.
For me, trying to plan it doesn’t work, so I just remember that I really need to do it and always resort to it when the urge hits me. You can sweep up debris in a way that suits you as long as you remember that this is the basis for a more effective cleaning routine overall.
But what is waste removal?
Let’s tie this into a definition to get you started. Decluttering is what it sounds like: you don’t focus on cleaning or organizing. You simply move around the room, collecting everything that can be thrown away. Old documents or bills, empty containers, broken and old items – anything that you think can be gotten rid of, throw it away.
This may seem a little obvious at first, since you probably don’t keep actual trash everywhere. But look around and you might be surprised. Do you keep broken pizza boxes or Amazon boxes next to the trash can, but forget to put them in the recycling bin? Did you buy flowers last week that looked a little crunchy in the vase? Are there any spice containers on your counter that are reaching the end of their useful life? What about the things your dog bit that you just left on the floor? And yes, actual trash, like the greeting cards you won’t look at again, the water bottles on your nightstand, or the packaging you put aside when opening something new, all count, too. Sometimes you may get distracted or forgetful and not even realize that there are a lot of things that could be thrown away staring right at you.
What helps me when I’m sweeping up trash is a kind of vicious mindset. I remove sentimentality and evaluate everything I look at from a yes or no point of view. No, I don’t need those birthday cards. No, I don’t need these empty boxes. No, I don’t need those mismatched socks whose partners never return from the abyss of the laundry room. With a clear mind and the knowledge that my concentration and happiness will improve in just 10 minutes or so, I throw things away like a villain. Now you!