Make a Plan to Declutter Tip #2 {FREEBIE ALERT}

This free printable is available here!

If you are just joining us, you may want to start here or check out my Clutter-Free Classroom Guide.

This week we are preparing to declutter.

I recently mentioned that you need a plan for where all that clutter is going to go when you begin to purge.

Today I am going to better guide you through the process of creating a set of rules to help you when you start emptying those drawers, cabinets, and shelves.

Rules are important.

It is so easy to talk yourself into keeping something. You start daydreaming about what you MIGHT use it for. You think about the fact that you paid money for it or perhaps invested a lot of time in creating it.

I find myself doing this too. However, I always try to quickly remind myself that holding onto it isn't going to give me back my time or money. It also helps to assign a new value to it. I may have invested X number of dollars into it, but if I'm not using it then there is no value.

Would somebody else use and appreciate it? If so then it would have more value to them and you can pass it along otherwise it should be trashed, recycled or sold.

When you are purging you will want to move quickly and not overthink your actions. Having a set of non-negotiable rules for escorting an item out of your space will allow you to purge swiftly.

I created a printable poster to help you. You'll find it on the My Products page under the Freebies section. I wrote them in the form of questions. When you write your rules you will want to list them as statements.

For example:

• If it is broken I will throw it away.
• If it is available online I will recycle it.
• If I have not used it in the past year I will donate it.

Start jotting down your rules and get ready for Friday's Linky! I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll all come up with.