The idea of living with fewer things is appealing to many modern consumers. Shopping is so easy and accumulating items is all but inevitable. Thanks to a surge in advocates for minimalism many people now strive to live simple lifestyles which comes with benefits such as less cleaning, organizing, debt, and stress. It also allows us to save more money and energy to do the things we love.

If you're thinking of embarking on a minimalistic journey, you may feel anxious and overwhelmed at the idea of owning less. However, don't worry about the process—decluttering is much more enjoyable than most people make it out to be. Here are seven creative ways to help you get started living the minimalist lifestyle:

1. GIVE YOURSELF 5 MINUTES

Toying with the idea of going minimal is nothing like actually taking the plunge. It all starts with taking a step forward. To begin without becoming overwhelmed, pick a minimalism tip from this list and dedicate five minutes of your time to completing it. An example would something as simple as picking up the piles of clothes from the floor or even taking out the dishes from the dishwasher and putting them away in their designated spaces.

2. GIVE AWAY ONE ITEM A DAY

A great way to enjoy the process of going minimal is by seeing the joy of those around you as you give away items you deem unnecessary. Donate clothes, books, toys, and other things to those in need.

3. FILL A TRASH BAG

This tip is one of the best ways to get started. Grab a trash bag and see how fast you can fill it up. Once it is full of items you no longer need, hand the bag over to shops to your local charity.

4. TRY THE ‘OPRAH WINFREY CLOSET HANGER’ EXPERIMENT

Although Oprah did not create this idea, she can be credited with bringing awareness to the technique. This method is specifically meant for your clothes.

To begin, hang your clothes on hangers facing in the opposite direction. After you’ve worn them, put them back, but this time, face the hangers in the right direction. After six months have passed, get rid of the clothes on hangers still facing the other way round.

This technique can also be applied to many other items, such as toys, tools, linens, and much more.

5. CREATE A LIST

Create a list of areas in your home you want to start decluttering. This can be your drawers, wardrobes, kitchen, and anything else. Once you're done with one area, stop and you’re done for the day. Stopping helps prevent you from feeling overwhelmed about having to declutter your entire home in one go.

6. TAKE ON THE 12-12-12 CHALLENGE

Look for 12 items to throw away, donate, and return to their proper places. This method can be a fun and creative way to remove 36 objects from your home. Make it even more exciting by turning it into a game and see who can complete the 12-12-12 challenge the fastest!

7. CHANGING YOUR PERSPECTIVE

If you're having trouble figuring out why decluttering is helpful, professional organizers are there to help you. They'll give you powerful approaches to help you not only clean up your space but to change your perspective. They offer ideas such as asking your boss to meet you in your office, taking photos of your home, and inviting friends to your place. The end goal here is to allow yourself to see your house in a new light.

Now you're asking, "When should I start decluttering?" The answer will depend on you. If you feel bogged down by your possessions, it’s probably about time to make a change.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

If you’re looking for a decluttering service to help take care of your garage, Rescue My Space is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.