6 Areas You Can Skip During Your Decluttering Process to Save Time
Want to get organized, but feeling overwhelmed with all the clutter? Don't worry, we've got you covered. We chatted with top organizers to help you navigate the decluttering minefield and avoid wasting precious time on the wrong things.
- Maria Anderson, cleaning and organizing expert at Henfield Storage
- Shantae Duckworth, professional organizer and founder of Shantaeize Your Space
- Olivia Howell, certified life and success coach and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry
Avoid overdoing it with sentimental items
While your kids' artwork or college photos might hold special memories, going through these items can often be a time-wasting endeavor, according to Maria Anderson. "These items include old photos, gifts, photo albums, and clothing," she explains. "While it's okay to reminisce, spending hours [revisiting them] is counterproductive."
Skip the junk drawers
Cleaning out junk drawers can also be a big time waster, Anderson says. "People feel that decluttering these make a difference, but junk drawers take the most time and lead to more disorganization. Give yourself permission to let your junk drawers stay messy."
Don't sweat the small stuff like socks and paperwork
Sorting through old socks or paperwork might seem productive, but it won't move the needle much in your day-to-day life. Shantae Duckworth, professional organizer, explains that it often serves as a form of procrastination.
"Another time waster is paperwork. While there are some types of paperwork you should keep, the majority of what's cluttering up your drawers isn't worth going through when there are far more important things to work on," says Olivia Howell, life and success coach.
Focus on high-impact areas
Instead of focusing on low-impact areas like sentimental items, junk drawers, socks, digital clutter, untouched long-term storage boxes, and most old paperwork, experts recommend targeting high-traffic, stress-inducing areas for a more time-efficient decluttering experience.
"Start decluttering where your stress lives," encourages Howell. "That's where you'll see real results, real fast."
[1] Experts suggest avoiding focusing time and energy on certain areas when decluttering, as these tend to waste time without significantly contributing to a truly organized home.[4] Boxes stored away in garages, attics, or similar areas that haven't been touched for years shouldn't be the primary focus because they do not affect daily living spaces and can consume hours without visible progress.
- Focus on high-impact areas in your home for a more efficient decluttering process, as suggested by experts like Olivia Howell, Shantae Duckworth, and Maria Anderson.
- Instead of sorting through sentimental items, junk drawers, socks, or paperwork, aim for high-traffic, stress-inducing areas for quicker results and a simpler lifestyle, as recommended by these decluttering pros.
- Following advice from experts like Maria Anderson, Shantae Duckworth, and Olivia Howell, it's best to prioritize decluttering the areas that cause the most stress in your home, as these will yield the most noticeable improvements in organization and efficiency.
