How do you declutter when you have too much stuff?

Author: Lavon Volkman  |  Last update: Friday, December 26, 2025

The 4 container decluttering method is fantastic if you have too much stuff! It's easy to do and makes the process faster. You will have a total of 4 boxes to go through your items: A trash box, a giveaway/sell box, a storage box, and a put-away box. It's a simple way to knock out clutter easily.

What is the 50% rule in decluttering?

The 50% rule for clutter is a straightforward yet powerful principle: reduce the number of items in any given space by half.

What is the 9090 rule?

Created by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists, the 90/90 rule is a decluttering process that requires you to ask yourself two questions about objects you're not sure about: Have you used it in the past 90 days? And if not, will you use it in the 90 days ahead?

How do you drastically declutter?

By Leo Babauta
  • Do it in small chunks.
  • Set aside a couple hours to do it.
  • Take everything out of a shelf or drawer at once.
  • Sort through your pile, one item at a time, and make quick decisions.
  • Be merciless.
  • Papers?
  • If you are on the fence with a lot of things, create a ``maybe'' box.

What is the 20/20/20 rule for decluttering?

Then we tested our hypothesis: the 20/20 Rule. Anything we get rid of that we truly need, we can replace for less than $20 in less than 20 minutes from our current location. Thus far, this hypothesis has become a theory that has held true 100% of the time.

How to Start Decluttering Even When You're Overwhelmed

What is the 90-90 rule for decluttering?

What Is the 90/90 Rule? Here's the gist: When you come upon an object you're unsure about decluttering, ask yourself two questions: Did you use it in the past 90 days? If not, will you use it in the next 90 days? If your answer is “no” to both questions, away it goes.

What happens to your brain when you declutter your home?

With our brains fixated on the constant reminder of clutter, it can be hard to focus on the task at hand. Decluttering your workspace will likely decrease stress caused by a disorder and be able to free up your mind to focus on necessary tasks.

Where do I start when overwhelmed with clutter?

Here is the best formula for decluttering large, overwhelming spaces:
  1. Remove the easiest things first. ...
  2. Discard larger items next. ...
  3. Donate items instead of selling them. ...
  4. Break your large space into smaller bite-size challenges. ...
  5. Work until your bite-size piece is completed.

What is the golden rule of decluttering?

Start small and simplify. Beginning the decluttering process by starting small and focusing on one area at a time can be a highly effective strategy to prevent overwhelm, maintain motivation, and achieve tangible progress in organizing your living space.

How to clean out a house full of junk?

How to clean out a house full of junk
  1. Plan your home cleanout.
  2. If you're getting rid of large items, schedule your junk removal.
  3. Start with removing obvious trash.
  4. Begin sorting clutter that's left.
  5. Donate and sell unwanted items.
  6. Organize and put away the items that remain.
  7. Create daily habits to prevent clutter.

What's the rule for getting rid of clothes?

Anything that you don't feel good in.

Let go of anything that you put on and you don't feel good in. No matter how they got there, those things shouldn't be part of your wardrobe. You want the items in your closet to be pieces that you love and feel great in. No exceptions.

What is the rule 42 in law?

Rule 42(b) gives courts the discretion to order separate trials for distinct issues, claims, crossclaims, counterclaims, or third-party claims within a single action if separation is necessary to avoid prejudice, to expedite and economize the trial process, or for convenience.

What is the rule 446?

General Rule For Methods Of Accounting. Taxable income shall be computed under the method of accounting on the basis of which the taxpayer regularly computes his income in keeping his books.

What should you not declutter?

What Not to Throw Away When Decluttering Your House
  • PHYSICAL PHOTOS. Our memories are more often immortalized on social media than in leather-bound albums. ...
  • FAMILY HEIRLOOMS. ...
  • DUPLICATES OF THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE EASIER. ...
  • ANYTHING DIFFICULT TO REPLACE. ...
  • ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS. ...
  • PERSONAL KEEPSAKES.

What is the one touch rule for avoiding clutter?

This rule suggests that you handle items only once, putting them away immediately rather than setting them down temporarily. By adhering to this principle, you can effectively prevent clutter buildup and save time in the long run.

What is the core 4 method of decluttering?

Coined by pro organizer Kayleen Kelly, the “Core 4 Method” breaks the decluttering process into four simple steps: clear out, categorize, cut out, and contain. In essence, it's designed to take the stress and overwhelm out of the organizing process.

How do you brutally declutter?

7 Savage Decluttering Truths You Only Learn When You Move
  1. Don't Keep Clothes You Don't Wear.
  2. Stop Storing Appliances You Don't Use.
  3. Corral That Mess of Cords.
  4. Check Your Towels.
  5. Take Note of Your Tchotchkes.
  6. Stop Stashing Duplicates.
  7. Peruse That Paper Pile.

What is the magic power of decluttering?

Decluttering gives us higher self-esteem and makes us happy. Having trouble staying organised results in feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. Seeing the disarray of things bombards our minds with excessive stimuli and causes our senses to be overwhelmed. It distracts us from our tasks causing us to procrastinate.

How to do a massive declutter?

10 Key Tips for Decluttering Your Home
  1. Follow the 80/20 Rule. ...
  2. Forget About Sunk Costs. ...
  3. Start With Small Projects That Feel Big. ...
  4. Clear Off Flat Surfaces. ...
  5. Keep Similar Objects Together. ...
  6. Check if the Items Work. ...
  7. Track Which Items You Actually Use. ...
  8. Think of the Last Time You Needed It.

What does ADHD clutter look like?

Symptoms of ADHD Clutter Anxiety

This may include cluttered surfaces, piles of paperwork or clothing, and difficulty finding necessary items. People with ADHD clutter anxiety may also experience feelings of overwhelm or anxious when faced with clutter or disorganization.

Why do people struggle to declutter?

Here are some of the common reasons people struggle: Our belongings are tied up in our identity. They give us a sense of security and we feel guilty about throwing things away. They provide comfort.

What does clutter say about a person?

For example, if your clutter consists of other people's stuff, you might have issues with boundaries; if your clutter is largely memorabilia from your past, you may have trouble letting go of the past and moving forward; and if you constantly find yourself relying on the phrase “better to have it and not need it than ...

What is the urge to get rid of everything?

Compulsive decluttering is a type of disorder that is classified within a broad name, obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD. Compulsive decluttering is the act of throwing items, or clutter, away, or getting rid of them in an attempt to "clean up" what one with the disorder may think is cluttered.

What is the root cause of clutter?

Behavioral/psychological: Clutter caused by depression, attention deficit disorder, low self-esteem or lack of personal boundaries. Time/life management: Clutter caused by the need for better planning. Of these, the behavioral/psychological-driven clutter is the hardest to solve.

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