Clear the Chaos: 17 Fresh Ways to Declutter and Reclaim Your Space

PUSH Mindfulness - Volume 5, Issue 6

Simple, actionable strategies to lighten your home and your mental load

Clutter has a sneaky way of taking over. What starts as a manageable coat closet quickly transforms into an overstuffed jumble of jackets, gym bags, and miscellaneous gear. Life happens; before you know it, your home feels less like a sanctuary and more like a storage unit.

The truth is, it's easier to accumulate things than to let them go. Whether you're hanging on to sentimental keepsakes or just too busy to tackle that teetering pile of papers, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But taking even small steps toward decluttering can have a surprisingly big, significant effect on your peace of mind and daily life.

If you're ready to take control of your space, these 17 practical, no-nonsense tips can help you declutter with intention and make your home a place you want to be.

1. Pick Low-Hanging Fruit First

Start with the easy stuff. Toss expired beauty products, old spices, broken hangers, or that tangle of takeout cutlery. Small wins build momentum.

2. Focus on a Single Spot

Pick one tiny area—like a drawer or a single shelf—and fully clear it out. Finishing even a small space can give you the push to keep going.

3. Set a Timer for 15 Minutes

Give yourself just 15 minutes a day to declutter. You’ll be surprised how much you can tackle—and how satisfying it feels to make progress without burnout.

4. Implement the “One In, One Out” Method

Bring something new into your home? Say goodbye to something old. It’s a simple rule that helps curb clutter before it starts.

5. Give Items an Expiration Date

Struggling to let go? Box it up, label it with a date in the future, and revisit it then. If you haven’t needed it by then, it’s time to move on.

6. Pick 5 Things a Day

Each day, remove five items from your home. Trash, donate, recycle—just let them go. Over time, that adds up to real change.

7. Put a Number on It

How many coffee mugs, T-shirts, or earrings do you really need? Count your stash to gain perspective, and aim to pare it down by 10% or more.

8. Break Up a Set

You don’t have to keep the entire set of inherited dishes or holiday decorations. Keep what you love and let go of the rest.

9. Hold On to Memories, Not Stuff

Take photos of sentimental items instead of keeping them all. A digital album takes up zero space and still captures the emotion behind the object.

10. Donate Your Donations

Don’t let donation bags linger in your hallway or trunk for weeks. Put them somewhere annoying—like by the front door or in your car—so you’re forced to deal with them.

11. Don’t Buy Organizers (Yet)

Declutter first. Once you’ve cleared out the excess, you can decide what storage you actually need—and possibly repurpose what you already own.

12. State Your Goal

Define why you’re decluttering—maybe it’s to create space for a hobby or simply reduce stress. When in doubt, ask yourself: “Does this item support my goal?”

13. Make It More Fun

Decluttering doesn’t have to be a chore. Put on a playlist, sip your favorite drink, or turn it into a mini challenge. Make it something you can enjoy—or at least tolerate.

14. Think About the Real Cost

Holding on to things takes up more than space—it can cost you time, energy, and peace of mind. Ask yourself what it’s costing you to keep an item, not just what it might cost to replace it.

15. Skip the Emotional Triggers—for Now

If you hit an emotional wall when you come across certain items, don’t force yourself to decide right away. Label the box, set it aside, and revisit it when ready.

16. Invite a Friend Over

Enlist a buddy to hang out while you declutter. They can keep you focused, talk you through tough decisions, or just make the process less isolating.

17. Remember: Not Everything Is a Treasure

If everything you own feels “special,” then nothing really stands out. Choose the most meaningful items to keep, and let the rest go with gratitude.

Ready to get started? You don’t need a weekend-long clean-out session. Start small, stay consistent, and let go of what no longer serves you. Your space—and your mind—will thank you.