LET IT GO: 8 SIMPLE Ideas to Declutter & Organize Your Life!

Unorganized, cluttered, or overwhelmed?! Let's talk organization tips: closet organization, home organization, conquering your mess, and generally making your space more awesome!

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[angelcollina]

Of course stuffed animals have feelings!!

Also, thank you so much for making a declutter video that is sympathetic and doesn't bash people for having clutter!
So many books I read and talk shows and opinions in general demonize people with clutter and say, in so many words, "You don't need any of that crap! Get rid of it all!" But that only makes me angry, afraid, and ashamed.

[ForTheEpicFail]

I think many of us could benefit from a "How to Grocery Shop" video. Just throwing that out there... Honestly i just need help picking watermelons 

[saphyreXice]

Re  Stuffed animals with feelings: I work in a big retail store and I always say "I'm so sorry!" as I put stuffed animals into the bags. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

[FlyKiwi]

I'm sure many people know the hanger trick for clothes.
Hang all of your clothes backwards, when you wear an item turn the hanger back to the front.
After 6 months, get rid of anything that is still hanging backwards. 
This of course doesn't include special occasion clothes like suits n ball gowns.
This could work for t shirts as well. Put them all in one drawer with another drawer left empty. When you wear a shirt, put it in the empty drawer. After 6 months, get rid of any t shirts left in the original drawer.

[raininess]

Couldn't agree more about the stuffed animals. ^^

I think it's also important to keep the decluttered state. Once it's all been sorted one might start slacking again and before you know it's back to how it was.
Inventory lists help keeping it sorted, or at least that's what works for me. It has always been "now where did I put the other items of that sort?" which resulted in "I'll put these away later on"...
So at one point I simply took the time to make a file featuring cabinets, shelves down to the smaller boxes within them and listed what's inside (or at least which type of item) so if new stuff comes around or I need something specific within a few minutes I'll just go "ctrl + F" instead of turning the entire place upside down.

[MsAzy]

when going through boxes make sure to mark on the top or side (masking tape and a sharpie work good for this) that you've gone through this box, the date and what kinds of things are inside.  that way you don't end up going through the box again during this cleaning session.  i did this when i moved and it saved me some time.  also if you are like me and decide to start organizing or rearranging a bedroom make sure you either leave your bed open so you can sleep if you don't finish in time or do just a little at a time.  i've rearranged my room in the past and gotten about halfway through and needed to sleep but couldn't because my bed was leaning against a wall.  and of course stuffed animals have feelings!  anyone who's ever read the velveteen rabbit or winnie the pooh could tell you that!

[JennyBrooksOfficial]

You're so not alone on the stuffed animals thing. I know they don't REALY have feelings, but I feel like they do! Toy Story made this even harder for me.

[GreaterBookWyrm]

If you're going to look into a storage unit or space off site, make sure  you have a plan for that stuff for the future. For example, you're moving, someone is moving out, you'll be getting more space or less clutter soon ect. Storage units are meant to be temporary, not a new permanent money sink. On top of that, if you're thinking of putting it in storage, especially if it's indefinite, do you really need it anyway?

[saizai]

What worked for me: getting my partner to do it for me, so that all I have to do is categorize stuff presented one at a time and occasionally decide whether something can be tossed or not. My partner doesn't have the anxiety I do for dealing with my clutter, so it goes a lot easier for them. In return, I do stuff for them which is not as much of a pain for me as it is for them. Mutual win.

[DezCobbs]

This is literally the most helpful channel on YouTube. I go to college next year and I will technically be an adult in 10 days I would be lost without the channel.

[qualitystreetmoment]

Tip: as you go along, make some kind of inventory/list of where you've moved everything to, so you don't have to create a giant mess again when you can't remember where you put something :)

[GullbraKisa]

I love how "just keep swimming" has become a saying ;). It also helped me to have a purging destination spot that was separate from my apartment, but still in my way. My hallway is separate from my apartment (just one room across the hall that only is being used during the day) and there is a little storage space there too. Everything I put in that hall or in the storage space, I thought of it as already gone, like the hallway was the outside garbage bin and just waiting for the trip on the car to donation. So I could feel the relief and have it separate, but still be kind of bothered by it when I walk in and out of the house so I felt more eager to clear it out.

[BriWhoSaysNi]

Tip 4 made me think of one of my favorite quotes: "The secret to getting ahead is getting started. The secret to getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small, manageable tasks and then starting on the first one." -Mark Twain

[radishraccoon]

I find it can be helpful to find someone specific who would like the thing you're struggling to get rid of because of sentimental attachment. So toys etc. go to younger cousins, or my mum who then gives them as presents to family friends. Books go to friends, or more specifically one friend who works as a librarian at a school which desperately needs new books.

I don't know if it's just me, but I find it much easier to give toys and books away to specific people than to just give them to a charity shop (I don't have this problem with clothes!). It feels more personal, so it's less like you're throwing them out and more like you're re-homing them, and you feel more certain that they're going to somebody who really wants them and will look after them. Try to feel happy about the new lease of life they'll get.

[alizaday]

A friend of mine had a thing about teddy bears that had been thrown out, she felt they were sad and had to rescue them, I thought there were other reasons behind it, she was an accountant and is really a very cool lady, I never said anything about the teddy thing.  I like stuffed animals too, and they are very important in our lives.

[HannahTarr]

It's okay Emma, my stuffed animals have feelings too. But did you read my mind? Today my family and I are using the day off to clean! I like how this video gives you a way to attack clutter with out going crazy *cough* little brother's room *cough*.

[ibelieveinxinwei]

YES ON THE STUFFED ANIMALS. I STILL HUG THEM WITH THEIR FACES FACING OUTWARD AND NOT TOWARDS ME BECAUSE I THINK I'D SUFFOCATE THEM.

-WEIRD-

[chillsahoy]

In order to make sure things don't get cluttered too quickly, I'd also recommend asking "why" whenever you consider buying something new. "1 in, 1 out" is good sometimes, but if you are prone to buying random unnecessary objects, before you make a purchase, make a rough list of what it will be used for, when you're going to use it, if you already have something equivalent at home, etc. Not only will this keep your house clutter-free for longer, but you'll also save some money.

[hollysmoot]

It helps me to get my momentum going by having a "keep, " "definitely get rid of/donate/throw out, " and a "maybe" pile. Then, you can sustain your momentum and not get caught up on a decision about one object. Just keep going and then go back to the "maybe" pile on another go-around.

[awkwardkiwi]

I needed this video so much today - i've just come home from travelling (well house-sitting, it feels like travelling) and I managed to live for a couple of weeks out of a suitcase so I don't need all the stuff that is cluttering up my house. My plan is to spend 10 minutes a day when I get home from work tidying and sorting before I sit down and watch tv or read. As you say Emma, a little time should add up to some good results.