Break Free from Clutter | Easy Habit Hacks to Try Now!

Do you want to clear some spaces? Explore strategies that keep clutter away. Create a tidy home with these easy, helpful habit hacks!

Living in Clutter? Change a Habit…or two!

If you feel overwhelmed by clutter, you’re not alone. Many people want a clutter-free life but struggle to get there. The secret to breaking free from clutter isn’t just decluttering once in a while—it’s about transforming the habits that led to the clutter in the first place.

Changing these patterns can be the difference between a temporary fix and a lasting, organized lifestyle.

Why Habits Matter More Than a Quick Fix

Decluttering projects are often exciting at first. You might clear out a closet or tackle your kitchen, only to watch the clutter creep back over time. This happens because our habits play a major role in the state of our surroundings.

Until we shift the underlying habits that feed clutter, any tidying will be temporary. It is all about replacing not-so-great habits with better useful habits.

Habit | “Just in Case” Thinking

Many people hold onto items “just in case” they might need someday. This mindset can fill a home quickly. Try adopting a rule: if you haven’t used it in the last six months, let it go. Trust that you’ll be able to find what you need if you truly need it.

Habit | The Impulse to Buy

This is a good time to mention physical clutter usually goes hand in hand with mental clutter. Many folks like to shop- and shop and shop and buy. This habit contributes to a cluttered space.

We have hacks for this! Keep reading…

Habit | Decision-Making Skills

Poor decision-making can be improved. Start practicing better decision-making skills by finding things you are not emotionally attached to and decluttering these things first.

Set a timer because this can create a sense of urgency and will make decision-making faster. A good place to practice is with a kitchen junk drawer or the pile of old manuals, and receipts you have collected for years.

Most manuals can be found online today so there is no need to save a hard copy. Without the emotional attachment to possessions, it is pretty easy to make a quick decision. This is great practice!

Habit | Holding onto Sentimental Items

Sentimental items prove to be the biggest challenge to let go of for most people. But keeping everything “just because” creates a mountain of stuff that weighs you down.

Consider keeping only a few meaningful items that are especially meaningful to you, not just because someone (special) gave them to you.

Habit | Procrastination

You are not alone if you procrastinate. People who procrastinate are in good company as this is a widespread inclination. Procrastination causes stress, clutter, and lots of other icky things.

• Forgetting to pay a bill due to procrastination can cause financial headaches.
• Are you embarrassed to have friends in because you have been procrastinating your decluttering tasks? Feeling shame has a negative effect on your overall well-being.
• Is your clutter causing health risks, like safety hazards, germs, dust, and other respiratory issues?
• Clutter can cause low self-esteem and other stresses which can elevate your cortisol levels and this can cause health issues.

Start Small and Build Momentum

Baby steps. You did not accumulate clutter overnight so do not expect to remove all the clutter in an instant.

Changing habits can feel overwhelming if you try to do everything at once. Instead, start with one habit and practice it consistently. Once it becomes a part of your daily routine, move on to the next. Small shifts build momentum, leading to lasting change.

Easy Habit Hacks 1 | Dedicated Space for Everything

Everything needs a dedicated space to live. When you enter your home whatever you carry in needs to go to this dedicated space, immediately.

• Keys
• Groceries
• Mails
• Anything you walk into your home with
• If you walk in with a dog, remove the leash and put it in its dedicated space, immediately.

This one small act makes a big difference!

Easy Habit Hacks 2 |Mail

Sort through your mail immediately

• Junk mail goes directly into your recycle bin
• Put important mail on your desk or in its proper place.
• Packages- open and discard the packing materials and put your new item in its new space.

Easy Habit Hacks 3 | The One-Touch Rule

The One-Touch Rule is to use something and put it away immediately. Touch the thing once.

Easy Habit Hacks 4 | Declutter & Organize

Do a deep declutter before you set up organizing systems. Do not purchase totes, shelving, etc until you have removed all the trash and clutter possible. Then start sorting. Put like objects with like objects. Sort, sort, sort.

Put all the kitchen items in the kitchen, clothing in the clothing closet, etc.

Easy Habit Hacks 5 | Buying Habits

Now for the all-important buying hack! This is important because most people do not give a thought about where they are going to put the thing they are buying.

You are just buying a new sweater or shampoo, you may be thinking, it is only one thing. True. All these ‘one things’ you buy add up quickly if you are not in the habit of discarding things. This is the beginning of a cluttered life.

The fewer possessions you have the easier it will be to maintain a decluttered, tidy space. I began living minimally for one reason only. I do not enjoy spending time cleaning and I realized the first time the cleaning responsibilities were up to me, the less stuff I had, the easier cleaning would be.

You would see one clear pump-style bottle of hand soap on any sink top in my home because it is far easier to clean surfaces without stuff cluttering them.

Before you click the Buy It Now button ask yourself the following questions

• Do I need this thing?
• How often will I use it?
• Where will I store this, name its dedicated space
• Can I afford to buy it?
• Is the quality good or is this future clutter

Easy Habit Hacks 6 | Habits

Replacing your not-so-great habits with more useful habits is necessary.

Practice one new habit you have made, for a while, until it becomes ingrained. For example, when you are at the point you enter your home and everything is put in its proper place right away, without you thinking about it, it is time to introduce another good habit.

Easy Habit Hacks 7 | Maintenance Plan!

Without a maintenance plan, it won’t be long until the clutter starts building again.

If you like to track your progress or if you like making to-do lists check out the Ultimate Declutter Tracker I made.

In addition to tracking your initial decluttering, The Ultimate Declutterbuzz Dashboard is a Free 4-page tracking system of weekly, monthly, and yearly decluttering maintenance tasks to keep yourself clutter-free. 

Easy Habit Hacks 8 | Letting Go

When you bring a new item into your home discard an item. Clutter builds when you bring items in and never let go of any existing items. This is simple math.

Never letting go of things is another example of mental clutter needing to be addressed.

Letting go of sentimental possessions can add another layer of stress to your decluttering project. I address some of these issues in the article Guilt-Free Tips To Declutter Sentimental Stuff

Easy Habit Hacks 8 | Celebrate!

Take credit where credit is due! Look at the amazing progress you are making. Whether you are decluttering one object a day or an entire room the achievement is yours. Celebrate this!

I reward myself for a job well done by grabbing the pups and going for a brisk walk, or eating a favorite treat. I would not reward myself for doing a great decluttering job by buying a physical object.

By shifting habits one step at a time, you’ll create an environment that reflects your new best self. A clutter-free life must start with clutter-free habits.

Don’t look at decluttering as a one-time thing, rather see this as a ‘Welcome to your new clutter-free lifestyle’!
The results of making changes are well worth it.