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Expert Author Laura Longville
Are you organizing or getting rid of things so you can move to a new home? If you're staring down an overstuffed closet or garage, it's easy to get overwhelmed with all the sorting and purging that must happen before you move.
In fact, this overwhelm can even overshadow the anticipation and thrill of settling into your new place. That's why it's best to start fresh by paring down and letting go of what you no longer need early on in the moving process.
Use the 3x3 Rule
One of the best strategies for clearing out the clutter in your life is a process I call the 3x3 Rule. You can use the 3x3 Rule to sort through and purge anything from clothing to craft supplies or furniture and tools. Here's how it works:
With the help of a trusted friend, (not a spouse or your partner) tackle a single area of your home that needs to be de-cluttered. Pull everything out of this area and sort each item into one of three piles.
The first pile is for items you can live without and that you plan to give or throw away.
The second pile is designated for "undecided" items, which are those things that you don't necessarily use and love, but that you aren't quite ready to give up.
And the last pile is for the items you know you want to keep.
Once you have completed your initial sort, you should repeat the process two more times. As you do, work quickly, and set a timer if necessary. By the end of your third round, your goal is to have completely eliminated your "undecided" pile and whittled down your "keep" pile so that it only contains things you use and love.
Once you have identified what you plan to keep, take what remains and immediately donate it to your local mission or a secondhand store (or put it in the trash if it isn't worthy of having a second life in someone else's home.) If your donate pile lingers too long, you may be tempted to pull items from it, negating the hard work you've already done.
Sort, purge and in the blink of an eye, donate. You'll be amazed by how good it feels to shed your excess stuff.
The 3x3 rule is a simple approach to de-cluttering, but it works because you are breaking down the process into bite-size pieces. You don't have to feel overwhelmed when you're purging bit by bit.
Sometimes, even when you're following a concrete strategy such as the 3x3 rule, it can be difficult to part with your things because you feel emotionally connected to them. You may be saying to yourself, "I wish I could get rid of things, but there are just too many memories connected to all this stuff."
Maybe those boxes in the barn or attic remind you of a departed loved one, and it just feels too painful to let go of all those things. Sometimes, it might even feel like you're letting go of the people you love when you get rid of the stuff associated with them.
In these cases, it's crucial to address your emotional connection to your belongings as you organize and purge. This will help you successfully reduce, consolidate and pack up your things as prepare to move to your new home.
Preserve the memories but shed the stuff
Is it still possible to purge some of your things, even when you may feel emotionally connected to them? It may take more work than the 3x3 rule, but it can be done.
You can consider using an approach used by writer Valentina Kaltchev when dealing with your treasured belongings. She suggests that you sort through meaningful items and create a personal journal chronicling your connection to them. You can do so by taking a picture of these beloved items and then writing down the important memories and feelings connected to them.
Packers and Movers in Pune
Once you've created a written record, you can get rid of the items themselves but still hold onto all the significant memories they create for you.
You may not need all your stuff, but your memories and feelings are yours to keep. Use the 3x3 Rule to organize and eliminate your stuff as quickly as possible. Then use the creative journaling method to keep memories close to your heart and to you help sort and purge with greater ease.
With these two simple tools, you can get your things organized and make your move from your current home to your next go as smoothly as possible.
