Ask anyone who has moved and they will tell you that it is never too early to start preparing!
Moving can be super stressful and can create friction within your household, especially if a lot of loose ends are left until the last minute. Believe it or not moving is rated one of the top 5 stressful life situations by HealthStatus.
There is so much to do, and you already have a booked schedule. It can get overwhelming, and start to feel like the walls are caving in around you with everything that needs to get done.
Get your life and home decluttered now and minimize moving day stress, will save you money, a ton of time while packing, and it will be much easier to unpack and get your new home organized. It is also way easier to stage your home with less clutter too. Decluttering is a great way to honor the memories you made in your old home before starting a new chapter. Even if you don’t think your home is cluttered, chances are you have at least a handful of things lying around that you could do without. The closer you look, the more you’ll find.
Don’t worry your future self with totally thank you. Besides, we are in a pandemic and if you live in Minnesota, it is fairly cold outside so getting your declutter on now you won’t be missing anything.
Don’t know where to start. Below are Mindfully Minimized 3 top tips for decluttering before a move.
1. Get your declutter on ASAP
Before you get moving estimates or put your house on the market, you need to declutter. You want to get an accurate estimate of your move, so declutter before the estimate happens, so you don’t end up overpaying. Maybe you can even forego movers altogether now that you’ve paired down so much. If you’re selling your house, you want to make the best possible first impression. Don’t take photos or list your home until you’ve fully decluttered. Your clean, decluttered, and staged home will entice buyers.
Instead of asking “Should I get rid of this item? try asking yourself “Do I want to pack, move, and unpack this item in my beautiful, clean, new home? Do I really use this item and do I really need it? (salad spinner I am talking to you) . Accept the season of your life that you are in RIGHT NOW. If it has not been used within the last year, chances are really, really high that you are good to let go of it.
Yes, you want to keep the items that spark joy, but there’s more at stake here. Decide whether this is an item that you adore and that it’s worth the money to move it. Will it make you happy when you see it again in your new home? Is it worth the cost and hassle to take this item with you?
Do you hide away sentimental items? If they are truly a treasure, why do you hide them away in a box and not display them in your home so you can enjoy everyday? Is it really that special, stuffed down in the basement in a box, where you don’t think about it? Remember getting rid of an item, does not get rid of the memory or the person with whom the item was once connected. If needed, take a photo of it, journal about your memories of the item, and then bless someone else with it, by donating it. Do not keep items that bring pain. If the person who gave it to you caused you pain, that pain comes out with each thought of the item. Release it. Free yourself. These sentimental items are the most challenging to let go, but be honest with yourself: Does it get used? Does it make you smile? Is hanging on it helping you? Is hanging on to it helping anyone else? Maybe you want to hold onto an item because you feel guilty giving it away or you think you may use it one day. If you consider yourself a “Keeper”, ask for help. Invite a friend or your mom or an organizational expert to help you through the process. That person can help assuage some of the guilt and they can encourage and motivate you to declutter things that you won’t really want in your new place.
2. Stop buying unnecessary things
Now is not the time to get in on a good sale, or stock up on anything. Check out tips here on how to be frugal and minimize impulse purchases. Also check yourself that you are not emotional spending.
3. Arrange a donation pickup (or several!)
Set up donation pickup dates with Salvation Army, Epilepsy Foundation, or your favorite donation organization. Setting these dates both saves you a trip to drop off your items, and gives you a deadline by which you must make progress in your decluttering.
Besides, by donating items to an organization that helps others, you can feel good about letting go of your things.
It is OK to ask for help. If you can be more productive getting support then why wouldn’t you want hours back being able to do what you love vs. spending time doing what you hate. Even worse yet, dreading the process so much you become paralyzed and don’t end up taking action.
If you need support decluttering before your move Mindfully Minimized would love to help.
Leah Morris
Founder & Chief Organizer
Mindfully Minimized is a holistic organizational solution company committed to helping people clear the clutter from their lives. Based in Minneapolis, Mindfully Minimized was founded by owner and chief organizer Leah Morris who works alongside her clients to help them with their challenging spaces to create a beautifully organized home focused around their intention. Leah is a professional organizer, decluttering expert, speaker & coach. She is committed to helping people declutter their lives to focus on what they love. With her passion for providing solutions to problems and serving others she is able to transform spaces to be more clam, purposeful, sustainable, and joyously livable. Check out her website or you can also follow her on Instagram or on facebook.
