Are you a man who has trouble deciding what is worth saving and what is junk? Do you find yourself holding onto things for too long because you can't bear to let them go, even though you know they're just taking up space? If so, don't worry - you're not alone. Many men have a hard time making decisions when it comes to their belongings. In this blog post, we will offer five tips that should help make the process a little bit easier.
Article Summary
- How To Take The First Steps In Clearing Out Your Home
- Ask Yourself These Questions Before Throwing Things Away
- Is this something that someone in my family might want?
- Have I used this item recently?
- Would it be better to simply buy a new one when I'm ready to use it again?
- Does this item need special handling to dispose of?
- Is This Something That Has Value And Should Be Sold Instead of Tossed?
- Will This Job Involve More Getting Rid of Junk Than Saving And Sorting?
- A Final Note On Dealing With Sentimental Items
How To Take The First Steps In Clearing Out Your Home
Start by going through each room in your home and asking yourself if anything is taking up space that you no longer need, use or find valuable. If the answer is yes, it's time to get rid of it. When deciding what to keep - or let go of - try to think logically about whether or not you would be happy with the item if you were shopping for it today. For example, are there any clothes in your closet that haven't been worn in years? Are they still stylish? Would they still fit well even if they did fit? If the answers are no, don't wait any longer - get rid of them!
Next, separate everything into piles of items to save and items to get rid of. It might be easiest to do this by room, or you can separate everything into different categories like clothes, books, kitchen items, etc. Once you have everything separated, try to get rid of as much as possible in one fell swoop. Donate what you don't need to a local charity and sell things that are worth something online or at a yard sale. The more you get out of your home right away, the easier it will be to continue making progress later on.
After taking care of those big-ticket items and general clutter, you should focus on smaller details like loose papers and old mail. Go through all your drawers in your office and junk drawer in the kitchen and empty out anything containing old receipts, bills, letters or other paper items that are no longer important. If you have any old magazines or newspapers that you don't need, get rid of them as well.
Ask Yourself These Questions Before Throwing Things Away
Once you've gone through your belongings and sorted out what to keep and what to get rid of, it's important that you take some time to reflect on the things you decide to let go. Before tossing anything in the trash or sending it off to a charity, ask yourself these five questions:
Is this something that someone in my family might want?
As you go through your home looking at various items that you might consider parting with, one of the first things you can do is consider if it is something a fellow family member might want. This can include hand-me-down clothing, baby toys, or even an old TV that you don't want anymore but a brother might find perfect for his mancave.
Have I used this item recently?
Another important thing to consider as you sort through your stuff is whether you've used the item in question recently. If it's been a year since you last turned on your TV, for example, it might be worth donating it to someone who could use it more than you.
Would it be better to simply buy a new one when I'm ready to use it again?
Along the same lines, you should also consider whether it would be more beneficial to buy a new item when you're ready to use it again. If an old and worn out TV is taking up space in your home but you know that you'll never end up using it, it might make more sense financially to simply replace it with a new one when you're ready to start watching TV again.
Does this item need special handling to dispose of?
Certain items such as old newspapers or even broken furniture are easy to get rid of but sometimes you need to look for an e-waste or chemical disposal site instead of simply throwing it in the garbage can.
Is This Something That Has Value And Should Be Sold Instead of Tossed?
There may also be items in your home that still have value and could be sold for a profit, rather than simply getting rid of it. For example, if you have an old computer or smartphone, you might consider selling it online to someone looking for parts or even just a basic device.
Will This Job Involve More Getting Rid of Junk Than Saving And Sorting?
It might be easy to get rid of junk and old belongings, but when it comes to sorting everything out and deciding what you want to hold on to, that's when things can become more complex. If you're having trouble making decisions about which items are worth keeping and which aren't, try talking with family members or friends who might have experience.
Luckily, there are private junk haulers who offer various services such as hoarding cleanup and house cleaning that you can employ rather than you having to slog your way through the job. Make sure to ask specific questions about what services are available or look on their website for details. For instance, when you visit Evergreen Junk Removal, they list a full menu of services.
A Final Note On Dealing With Sentimental Items
Sentimental items can be tough to get rid of and that's not going to be an easy process. Even if you use a junk removal service, it's probably a good idea to make a first pass yourself and grab any items that you think you might want to keep. Likewise, you may want to stay on-site as the job gets done so you can keep an eye open for stuff that may have sentimental value.
Overall, deciding what to keep and what to get rid of can be a big job, but taking the time to reflect on these questions can help you make better decisions about your belongings. Whether you're tossing old clothes or donating baby toys, make sure that you are only getting rid of items that are no longer serving you or your family's needs.
