If your home is anything like most families out there, then it’s probably in need of good decluttering. But, as any mother knows, getting the family on board with decluttering can be a mission in itself! So in this blog post, we’re j going to share nine tips to get the whole family involved in the home decluttering mission.
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1. Get Everyone’s Input On What Needs To Go
Before you start decluttering, getting everyone’s input on what needs to go and what can stay is important. This will help reduce arguments later on and will ensure that everyone is on the same page from the start. This could include discussing the criteria for what is deemed to be clutter. Highlight objects that family members have wanted to get rid of for a long time but never did anything about. For example, if your partner has mentioned they want to get rid of the old junk boat in the shed for years, help them figure out where to sell a junk boat for cash. Similarly, if your children haven’t used certain toys for a long time, ask them which toys they’d be willing to donate to charity.
2. Assign Specific Tasks To Each Family Member
Once you know what needs to be done, assign specific tasks to each family member. This will help things move along more quickly and efficiently. Spending more time discussing responsibilities may feel tedious, but it will ultimately save time in the long run. It will also keep every team member focused on their own task rather than trying to do everything at once. It is vital that the family understands the objective at hand; you could even consider allocating a reward for completing the tasks. The divide-and-conquer approach is extremely handy in getting the job done. This means everyone is responsible for their own area, whether it be their bedroom, the living room, or even a cupboard. Compartmentalizing the work makes it easier to tackle and keeps each family member accountable.
3. Set A Deadline For The Decluttering Mission
Setting a deadline for the decluttering mission will help ensure that it gets done promptly. Having a specific date or time frame to work towards will also help motivate everyone to keep going when things get tough. Remember to regularly check in with all of the family members during the decluttering mission to ensure that they are on track. It often happens that a family member discovers items they’ve forgotten about and ends up playing with those items more than decluttering. This is where the discussion on what needs to go earlier comes in handy. Additionally, setting a deadline for the decluttering mission can also help in planning any garage sales or donation drop-offs.
4. Put On Some Upbeat Music To Get Everyone In The Decluttering Mood
Getting everyone in the right mindset is half the battle when it comes to decluttering. Put on some upbeat music to help get everyone excited about decluttering and ready to tackle the task at hand. Getting the mood right will make the decluttering process go by much smoother.
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5. Take Breaks Often So That No One Gets Too Overwhelmed Or Frustrated
Decluttering can be overwhelming, especially if your home is crammed full of stuff. That’s why it’s important to take breaks often and allow everyone to take a breather when needed. This will help prevent anyone from getting too overwhelmed or frustrated and will allow you to all power through until the job is done. It could be very helpful to prepare a delicious snack or treat for the breaks as a little reward for all of your hard work at the midway mark. Also, ensure that the family gets together for drink breaks at regular intervals to stay hydrated and take a breather.
6. Offer Incentives For Completing The Mission
Incentives are always a great motivator! Offer rewards for completing the decluttering mission and helping with additional household tasks, such as an extra hour of screen time or a special treat. This will help everyone stay focused and motivated throughout the process. If you intend on doing a large declutter, where many items can be sold for a profit, consider taking the family out for a weekend away or consider purchasing something for the home that everyone can enjoy together. Decluttering can be a draining and tedious task if there are no rewards, so make sure to offer incentives for a job well done!
7. Take Before And After Pictures Of The Progress Made
Taking before and after pictures is a great way to track your progress and see just how much you’ve accomplished once the job is done! This is also a fun way to look back on the experience and see how far you’ve come. Most people don’t realize how far they’ve come until they have physical evidence to show for it.
8. Make It Fun!
Decluttering doesn’t have to be all work and no play! Make it fun by turning it into a game or competition between family members. This will help make the experience more enjoyable for everyone involved. Consider taking pictures of all team members during the day and seeing who can declutter the most items or make the biggest impact in a room. It will also be fun for you as a family to think back to the declutter day years ago if you capture memories of the day.
9. Encourage Positive Thinking Throughout The Process
It’s important to encourage positive thinking throughout the process, even when things get tough. This will help everyone stay focused on the goal and remain motivated until the very end. If any of the family members seem fed up or discouraged, remind them of how great the end result will be and how much better they’ll feel once the decluttering is complete.
Hopefully these decluttering tips have helped you see that getting the whole family involved in decluttering doesn’t have to be as difficult as it may seem! With some planning and positive thinking, you’ll be able to accomplish anything.
Thank you for reading!