Spring is upon us, and you’re no doubt feeling a new sense of motivation to organise your home. Maybe there’s one kitchen drawer that’s been stressing you out for months or your bookshelf is looking a little too crowded for your liking. Whatever or wherever your personal problem area is, there’s nothing you want more than for it to be clear and clutter-free. The problem is knowing where to start.

While it may sound like an easy task on the surface, decluttering properly – with lasting results – can take a lot of effort, time and even strategy. Randomly attacking the first cupboard you see is probably not the best approach if you want to maintain a sense of order and momentum. 

Enter: the snowball decluttering method. 

While there are plenty of rules, hacks and approaches to choose from, this method is great because it eliminates the decision paralysis that so many of us can experience when faced with piles of stuff we know we don’t need anymore but struggle to let go of. Popularised by professional organiser Jennifer Burger, it’s a great way to get on top of your mess because it helps to reduce the mental load associated with sorting out. 

If you’re approaching a spring clean and looking for an easier way to do things, here’s how to make the snowball decluttering method work for you.

Before you get rid of it, take a moment to pause and look for concrete reasons why you don’t want that item anymore. If it’s an item of clothing, what specifically about it means you don’t reach for it when getting dressed? Is it the colour, the fabric, the neckline? For a decor piece, is it the wrong colour for your space? Does it collect a lot of dust and make tidying difficult? Try to be as specific as possible with the reasons why you no longer want it.

Once you have your reasons, think about whether you’re able to identify any other items that have the same characteristics? Are there other clothing items in your wardrobe that have the same fit? Or more books you got bored of before the end and are now just taking up space? If they meet the same criteria you had for getting rid of the previous item, then you should probably get rid of that item too. 

Rinse and repeat the process. It may sound repetitive, but each time there’s potential to learn more about what ‘clutter’ means to you, which in turn makes it easier for you to make quick decisions – and this has the potential to snowball, hence the name. However, it’s also good to remember that if the idea of tackling your whole home at once, you can focus on a room or area to stop you from getting overwhelmed. 

Instead of feeling overwhelmed by decluttering your entire home, this method encourages you to start with manageable tasks and build upon your success as you go. Win-win. 

Images: Adobe