Clutter accumulates fast if you aren't doing things to help prevent the build-up.
Here's some simple habits to incorporate into your daily routine that will help you create a clutter-free home. The secret here, is that it all begins with prevention.
1. Never leave a room empty handed.
As you're moving through your space, bring things with you that don't belong and put them in their homes. Remember - everything you own should have a place to live. If you don't know where its home is, ask yourself, "do I really need this?" If the answer is yes, then likely it belongs somewhere that is FULL of things that aren't that important to you anymore. Clear out and make space for only what you need.
2. Keep a box for donations by the door.
Add to it every day - and make sure the box is something you will see every time you are about to leave the house. If the box is full, it's time to drop it off at the nearest thrift store or donation centre.
3. Always end your day with a quick tidy of your space.
A 10 minute tidy-up session will not only help you keep a clutter-free home, but it will also give you one last dose of feel-goodness before calling it a day. Make it part of your bedtime routine. This allows you to start tomorrow anew - without yesterday's baggage weighing you down.
4. CAYG! ("Clean As You Go" for all you non-restaurant peeps).
Tackling the dishes and kitchen cleanup is possible to do while you're cooking. The ultimate goal: a clean kitchen by the time you're ready to sit down and enjoy the meal. Then? it's just the final dishes to clean or add to the dishwasher and a wipe down of the table. For starters though - just make it a ritual to clean the kitchen after every meal.
5. Some buddha advice for you: make your bed!
And do it before you leave your bedroom. It's your first habit in the morning to set you off on a clutter-free, inspired day. Making your bed first thing is a mindfulness exercise that sets the stage for how you go about the rest of the day. You see, clutter is correlated to procrastination, and so by making your bed first thing, you're practicing proactiveness - taking charge of problems now, instead of later.
Remember, the key to killing clutter is to prevent it in the first place. Start small, and incorporate new habits slowly, and before you know it you'll be living in a clutter-free home.