Easy Ways To Declutter If You Have FOTO (Fear Of Throwing Things Out)

Get a head start on clearing clutter at home so this year’s spring cleaning will be a breeze

Easy Ways To Declutter If You Have FOTO (Fear Of Throwing Things Out)
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Most Singapore homes are compact, and we have a lot of stuff to fit inside. So while we love minimalist decor, it can be hard to manage in real life, especially if you have kids. Somehow toys, clothes and hobbies have a way of proliferating in every nook and cranny of the room!

But there’s a line when a comfortably cosy and full home becomes annoyingly cluttered. One day, you look around and realise things are tumbling off shelves. It’s annoying at any time, but if you're planning to welcome guests for the holiday season (and with the Chinese New Year spring cleaning approaching), clutter can make you feel very overwhelmed — and you also realise your storeroom is so full you can’t get inside. 

The good news is that you do not have to tackle it all at once. You can start now and get on top of decluttering, without driving yourself crazy in the process. Busy working parents long to come home to a calm and organised home. Let’s look at what makes a big difference to reducing clutter – especially as we approach a new year.

Easy Ways To Declutter If You Have FOTO

Sentimental memories

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It’s tempting to buy more storage and hide the clutter away. But before you buy a million storage boxes, it’s worth thinking about the real reasons so much stuff builds up in your house.

“People are naturally attached to their possessions. But it becomes a problem when you are collecting more and more stuff and it becomes annoying clutter,” explains Jessica Graham from the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales.

“Often, people keep things because they remind them of happy times. Or maybe because they have spent lots of money on that item. That's when things start to multiply. One day, you realise you are no longer using the things you love, but you still feel anxious about getting rid of them.”

Declutter before you buy extra storage

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If you are inspired to organise your home, it is tempting to buy bins and baskets to organise all the clutter. But it is better to leave this step until later.

First sort through your stuff, then buy storage to fit what is left. For example, if you sort out your wardrobe and give away the clothes that don’t fit, or that you do not wear anymore, you may find you don’t even need extra storage.

You can use the free Olio app to give clothes, toys and household goods to other Singaporeans. Or contact this list of charities in Singapore that accept pre-loved fashion, accessories and household goods.

Don’t get sidetracked

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It’s easy to get distracted when you are sorting through your mementos. You find some old Lunar New Year decorations or a a drawing your child did when they were young and suddenly you are chatting about the past and feeling terrible about throwing anything at all away.

Save your energy. Put all the personal mementos and precious memory items into a box and leave them to one side to go through at another time.

Don’t try to declutter too many places at one time

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Pick one area at a time and focus on that — it can be as small as one drawer or cupboard. It’s too overwhelming to try and do several rooms at the same time.

Staying focused also helps you get rid of what has to go. It’s amazing how easy it is to do the hard work and decide what has to go… and then leave it all piled up in boxes for months. If you stick to one room or cabinet, you will find it more manageable to take the items to a recycling depot or charity giveaway.

Text: Bauer Syndication /ARE Media

This article was originally published here on Oct 22, 2023, and updated on Dec 1, 2024.

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