As you enter your 50s, you may want to simplify your life and make your home more organized. 

Decluttering is not only a way to make more space, but also a way to clear your mind and feel calmer in your everyday life. 

Over time, we tend to get more and more stuff, which can become too much and make it hard to fully enjoy our living spaces. In fact, at this point in our lives, we often have piles of our children’s things, things we inherited, things we collected, things we used to do for fun, and clothes from decades ago.

For me, decluttering means making physical and mental space for new experiences, hobbies, and relationships. It lets you let go of the past and live in the here and now. It gives you a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction as you watch your home change.

So, whether you are planning to move or just want a change, my tried-and-true tips for decluttering after 50 will help you get your life and home more organized.

Tips for Getting Started with Decluttering After 50

Getting started with decluttering is hardest. Starting with clear goals and intentions simplifies the process. Decluttering should achieve your goals and make your home look and feel good.

Create a timeline and break down decluttering into manageable tasks to stay motivated. Starting with a drawer or a small room, work your way through the house.

Do not forget to put things into categories like keep, donate, sell, or throw away. This will make it easier for you to decide what to do.

But, how do you know what to keep and what to let go of? Follow these tips for decluttering after 50 for a fresh start.

Set your decluttering goals

The first step in decluttering after 50 is to figure out what your goals are. This could mean anything from making your life easier to downsizing or making your home more simple. Find out what you want to accomplish and let that be your driving force.

Next, think about where you live now and how it affects your day-to-day life. Think about how the clutter makes you feel and what items you could do without. The goal is not just to get rid of things, but to make your home comfortable and useful for how you live.

Lastly, make sure your goals for getting rid of clutter are reasonable. You may not be able to get rid of all the clutter at once, so start small and work your way up. Focus on making progress instead of trying to be perfect to keep yourself going through the process.

Create an action plan

When getting rid of clutter after 50, you should start by figuring out what is most important to you. Which rooms are most cluttered and stressful? Is it your kitchen, your bedroom, or your living room? Make a list of these areas, starting with the most important, and decide how you will handle them.

Second, give yourself a realistic timeline for getting rid of clutter. Putting the decluttering project into smaller tasks makes it easier to do. For instance, you could spend a weekend decluttering the garage or 30 minutes a day. Remember that decluttering takes time.

Finally, categorize your items as keep, donate, sell, and trash. This will streamline your decluttering and ensure that everything you touch goes where it belongs. Stay consistent with decluttering tasks to stay on track and reach your goals.

READ ALSO: Empty Nest Syndrome: How Do You Cope When The Kids Move Out

Start small and do one thing at a time

Starting small makes decluttering after 50 practical. Instead of doing your whole house, which can be overwhelming, start with one room. This could be a drawer or shelf. Small spaces can make the process less intimidating and more manageable.

After decluttering one small area, celebrate your progress. This will boost your confidence and encourage you to keep decluttering. When you are done decluttering one area, move on to the next.

The goal is not to get things done as quickly as possible, but to make changes that will last. Pace yourself, take breaks when you need to, and be patient. If you keep at it and start small, decluttering after 50 can be a manageable and satisfying task.

Deal with your emotions 

Decluttering after 50 can be emotional because you are sorting through sentimental items. Allow yourself to feel these emotions. It is okay to keep sentimental items, but not everything.

When memories or people are attached to items, letting go is hard. If you have trouble parting with things, take photos before selling. This keeps the memory without the item. You can also use sentimental items in your daily life.

Remember, decluttering is about making room for the present and future, not throwing away the past. Find a balance between keeping sentimental items and decluttering. Encourage yourself emotionally by visualizing the peace and satisfaction a decluttered space will bring.

Set a realistic task time

Setting a realistic timeframe for decluttering is crucial. This will depend on your schedule, how much energy you have, and how cluttered your home is.

You could set aside a certain amount of time every day, like an hour in the morning or evening. If you have more freedom on the weekends, you might decide to clean up for a few hours each Saturday and Sunday.

Remember that it is not about how fast you work, but how often you work. Even decluttering for just 15–30 minutes a day can make a big difference over time. Set up a schedule that works for you and stick to it for the best results.

Do not keep something simply because it was a gift

It is essential to remember that the true value of a gift lies in the thought and emotion behind it, not the object itself. Gifts often make us feel obligated to keep them, even if they do not fit our needs or tastes.

When someone gives you a gift, you can decide what to do with it. If a gift does not make you happy or help you in some way, it is okay to get rid of it.

Alternatively, you could talk to the giver to avoid offending them. Most people understand and prefer that the item go to someone who can use it better. This keeps your space tidy while respecting others’ feelings.

Keep what you actually want

When you get rid of things, you should not get rid of things you love or find valuable. The goal is to create a space that is useful, well-organized, and full of things that make your life better.

Ask yourself, “Does this thing make me happy?” as you go through your things. Is it useful? Does it serve a particular purpose?” If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” it is a good sign that you should keep the item.

Remember that the goal of decluttering after 50 is to make your life easier and make room for the things that are most important to you. This process should make your life better, not take away the things you love and enjoy.

Use the 90/90 rule

The 90/90 rule is a good way to get rid of clutter and make your space more simple. The rule requires you to consider whether you used an item in the past 90 days or will use it soon. If neither question is answered, it should be eliminated.

This rule is useful because it makes you consider the practicality and necessity of your possessions. It balances practical use and potential necessity by considering the recent past and near future.

As with any rule, it should be tailored to your needs. There may be things you do not use as often but that are still important. So, do not take the 90/90 rule as a hard and fast rule. Instead, use it as a general rule.

Closing Thoughts

Decluttering after 50 can be difficult due to emotional attachment to possessions. However, your home should be comfortable, not a memory box.

Decluttering takes time but improves mental clarity, stress, and movement. It is also therapeutic to get rid of things you do not need. 

So, start decluttering today. You will fully enjoy your living spaces.

♡ Love ♡,

Schellea