Follow these spring cleaning tips to declutter your house and your life!

*Originally published on March 13, 2020:

For me, almost nothing feels more freeing than accomplishing some deep spring cleaning. I love trimming my belongings down to the essentials and ridding myself of all of the excess stuff I've accumulated over the years. Not only does spring cleaning allow us to free up space in our houses, but it also creates space in our brains, making us feel cleaner and less cluttered ourselves. A clean house = a clean mind.

It's much easier said than done, however. Spring cleaning can feel much more like a hassle than a life-changing practice, and that's why I have some valuable tips and tricks for you to use as you embark on your decluttering journey.

Create Piles

Every time I'm on a decluttering spree, I end up making a huge mess. I know this may seem a little counterproductive, but the key is to be the master of your organized chaos.

For optimal results, create piles of stuff that you're organizing. Separate the things you're planning on keeping, giving away to someone you know, giving away to charity, and throwing away. I recommend having a big trash bag beside you as you do this so that you can get the garbage out of your sight immediately. You can get some boxes or other large, recycled receptacles to put your other piles in.

After you're done, take the box for charity directly to your local Goodwill or another donation center. Put the box of things you're planning to give to people you know someplace where you'll see it every day. It'll be a reminder to get these items to their new owners, instead of just letting them sit there, gathering dust.

Purge Little Things

Sometimes, little things can build up around us. These are usually things of little importance that could and should be replaced every so often. Most of these things can just be thrown away, but if it is an item that could be useful to someone else, they can go in the "donate" pile.

Examples of little things you can go through:

• Magazines
• Books
• Makeup
• Socks and underwear
• Pet toys
• DVDs
• Unimportant mail
• Old spices
• Expired food
• Unused/outdated electronics

Analyze Your Clothing

Going through your wardrobe is arguably the toughest part of a decluttering project. We tend to hold onto items with the mindset of "I might need to wear this to something," despite having not worn it in a while. When going through your clothing, ask yourself these questions for every piece you're on the fence about:

• Have I worn it in the past year?
• Does it fit in a flattering, comfortable way?
• Does it make me feel beautiful and confident?
• Is it free of rips, holes, and stains?

If you answer "no" to any of these, consider donating it. Someone else might enjoy wearing it!

Sell Your Stuff

Since I've recently discovered the joy of selling used items on Craigslist and other selling platforms, I do it constantly. Not only do I get to declutter my house of the things I don't really need, but I also get to make a little extra cash on the side.

Go through things that aren't used very often, such as an old guitar you never learned how to play, a wall-hanging that doesn't fit your decor anymore, or a piece of furniture that just makes your room look crowded. If there are just a few items you'd like to get rid of, post it online and see who bites. If you're finding that you have a fair amount of things you'd like to sell, have a yard sale.

I'm confident that after you accomplish some decluttering, you'll feel relaxed, relieved, and ready to enjoy the springtime! What methods do you use when spring cleaning? Share them with us in the comments!