Whether you’re downsizing to a smaller home or just needing a thorough clearout, decluttering can be an incredibly therapeutic exercise. And in the depths of winter, when we spend much more time indoors, we can steadily work through what is often seen as a mammoth task.

Not only can you make your living space more organised and inviting, but you can also reduce stress and avoid accidents and falls by creating more space to move around. More often than not, it’s the mental clutter that can be so distracting in our lives, so finding some time to clear out and organise items we no longer need can be very fulfilling.

Advice from Kirsten Davis, Professional Organiser from Clear Space Solutions, is to start small.

“Start with a plan of what you want to achieve. That may be about downsizing or just making your place more aesthetically pleasing and manageable,” says Kirsten. “I often advise clients to start in an area where there is little emotional attachment like a bathroom cabinet or laundry.”

So if we’re leaving the photo albums and personal documents for another day, how can we be realistic with our expectations of what we can achieve?

Kirsten suggests setting a timer for 10 minutes or work on getting rid of two things a day for two weeks. “It’s about keeping it manageable to avoid the overwhelm.”

The Queenstown-based organising expert says asking for help from family or friends or contacting a professional organiser will build objectivity into the process and ease the urge to procrastinate. “A neutral third party is usually what’s needed to motivate and guide you through the journey.”

And what to do with all the stuff once we’ve decided it’s no longer needed? Kirsten suggests using banana boxes allocated for different destinations, for example, rubbish, recycling, donating and selling.

“It’s a great way to see the progress you’re making by labelling the boxes and keeping items moving out of the home,” says Kirsten.