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I’ve mentioned on my blog before that I hate clutter and I’ve also provided a room-by-room guide to de-cluttering in the past. Thinking about it now though, I’m surprised I haven’t spoken about de-cluttering (and related topics) more because it really is an important part of my life. I love delving in minimalism and I’d love to live a more minimal lifestyle in the near future. I’m always striving to de-clutter my space and throw items away (or get rid of them in a sustainable manner) that I no longer need or want.
Photo by Dane Deaner on Unsplash
For me, when I know I have too much clutter, my mind feels cluttered as well. I can physically feel it building up and building up and my vision gets blurry (not my literal vision, my inner vision), my mind is racing and I definitely feel an energetic block in the way of my flow and creativity.
I just hate stuff.
Of course not everyone has quite the deep connection with clutter that I have and some people just like to de-clutter to make more room in their house, which is a very valid reason to de-clutter. But whatever the reason is a good one. Because clutter takes up room in your house and in your mind and it has absolutely no need to be there.
Whilst I might love chucking everything away, I understand that it’s not quite as easy for some people. My boyfriend is very much a “I’ll keep that just in case” kind of person whereas I’m more of a “I haven’t thought about that item in 2 months, it’s going” kinda gal. But naturally, we can’t allow clutter to build up forever. We HAVE to throw things away eventually.
Whilst we’ve been in lockdown, my Mum and I have tackled our loft, which has been FULL to the brim of rubbish for years and years. Boxes on boxes of old crap from my childhood, old books, games, toys, artwork – thousands and thousands of things that not only had we not thought about in years… but also forgotten were up there entirely.
So now, after sorting out the loft, I could very easily fit all of my belongings in a shed (apart from furniture). And that makes me really happy to know that I don’t rely on so much “stuff” to make me happy and that I can be very selective about the items in which I find sentimental value or worth.
So enough with my personal life story, if you’re the kind of person that struggles de-cluttering, this is the post for you. A simple guide to getting started with de-cluttering your life:
Challenge your mindset towards clutter
Let’s face it, most of our clutter builds up because we put some sort of sentimental value towards an item. And I’m not saying bin everything because there are items which are special and hold a lot of value that naturally we won’t want to get rid of any time soon. But challenging your mindset towards the clutter you have is a great way to start disassociating sentiment with every item you own. Ask yourself:
- Can I remember where I got this and why I bought it?
- Was this a gift from someone special?
- Have I thought about this item in the last 3 months?
- What would change in my life if I threw this item out?
Start small and start somewhere
If you’ve accumulated a lot of clutter, it can be really hard to know where to start because it just seems so overwhelming. And I get that. That’s how we felt when we started on our loft. So start SMALL and start SOMEWHERE. The hardest part, is starting. So start with one box. One cupboard. One room.
Don’t throw everything out at once
If you are a sentimental person and you do struggle throwing things away then this point is for you. Elaborating on the above of starting small, it’s also helpful to not throw everything away at once if you like to hold on to things. So start by throwing out one bag, then two bags, then three – and go from there.
Consider storage as an option
If you do own items that you kinda wanna get rid of but kinda don’t. Items that you’re not ready to part with yet but also stuff that’s taking up valuable room in your house, then storage could be an option for you. It gets it out of your sight and hopefully out of your mind and by the time you’ve thought of it again, you’ll realise you actually don’t need it in your life after all! You can find storage in Ross on Wye here or wherever is closest to you.
Don’t forget the non-physical things
This point ties in with the messy space = messy mind point I made. So don’t forget that not all clutter is physical. De-clutter for the purpose of having a clearer mind and more space for the positive energy to flow extends into your online and digital footprint too. Here are 6 non-physical things to de-clutter from your life for a clearer mind.
Use the one in, one out method
A method which is really good for not allowing the clutter to build up is the one in, one out. Which is basically what it says on the tin. If you want to buy a new top, then remove one old top from your wardrobe and sell it or donate it to make room for the new item that you’ve bought.
Hey Jenny, I am a hoarder for sure! I keep my old school notes, and I tell myself that I might need them one day though I hardly ever do. I’ve become more of an organizational freak lately because of distance learning, and fortunately, that has started to change.
These days, I have the urge to clear out entire cabinets whenever I feel stressed about school. Just a few days ago, I took a bag and I cleared out an entire cabinet! It’s strange how your personality changes over time.
I think one of the systems that has worked for me is to designate areas for items that I do not use as much. These cabinets or storage boxes then become the first places I go to when I need to throw out items. They’re in a quarantine of sorts, and if they are not needed the next time I pack my room, you can be sure that they will be at the top of my throw list.
Thanks for sharing these tips! 🙂
I’m an absolutely terrible hoarder, but we recently moved and reduced everything we owned in a 2-bed house down to about 15 small boxes and I feel FANTASTIC. I had stuff I’d been holding onto since high school which is mad! I just feel so much freer now, and know that everything I’ve kept means something to me. I love the one in, one out concept though – I think I might use that going forward!
I’m so glad to hear that! I find it liberating throwing old stuff away. Especially from childhood or when you were a teen.
Girl, I hate clutter. I’ve been going around and organizing everything lately.
Here’s my latest post if you would like to check it out?
https://mindbeautysimplicity.wordpress.com/2020/07/20/you-are-not-defined-by-your-possessions/
I have been decluttering recently, and starting small is definitely key. I’ve been tackling one surface or area a day so I can have a series of small achievements as I go.
Cora | https://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
It definitely makes it much more manageable!
I love this post.. my fiance is such a hoarder and I am the opposite. I love to declutter and need to do it often so that my brain can function!
Rosie
Literally same!
Whenever there is any clutter I like to take the time to de-clutter and the end result is always so rewarding 😊
Great advice! My husband was one of those people who assigned emotions to everything when we met. It took a lot of time to work through why he allowed physical objects to hold such an important part in his life, and then to adjust to living with me – someone who moved so often that it was easier not to keep much at all that mattered.
Wow I bet that was a huge transition for both of you!
I hate to get rid of things tbh! Decluttering is the hardest task for me. Thank you for sharing these tips, they are really helpful!❤️
Hope these tips help!
I’m a complete hoarder when it comes to clutter (and blogging has made me even worse as I convince myself that everything is some sort of photo prop) but I did recently complete a major house decluttering. It was cathartic! Now time to build it all back up…
Noooo don’t build it back up hahaha!
Great article, thank you Jenny! I am the constant declutter . That is the only way i can work, create and think. I even teach my young cooking students to clean and get rid of all the unnecessary items around them. Less is best.
xoxo Giangi
Yesss great tips! I always tidy up as a I go.
I’m very much a de-clutterer too but these are some great tips for people who struggle to get rid of things. I love watching a lady on YouTube called Clutterbug & she creates videos packed full of tips for everyone.
http://www.thekellydianereport.co.uk
Oooh I’ll have to check her out!
Very sound advice ..which I wish I could pass onto my husband ..one in one out !
It’s kind of a constant process. Where does the stuff even come from?
God knows!
OMG I hate stuff too. I’m always throwing/donating things I don’t want and it feels SO MUCH better to declutter regularly.
It really does!
My house has been so messy and cluttered since lockdown! xx
Great tips. I love the idea of one in and one out, I feel like thats something I should start doing because I do end up just having loads and loads of clutter because of it. I have quite a big storage at the moment of things I couldn’t get rid of, seems to be my go-to thing when it comes to de-cluttering, just putting things in storage haha.
Chloe xx
Love this! I’m like you, I definitely hate clutter. Lots of clutter makes me very anxious. I do not like stuff. Twice I have made big moves with only a carry on and one large duffle bag (the first time from Arizona to Washington state, and then from Washington to Hawaii). Clothes, books, and adventure gear is mostly what I own.
That’s amazing! I definitely wouldn’t have much if I moved either!
What a complete and helpful guide. It’s always hard to declutter without having a clear direction. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you lovely!
Keeping it in small bites is great advice. I’ve got a sheet on the fridge and every time I donate/throw something out I mark a box. It’s actually helped keep me going.
Thanks for the tips.
That’s a really good idea!
Thank you for this lesson in decluttering. I must admit I have sentimental feelings when it comes to decluttering, especially with my shoes or clothes. I have a hard time parting with them cuz I consider them my “babies”. Lol so silly I know haha
Haha you’re certainly not alone in feeling like that!
sometimes I do not know where to start but starting small as you suggest is the best advice
Hope this post helps!
Since lockdown, I am making a mess out of things. I really need this post.
Hope these tips help!
Oooh I love a declutter! I definitely need to have another one soon x
Me too – I’m running out of things to declutter haha!
Very well said and put together. Great Job.
Thank you.
I feel the same way about clutter! Me and my partner changed our room around this week and put all this into practice 🙂
That’s great!
This is a great post, those prompts are really helpful! I’ve gotten a lot better over the years but I think I still have quite a lot of clutter, there’s never been a better time to organise it all!
There really hasn’t!
Loved this, such useful tips! Thanks for sharing x
You’re welcome!
I definitely used to keep hold of so much unnecessary stuff. It wasn’t until I temporarily moved abroad for 7 months and had to live out of a suitcase amount of stuff that I realised the room of belonging I had back at home I just didn’t need. These are great tips, thanks for sharing!
Nat x | https://www.nataliehanson.co.uk
Wow bet that really opened your eyes to how little we actually need!
I used to be someone who kept onto things ‘just in case’, but in the last year or so I’ve definitely got a lot better and get rid of things I don’t want as I haven’t used it in ages! And I completely agree with messy/cluttered space = messy/cluttered mind, any messy of clutter anywhere stresses me out so much! 🙈😂
Oh same girl! Glad you’ve got better with throwing things out!
I need tips like this because I do have trouble throwing stuff out. Just yesterday I got a new Keurig coffee maker I’d ordered and I thought about keeping my old one because it still works sometimes and what if my new one conks out? Dumb, right? But mostly, I’m sentimental and keep things because of that. Thanks for the tips.
Ah not dumb at all! I think things like that are quite sensible. What would be dumb is keeping it if it was broke!
I’m also a sentimental person so I like the fact that you reminded that one should not throw out things at once ,this an awakening post thank you for sharing.
Yep, take it slow!
Very good post! Starting small, but starting somewhere is such good advice. I think this is one area where people make it too complicated; they become overwhelmed before they begin. They end up doing nothing! And you are so right…you need a good mindset to begin in the first place! 🙂
Oh I totally agree!
My partner and I are exactly like you and your boyfriend! I am ready to get rid of everything and he loves to hold onto stuff.
It’s a nightmare isn’t it haha!
These are such great tips Jenny thanks so much much for sharing 😊
I always try to use the one in one out method to help me keep a normal amount of stuff and not get overloaded!
Love Lozza xo
It’s such a good method!
I do love a declutter! I have to be in the real mood to do it though, but when I am, there’s not stopping me! I’ve started using storage boxes now to help sort things out and it really does help! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Haha I love it when you’re in those moods where you’re so determined to just throw everythingggg out!
I am not a massive fan of clutter! I only keep things that have a meaning now a days. Thank you for sharing this post I will deffo be taking some of these ideas on when I move into my own flat!
Amber – The Unpredicted Page
Hope these tips help!
Okay, I’m all for a clutter free and clean workspace. My digital life is very clean and tidy 99% of the time. But wow I get so emotionally attached to the physical things and find it very very hard to throw certain things away. My bedroom is a loft conversion so thankfully we don’t have a ‘junk room’ but I still have things I don’t need at all. Like a box of all of my childhood teddies. That I absolutely 100% refuse to throw away 😂 x
Sophie
Oh my gosh hahaha! I have one small box of things I don’t want to throw away but that’s it. I have 2 specific teddies that I won’t throw either!
I love a good de-clutter! I find it always takes me a while to build up the motivation to start but once I do, I feel so much better for it xx
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
You always feel better after, don’t you?
I love declutting my makeup collection the most and getting rid of those things I don’t need or use. Great post and amazing tips, thank you for sharing 🙂
xoxo Olivia | https://www.oliviaandbeauty.com