De-cluttering is one of my favourite things to do and talk about. I find so much value in de-cluttering things from my life, both physical items, mental clutter and digital clutter too. For some people, de-cluttering and throwing things out comes fairly easy to them – like me. But for others, not so much.
That’s not to say that everyone needs to live a minimal life with ZERO clutter. That’s just not feasible and also ignores the fact that everyone is different with different interests. Not all clutter is bad – that’s a VITAL thing to remember. So whilst some might thrive in minimal environments with very little possessions, others won’t.
However, there is a time and a place for a de-clutter.
The start of a new season perhaps. Moving house. Making room for a baby or moving in with your partner and lots more. We’re all going to need to de-clutter our space and possessions at some point in our lives. It might just require a bin-bag or two or if you’re moving house, you might need to think about hard rubbish removals, skips and more options for removing your clutter.
There are lots of helpful blog posts and guides out there to aid you in removing clutter from you life.
These blog posts I’ve written previously will provide you with some super practical tips and help when it comes to de-cluttering:
- 28 Things To De-Clutter Before the End of the Year
- A Simple Guide To De-Cluttering
- How To De-Clutter Your House: Room By Room Checklist
- 5 Neglected Areas You Shouldn’t Ignore When De-Cluttering
But in todays post, we’re digging a little bit deeper. This post will help you de-clutter and throw out those items that you find particularly difficult to part with by giving you some VALID reasons as to why you probably do want to de-clutter that particular item.
It’s very easy to keep something jut because it’s nice or just because someone bought it for you. But if you’re in need of a real de-clutter, you should definitely look at the mental and emotional impact that that clutter has on you. Because more often than not, there’s a specific reason why we’re keeping certain things.
So here are 7 valid reasons to remove clutter from your life:
If it’s making you disorganized
If an area of clutter in your home (or your office) is making you disorganized then it 100% needs removing. There’s no point in impacting your productivity just because you don’t want to throw away a couple of notebooks or deal with a pile of unwanted items.
If it’s having a negative impact on your mental health
Similarly to above, think about the impact it’s having on your mental health. When my space starts getting too cluttered, my mental health takes a dip. I find my mind cluttered, as well as my space. So if you’re feeling like that with regards to a particular room in your house, take a step back and see what needs de-cluttering.
If it’s broken
Pretty simple one. If it’s broken and can’t be fixed, get rid of it. I find de-cluttering things that are broken is often the easiest place to start as it’s a pretty steadfast reason to throw something out and it sets your de-clutter off to a good start!
If it doesn’t fit
If you want to adopt a more minimal approach to fashion, then this one is definitely for you. When your shoes don’t fit, you change your shoes to fit your feet. You don’t change your feet to fit your shoes. So why should clothing be any different? If something is too small, de-clutter it. You could give it to a friend, a charity or re-purpose it into something else.
If it’s something you’ve been saving for “just in case”… for 6 years
We all have those items. Those things we keep in a drawer “just in case” we might need it or use it. Those things often stay in those drawers for months – if not years. And if you haven’t thought about something in more than 6 months then that’s a valid enough reason to throw it out.
If it’s a gift that you don’t actually like
We often hold onto things for sentimental reasons. Gifts in particular because they’re from a specific person or because we’d feel bad for getting rid of them. Just think of the amount of gifts you’ve given over the years that people no longer own. Don’t take it personally and don’t feel bad if a previous gift isn’t for you anymore.
If you know it could be of better use to someone else
And finally, if it’s something you don’t reallyyyyy use but you know would be of amazing use to someone else then that’s a great reason to de-clutter it, in my opinion. Whether that’s clothing that you could give to a charity shop or items that a friend needs or perhaps even stuff for humanitarian aid.
I hope these tips will help you the next time you come to de-clutter your space. De-cluttering can really help you feel like you have your life together; mentally and physically. It can free up a lot of physical and mental space so it’s always worth dedicating some time to every now and again.
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I go through waves of decluttering (and recluttering, admittedly!) and these 7 reasons are brilliant! I need to start decluttering again and I get so attached to most things I really need to stop with the ‘what if’ attitude!
Hehe absolutely!
I go through phases where I just want to declutter so much whereas other times I struggle to get rid of anything.
I think a lot of people have those phases!
I definitely agree that we all need to declutter our space from time to time. Clutter is a source of confusion and can really mess up with our mood and our overall health. Your points are all well thought!
Totally agree!
I think de-cluttering is such a useful thing to do when you get the opportunity to do so. I’d strangely never thought about life events that would be a perfect occasion for such things, haha. I’ve only moved into my house recently, and I’m still going through things! Haha. Things take time definitely. But I find it refreshing to declutter and making space for other new things. Thank you for sharing this!
~ Jayne | http://www.ourjourneyinchapters.com
Yes! I love to de-clutter too! It always feels so good and refreshing after you do it!
It sure does!
It’s such a great time to declutter, I’ve been trying to clear files and photos from my phone the last few days so I can be sure to catch all corners of my life with a spring clean! X
There’s always those little things that we often forget!
Spring is the perfect time to declutter. We decluttered our closets recently and gave the thing sin good condition to a clothing drive for Ukraine.
That’s amazing to hear!
I love decluttering items from my life every so often, but I need to work on my digital clutter. I agree that some clutter is good, for me at least, as I wouldn’t thrive in a minimal environment, but I do appreciate a good declutter every so often. I did get into the habit of hoarding too many broken items, telling myself I could reuse or fix them, which didn’t happen. Now, I give myself a timeframe to fix something if it is broken, then get rid if I don’t do it within that timeframe.
‘Just in case’ items are my kryptonite, and I need to learn to let go, especially if I haven’t thought about it in more than 6 months, as you said.
I struggle to get rid of some items that I have attached a sentimental meaning to, which is especially bad when it comes to clothes that no longer fit. I am slowly learning to let go!
Thank you for sharing. 😊
I agree, I probably wouldn’t thrive in a super minimal environment either so it’s totally unhelpful to tell everyone to declutter everything! Digital declutter is the area I struggle with the most as well!
I’m defiantly someone who suffers mentally when I’m surrounded by clutter, it almost makes me feel claustrophobic! You’ve shared some great reasonings lovely which I’ll defiantly be taking into account and applying to my daily life. I just hate clutter so I need to work on that more. Thank you so much for sharing this post with us Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
Yes I definitely feel claustrophobic when I have too much clutter that’s a great way to describe it!
I have moments where I just have to declutter and I start off in one room an work my way round, the joyous feeling afterwards is something else x
Yes that’s a great way to make it more manageable x
Decluttering is a constant battle, but the older I get, the easier it is. I would recommend that you sell what you can and add that money to your retirement savings!
I do sell what I can, although it’s hard!
I’ve always been pretty good at decluttering clothes, but I’m so terrible with some other things in my space! I’ve been really working on just buying/consuming less recently, so now when I declutter I don’t fill up that empty space with something new. It feels really nice to actually feel like I’m not surrounded by….stuff. Great post xxx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Yes I agree! Thank you 🙂 xx
I’m used to be one of those people who kept something for ‘just in case’ reasons! I’m a lot better than I used to be and I will declutter if it’s not needed anymore! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Haha oh dear!
Yes. We’ve been thinking about running a Facebook Marketplace for furniture pieces. It’s certainly worth considering!
Eda | Yihhu.com
Yes great idea!
love this post! i had a little laugh over the “just in case”….for 6 years part! i’ve been guilty of this in the past for sure but i’m trying to be better about that. these are wonderful points to consider in the decluttering process & ones i also try to stand by with my minimalist lifestyle. i also love how you mention not all clutter is bad and not everyone will thrive in a very minimal environment. this is so true. you have to find what works for you. but in most cases, there is always something to let go of. and spring time is the perfect season to do this.
Yes absolutely! There’s always something to declutter but if there are things that make you happy then there’s no need to get rid of them!
Great tips, I struggle to get rid of stuff, especially because I don’t want for it to end up in a landfill. Looking for people that actually need the stuff has helped a lot.
There’s so many ways to get rid of clutter that prevents that happening though, which is great!
I honestly can’t think of a good reason keep clutter except for sentimental reasons.
Speaking of gifts I don’t like, we received this very ugly plate/wall piece as a gift and it ended up being a catch-all for lose papers and other junk. My husband refuses to get rid of it. One of these days, I feel like saying “the cat knocked it over and broke it.” My husband keeps this thing on a high shelf (it’s heavy and a pain to move) and I think it’s doing it to spite me lol
Oh god haha! My boyfriend is the same, he keeps things that we really DON’T need or want. Definitely use the cat as an excuse!
Amazing points! Personally, I have a few t-shirts that are not good for my mental health since I remember the negative events associated with them. ( hospitalization, loss of my mother etc.) I’ll definitely donate them, and de-clutter them from my wardrobe! Thank you so much for sharing. xx Penny / http://www.whatdidshetype.com
Yes that’s exactly what I mean! As much as you might like them, if it makes you feel bad to look at them then they could definitely be of better use to someone else x
Great post!! It’s such a good topic. I’ve been decluttering this Spring and it feels great! thanks for sharing!
Yes glad to hear it!
So true! These are the reasons why we must declutter some old stuffs. Like Marie Condo says, if we don’t use it for more than six months, that means we did not want it anymore. So better give it to someone who will make a good use out of it.
Yes exactly, especially if we don’t even think about the item for 6 months!
I have two old broken ironing boards. I need to think about decluttering.
Definitely!
These are definitely some valid points for getting rid of declutter. I hate clutter and love how good it feels when everything looks tidy. Thank you for sharing your tips.
Lauren x
Yes me too it’s a great feeling!
Great post! Things do take away our energy without us realizing, if it’s a gift or something we carried from our past and it is no loner serving us or brings us any joy, it’s gotta go 🙂 Also I agree about the clothes if it doesn’t fit and is not comfortable it’s good to donate them!
Absolutely, clutter really can zap our energy and sometimes it’s not even the fact that it’s a physical item, it’s the mental connotations.
Oh I definitely need a de-clutter – I am one of those “just in case” people who hangs on to trinkets. And my wardrobe? I think I have five dresses I’ve worn once in ten years and keep just in case. At least my size hasn’t changed I guess?
One thing I’m working on at the moment is de-clutter books. I go through about fifty at a time, if I’ve read them and won’t again they’re gone. If they’ve been on my TBR for longer than five years they’re gone. So much space is getting freed up, and it takes off a lot of that “I should have read it” pressure.
Cora | https://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
Ah yes books are SO easy to keep and not throw – that’s my downfall as well haha!
I need a big declutter before I move out because I don’t wanna take it all with me haha!
Yesss do it!