If you have been trying to declutter, but just can’t seem to get started, this is a must-read! Learn how to identify and overcome those barriers that are stopping you from achieving your decluttering goals.
How to Get Started with Decluttering
Ahhh….January. The time to start fresh, clear out the old, and get things organized. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?
While many people have the desire to get things decluttered and organized in their homes, it is not always such an easy thing to accomplish. Decluttering can often be a very time consuming, overwhelming, and emotionally draining experience . I’m sure most of us don’t want to live in a cluttered space, but getting rid of all of our stuff is not always quite so simple.
For those of you that have tried unsucessfully to get things organized {and for those of you that just plain don’t know where to start!}, I just want to say that you can do it. It may not be easy, and it may not be able to be done in a week, but it is possible. All you need to do is take that first step to conquering your decluttering paralysis. Your feet may feel heavy at first, but with each step they will get lighter and you will learn new habits to help you along the way. The journey will be well worth it.
The Household Organization Diet
This year I am starting on my third year of The Household Organization Diet. Obviously this has been a long process for me, but each year is getting easier, and for the most part, this year will be mostly about maintaining everything that I have already done {with the big exception of everything in the basement!}. I am starting off again with a 31 Day Detox challenge and will then continue with a thorough cleaning and organization of one room per month for the rest of the year. It really is a do-able plan that anyone can do!
Decluttering is all about getting rid of those items that you no longer love and/or use. It is about letting go of the past, enjoying the present, and clearing the way for the future. Decluttering your home will not only make your space feel less cluttered, but it will also help to clear your mind. There will be less stuff to take care of, less running around trying to find things, and more time to spend on what is really important to you.
If decluttering is such a good thing, then why can it be so hard to accomplish?
For some, there may be emotional hurdles to overcome before finally being able to let go of their belongings. Others may not know how to declutter or where to start. And, of course, there is always that nagging little voice telling you that you just don’t have the time or energy to do it right now. Whatever the cause of your decluttering paralysis may be, you need to understand why you are having so much trouble before you can finally move past it. Take a few minutes to think about what is standing in your way, then take a deep breath, visualize the end result, and believe that you can overcome it.
I have come across many excuses to hold onto items during my own decluttering process. You might have your own reasons, but I am sure some of these may sound familiar to you too…
Guilt.
Our belongings should make us feel happy, or in some way help to improve our lives. So why are we holding onto all of those items that just make us feel guilty? I am sure most of us have at least a few things that we have been holding onto out of pure guilt. Maybe you spent a lot of money on the item but never really used it, or it was a present from a favorite relative and you did not want to hurt their feelings. No matter what the reason, keeping that item in the back of your closet will not help you to feel better. In fact, it will probably just make you feel worse. Get rid of it and get rid of that guilt! It may be hard to let go of, but you will feel so much lighter when you are done!
The Desire for Perfection and the Pinterest Effect.
We are constantly bombarded by beautiful images of organized spaces with color coordinated and perfectly styled items. I am sure we all have visions in our mind of what we ideally want our spaces to look like. We spend our time collecting ideas and waiting for that one day when we will have the time and the money to devote to creating that perfect space. Do not wait for that someday – get started NOW and do the best that you can. Realize that organization is not the same as perfection. You can always add more or change things up in the future, so be proud of what you are able to accomplish today and let go of that often unattainable image of perfection.
The Item Represents Something That You Wish You Could Be.
Do you have a whole closet filled with scrapbooking supplies that you have never even touched or a beautiful collection of sports equipment that has been sitting in your garage for years? Maybe in your mind you think that you should want to be that person that has a huge collection of beautiful scrapbooks or devotes hours each day to participating in various sports activities. Be honest with yourself and take some time to figure out what you really want to do with your spare time. Keeping things around that just remind you of what you are not doing will not help you to achieve happiness. In fact, it will most likely have the reverse effect and just makes you feel bad about yourself. It is your life and you need to do what makes you happy!
Emotional Attachment.
I am sure this is a big one for everyone. Giving items away that we longer use but have a personal attachment to can be hard. I must admit that I have even shed a few tears {and literally felt sick to my stomach} as I gave some of the kids’ toys away, but I can honestly say that I never had any regrets. It was just a brief moment of sadness as I let go of the past before being able to embrace the future. Remember that you are just letting go of the item – you are not letting go of the person or any of the memories attached with it. I’m not saying that you have to give every single item away – you can always keep a few favorite treasures from the past if you have the space. You just need to make sure that you contain it. Limit it to one box or tote and stick to it! If you are still having trouble letting go, try taking a photo of the item and writing your thoughts about it on the back of the photo or on a journalling card.
I Might Need It/Want It Someday.
Chances are, if you haven’t used it an item in the past year, you will probably never use it again. In fact, once you have gotten rid of it, you will probably never even think of it again. And, on the off chance that you do need that kitchen gadget that has been sitting at the back of your kitchen cupboard for the past three years, you could always borrow one from someone else that actually uses one on a more regular basis.
I Am Just Waiting Until…
This one is very similar to the I Might Need It but can be even more negative. You know, your favorite jeans from when you were twenty that would fit perfectly if you could just lose those 20 lbs. Or those rollerblades that are sitting in the garage just until you suddenly have more time to use them. These items drag your down and remind you of what you don’t have right now. Get rid of them and don’t hold onto somedays!! And if you do happen to lose those twenty pounds, you really deserve to go on a little shopping spree anyways!
Lack of Time and Energy.
Let’s face it. We are all busy with a finite amount of time and energy to spend each day. Starting your decluttering process is more about emotionally committing to the process rather than finding the time. Whether you choose to spend an hour once per week decluttering or do 15-20 minutes per day, it doesn’t really matter. Because any time that you devote to the process moves you one step closer to getting things done. Set a realistic goal for what you can fit into your lifestyle and commit to it. Remember that getting things organized will actually free up more time in the long run because you will not be wasting time taking care of things that you do not use or looking for things that are buried in the clutter!
So what are your reasons for not getting started? And more importantly, what can you do to toss those excuses aside and get going?
Make the choice to get things done and join me in this year’s Household Organization Diet! Together we will banish that clutter once and for all!
The Household Organization Diet 31 Day Detox Diet.
Here are a couple of other posts that you might find helpful…
Top Cleaning and Organization Projects of 2014.
30 Ways in 30 Days to Get Organized
My biggest problem so far as decluttering is the “what if I need it later”. A lot of things I thought, when getting rid of them “I’m never going to want this again”, only to want it again! It may take a while until the need or want for an item comes back, but it often does. I’ve rebought things because of it!
Now how did I forget that one??? Thanks for the reminder – I added it in! I agree, that occasionally you may want an item back, but I think that the chances of wanting it back are far smaller than the chances of never needing it again. 😉
My favorite decluttering tip comes from “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo. This little book is definitely worth reading for the terrific tips she includes, many of which have changed how I declutter. The tip I love best is : Use your intuition rather than rules! Pick up your items one by one and ask yourself, “Does this bring me joy?” Answer immediately. If you answer yes, keep it. If you hesitate or know doesn’t, pass it on to someone who can use it or toss it. You’ll be astounded how quickly decluttering goes with just that one question.
Yes, I enjoyed reading that book too. Great tip!
hey havok!
I’ve had this one many time and here’s my “Eureka!” thought: when I get rid of something my subconscious brain finds a way to need it, THEREBY JUSTIFYING my unhealthy unnecessary need to keep it around! Look at it as proof that you are overcoming your clutter demons!
Great thought! Funny timing too as I just started a post about how we subconciously sabotage ourselves! 🙂
Well done! Such a well written and inspiring post.
When I have trouble letting go of something, my husband says “Just think of all the fun we will have when we go out together to find another one.” Isn’t he wonderful?
I may come back and re-read your article, but for now, I will have a look at your Pinboard.
Thank you so very much,
*Smiles*
Thank you for these tips! I am going to pin this to my Pinterest board so I can look back on it later (:
I’m following along with your 31 Day Detox, and it feels like it’s going pretty well. Better than I expected, really. I only just started yesterday, though, so I haven’t hit a moment of being overwhelmed. 😉 I’ll remember to come back and read this again if I find myself there.
I’ve also decided that I am going to write a sort of mission statement, to remind me (in positive terms) what I am working towards, and why. It can be my little pep talk to myself to keep me motivated and focused.
That’s such a great idea! Glad you are joining in!
I like the idea dew of 15-20 mins a day. That way it is not so overwhelming. Thanks for the advice.
I am grey attached to thanks that bel Need to my Mom, I have been clearing away cloths and donating a lot, Makes me feel good and so know she would like that. Books, tons, Need to sort and donate them also.
Just start with whatever you feel comfortable with. Anything is better than nothing! 🙂
I’m trying to declutter! How’s this for bad – I’m going through a box of papers – weekly progress reports from when my son was in high school, other school papers, etc. My son just turned 27.
This is going to take me some time!!!
Lol! One step at a time!! We will be devoting the whole month of March to office spaces and paperwork so don’t worry if you don’t get it all done now! 🙂
I can guarantee that I will not need something I’ve been holding on to forever, UNTIL I get ride of it. As long as I keep it, I won’t need it, but based on past experience – the MINUTE I throw it out or donate it, I will need it.
I’m getting better though! I decided if I need something, there are tons of thrift stores around and 9 times out of 10, that’s where I can find whatever it is I need. =) I have to get better, we’ve recently downsized into our “empty nest” which is 1/3 of the size of our previous home and it has 1/100th the amount of closet space!!! =O
Great article! Thanks for sharing.
Downsizing can be a good thing too – think of all that cleaning time that you will save and you will feel so much lighter when you have gotten rid of the clutter. I think it is always better to get rid of what you are not using. There are always those times that you may need it again {although for me those times are rare!} and you are right – you can usually find it at a thrift store or borrow it from a friend. I hope you enjoy your new home!
Cathy, I can totally relate to you! My boys are 25 and 27 and I still have their pre-school art work!! I have my first driver’s license!! Oh, and all the paperwork on the first, second, third … well, ALL the homes I’ve ever bought dating back to 1982!! I need deliverance!! LOL!!
I finally hit the breaking point in November ’14. I called a professional organizer as I just couldn’t seem to figure out where to even start. She’s been a god send. 2015 is going to be an amazing year of letting go! All ready planning a big garage sale in April.
I enjoy your posts.
Good for you to know when to ask for help! Good luck with your garage sale and enjoy your uncluttered space!
My problem is inheriting generations of furniture, rugs, Civil War pieces, handmade lace and items from early 1900’s from the Philippines, photos, etc.. Then what?!? It has been passed generation to generation so I feel obligated and some of it is fascinating but I don’t want my family to feel like they are living in a museum or a crowded house. Trying to research items to sell properly or find some place to donate things to (actual museum or collector) would be a full time job and I don’t have that time luxury.
Any suggestions?
Yes, that is a tough one! You do want to be able to enjoy what you have, however, so if you get rid of some of the pieces that you do not love or use, the pieces that you do keep will stand out much more and allow you to truly enjoy them. If you don’t have any extended family that would like to take some of the items, maybe you could look into an auction house? Sometimes, you just have to let things go and don’t let that heavy baggage of obligation weigh you down.
I am a member of a group of “living historians”. We use items like you have inherited to teach school groups and our budgets don’t always allow the purchase of authentic items like what you have. Please consider looking for historical societies, museums, or local historic sites to donate your items. In many cases, you can receive tax credit for your donation.
My biggest obstacle is knowing that I should sort and DONATE or GIVE AWAY or SELL, and the prospect of having to deal with that as well just bogs me down. If I could just THROW IT OUT, I think I could do it. But that would be wrong, my conscience keeps telling me….AAARRRGGHH!
I am like that too! Donating it is always the simplest as you can usually get rid of everything in one swoop. The others definitely take more a time commitment.
My problem has been that — even when I expend the energy to sort things out- what do you do with them? I want someone to just take them away! In a rural area there are few places to take things. It seems that there are few places to donate books anymore. Clothes sit in overcrowded bins and I think about how much I paid for them! I tried a professional organizer and found it frustrating and very expensive. I am trying to get started again. Clutter makes me feel trapped and frustrated. I will try your 30 day plan.
There are organizations that will pick up your stuff – you just need to check and see what’s available in your area. Used bookstores will often also take your books if the general second hand stores won’t. The bottom line is you just need to find whatever means you can to get anything that you no longer use or need out of your home. You can’t change or feel guilty for what you’ve bought in your past – you can only change your actions in the future. So, just get started, work a little at a time, and focus all of your energy on just clearing things out! I hope the plan is helpful for you!
I started decluttering after the new year and it is amazing! These are great tips. Thank you.
P.S. I love your kitchen!
Thanks so much! Always a good feeling to get rid of things that you don’t need!
Hey
Just came across your blog and methodology and think it’s great, so i’m thinking of starting with the 31 day detox plan in May. Gives me time to get my cleaning binder organised and I like to start things on the 1st of the month. Just a little OCD…! But I was wondering, all your printables seem to come as JPEG, and I don’t want to wait until January next year to do the program, Any way I can easily alter the printables, to say “may” instead of “january”? Like a .doc version?
Thanks!
Glad you are joining in! I don’t have any .doc versions but if you download the printable and open it up in a photo editing program {like Picmonkey or whatever you use} you can clone white over the month and then re-write over it. Hope that helps!
Jenn 🙂
Thanks! Good thing I still have a couple of weeks to get organised to get organized
The article was great something I needed to read. I have started to declutter and organize my apartment I have done my pantry,my papers and files and my spices still working on them
Good for you! I think that just getting started is the hardest part so you have already tackled that hurdle!
Thank you Jenn !!
My family and I recently downsized from a 3200 sq ft house to a 1200 sq ft apartment. It has been a huge transition, but I’ve noticed a change in my attitude already. We got rid of a LOT when we moved (and selling our stuff made it much easier to part with) but there were still a ton of items I was struggling to let go of. It has been 2 months and just this past week I was able to rid myself of 3 more boxes of stuff that I have realized we just don’t need. Now that everything is packed in boxes in the garage it’s easier to see how little most of these items actually impact our every day lives. It’s so freeing to live clutter-free!
Wow! That is a big downsize – good for you!! I’m sure you save a ton of time on cleaning too!
It was so interesting to see these “reasons” outlined so clearly. I can definitely see myself in several. Today it would be tired! Thank you for joining at Snickerdoodle again! Always enjoy.
I started by organizing the pantry and my spices and files but then I lost my momentum and have not got it back yet doesn’t help that I’m dealing with fibromyalgia and depression.
Just do what you can and don’t be too hard on yourself – the best way to get something done is just to begin! Even doing 5 minutes still keeps you in the organizing mode. I have fibromyalgia too so I can definitely relate!
I finally conquered a big portion of our clutter this week and had a great big garage sale. It felt great to let go of clutter that had been collecting dust in our storage building, home, and garage that we had been holding onto for all the reasons you listed above. We made a little cash, blessed a few families and then donated a hefty truck load. We still have a bit to clear out, but I feel like we made a lot of progress! Feels great!
Awesome!! Isn’t it such a weight off your back once it’s done? Enjoy your fresh, new home! 🙂
Dropping by from Lou Lou Girls “Fabulous Party #57”!
Wonderful post! I’m working on a post for my blog right now…something on the lines of “Spend 3 hours now & never again worry about what to wear”. It’s evolving.
I made up a printable of my “Top Tens” of each clothing item as part of the organizing process. And just spent the day filling 3 boxes with clothes to be donated. The psychology is so right! I’ve already adjusted my post to have a paragraph on “be ruthless, be realistic, etc.”.
Anyway, thanks for the great analysis. I might have to simply include a link and tell people to come read this before they start decluttering their closets and fixing their wardrobe.
Jennie
p.s. Planning on going to check out your Pinterest page right now!
THanks Jennie! Your post sounds great – I was just thinking my closet needed a revamp! 😉
Great post, very inspirational. I feel like we have too much clutter around the house which I am trying to improve upon and this post will help. Thanks for sharing 🙂
It always feels good to let go of a little clutter! 🙂
I really enjoy your picture collages. They are easy to view and inspire me with great organizational ideas. Thank you for such a helpful article. Decluttering space makes me feel much more at peace!
terrific tips and wonderful photos too. Pinned to my get organize board. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. xo
Stopping by from the blog hop and I can’t tell you how excited I am to find this website! 🙂 I love organizing, but I never do it with my house for pretty much ALL of the reasons listed in this post- haha! After exploring this site, I can see that this is what I need to finally get to my new year’s resolution of organizing our darn house! 🙂 Thanks a bunch! Looking forward to reading lots more!
Hope you find it helpful. Just need to start with those baby steps! 😉
I can identify with so many of the points you mentioned. Wanting it perfect has blocked me my entire life (and I’m already turning 40 on May 12th!!!).
This year I decided to change things and I implemented the 15-minute declutter routine. It works wonders.
Thank you for sharing these tips. I’ll pinning them for inspiration.
I just turned 40 too and am really working on letting go of the perfection! Baby steps! 😉
Wow you really broke it down. I think I am really affected by the stuff representing who I wnat to be. Sigh, this makes it more clear. Thanks for puting it in perspective
Yes, that is a hard one for me too and one of the hardest to get rid of!
Some great tips. Thanks for sharing at Motivational Monday. Hope you will link up again tonight!
I’d totally forgotten about those rollerblades in the garage, buried DEEP in the garage. I’m not worrying about them until I’ve got inside the house more under control.
One step at a time, right? 😉
I have a hard time with things I think other people want me to keep .Thanks for posting. Hello from Turn It Up Tuesdays.
I love this because right after the holiday’s I did the exact same thing. I have been downsizing everything and learning to live with less. It’s been a major transition but for the best. I’ve pinned to my Tips for Life board. Thanks for linking up at the #HomeMattersParty and we hope to see you again this Friday!
There is definitely a bit of a learning curve but it does feel good to get rid of things once you start! Thanks so much for hosting and for the pin! Have a great week!
I love the clean counters but am wondering if you have a coffee maker or Kitchen Aid stand mixer and where you put them.
Thanks!
We don’t drink coffee so we only have a small coffee maker that we bring out for company. And no Kitchen Aid either! {although I actually like the look of these out on the counter especially if they are a fun color!}
I got rid of years of things that I don’t know why I wanted to keep in the first place 6 months ago when I put my house on the market to be sold. I have since sold my house and will be getting the key to my Courtyard home in 16 days and I am too overwhelmed to know where to begin packing. And to add to everything I have literally boxes of new purchases which I had to buy for my new home taking advantage of the end of the financial year sales which are blocking up my open plan living area. I have no-one to help me and have plenty of obstacles being disabled and virtually bedridden,oh! I forgot to mention I have a broken right arm, no thumb joints, both collar bones partially removed and a list of illnesses that could take up this whole page. LOL!! I don’t feel sorry for myself as I have lived with these illnesses and severe chronic pain for so long it’s just normal for me. So that isn’t my reason behind not packing as I am a strong person (pigheaded more like) when it comes to overcoming obstacles.
I feel inspired by your quotes on the reasons why we should let go of the STUFF we have held onto for far too long. I look at things that there is no way I will ever use or feel the need to share with others and put these THINGS on display in my new home. I thought I had done an amazing job by reducing my things when I culled before my open inspections on the house. I donated bags and bags of good quality useful items that I felt someone might actually appreciate getting from the charity store. After reading your declutter diet I now know that I have to work hard to lose more weight from my stash of ONE DAY I MIGHT HAVE A USE FOR THINGS!!!
The more I lose now is the less I will have to pay the removalist for the relocate. This move will be my last forever home where I will be starting afresh after finally accepting my divorce after 4 daughters and 26years of marriage.
I am very excited but overwhelmed on where to begin!!
I’m so sorry you have to go through all of that but it sounds like you have really done a lot of the work already! Honestly, I think that once you have moved past the mental block of decluttering, you have really won the biggest part of the battle. I hope you are able to find some help with your move and will be happy in your new place with a fresh start. Thanks so much for sharing your story!
Your post touched my heart. I too live with severe chronic pain, depression and several other illnesses. I suggest you contact community agencies that might have teens or older adults willing to help you for free. Examples are Boy Scouts, churches, Rotary, and county Senior Services. Or post a notice asking for help on a community bulletin board.
I have pages of packing and organizing tips I excerpted from several packing books. I’d be happy to email a PDF to you if you contact me at nmhinca@gmail.com. Hugs to you!
“try taking a photo of the item and writing your thoughts about it on the back of the photo or on a journalling card”
I love this idea! I have already given away so many of my stuffed animals that I didn’t have much of an emotional attachment to, but am still holding on to a select few. I’m about to move and I know they will just go back into a closet until the next time I move. I think I’ll take a photo of each and whittle the pack down some more. It’s gonna be tough but worth it so we’re not stuck taking up unnecessary space at our new place.
Good for you! And good luck with your move! 🙂
This “paralysis” goes to a whole other level for me. Not only do I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but at the ripe old age of – we’ll say 50-ish – I was finally diagnosed with ADHD. How in the world do I get ANYTHING done? It sure makes my college degree more significant!
Yes, those diagnoses definitely make it much bigger of a challenge. I still think it is about breaking it down into small, more manageable tasks that have a beginning and an end. Just take one drawer or one little section of a room at a time. There is nothing worse than biting off more than you can chew and ending up with a bigger mess than you started with. You can do it!!
I have ADHD too. Here are ideas I found helpful:
• See your doctor. There are effective medications to help you focus and concentrate. You’ll be amazed how much they’ll help you think and function.
• Go on Amazon and look for books on living with ADHD. Read one and implement its suggestions.
• Search for online articles on living with adult ADHD.
• Buy a comprehensive calendar-based organizer. Make it your auxiliary brain — write everything in it. I use a terrific customizable one called “The Happy Planner”, which is colorful, pretty and fun to use. I added their Home Planner packet, which has sections for cleaning and other home-management tasks. It’s available on line.
• Download the app AnyList. Put as many lists and items on it as you can think of. For example, my family uses it for an always-current grocery list that any member can revise or pull up when in the grocery store.
• Maybe search for an online support group for adult ADHD.
I hope these suggestions help you!
My husband and I are downsizing as we plan to move to a much smaller place. It has been an emotional roller coaster at times as I kept files of things we wanted to do, places we hoped to go etc. There were tears at times but realized that we have to seize the day……the ones we are living now!!!! By letting go of items we no longer need we have found we don’t miss the stuff and very rarely have ever needed an item again. We think of the items we have donated or given to friends as things someone else will love and get to enjoy. That thought helps. My girlfriend told me once- “we have the memories we don’t need the stuff”. The real problem for me is cards and letters. My husband and I wrote to each other every morning for 40 years. Plus can’t believe the cards and letters we have received through the years. It is easy to throw out the ones we no longer are friendly with but some of them say such nice things. Must add we have boxes and boxes of cards and letters I have saved-so feel it might take a life time to go thru. So HELP any suggestions in this area would be most appreciated. Really need to add I am sooo…..happy to have found your site on Pinterest. Your tips are concise and most helpful. Thank you.
It sounds like you have had a really good start! I have cried many times when giving away some of my kids baby stuff and favorite toys but, honestly, once it was done, I was totally fine with it and never regretted anything that I have given away. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with keeping favorite cards and letters – it’s just a matter of keeping the most meaningful ones and not ALL of them! Even if you have a lot of boxes, I’m sure you can quickly edit out ones that you don’t want and you will probably recognize cards or letters quickly that really had a lot of meaning to you. With all of the advancements in technology, letters are probably going to get fewer and farther in between so I think that they are nice to keep and would be fun for generations to come to read one day. I would love to find a box of my grandma’s old letters! I’d recommend finding a pretty box to keep your favorites in {and limiting them to the one box!} and keeping it accessible for you to read every now and then rather than having it stored away in an attic or other storage area. It’s always nice to read something nice when you are having a bad day. If you are still using them, loving them, and they are making you happy, keep them!
Try scanning them. You’ll then have a digital copy and can let the original go if you can. (I’ve been with my husband 50 years and still have the original letters he sent me when we were courting!)
Seriously, scanning can drastically reduce the amount of paper you have. The best way to start is to do a search for “Brooks Duncan”. He’ll tell you what to get and how to scan what so you can keep the information without needing to keep the actual piece of paper. Plus, once scanned, you can find information MUCH more quickly than searching through papers and files.
Great tip! Just make sure you keep all of your scanned documents organized and backed up! 🙂
Hi! This is great info! I LOVE the kids desk (third picture down, I think?) and the fact that it’s one very simple table that both kids can use! May I ask where you purchased it? It’s the perfect solution for my two boys and our small space!
Thanks!!
Yes! That desk has worked great for us. It was purchased from Ikea as a separate table top, legs and the drawer unit. Hope that helps!
You’re my hero! Thank you for being such an inspiration. I started a blog because of you and a few other major role models online. I thought it would be fitting to mention you in my very first post 🙂
Lots of love! Please keep going!
bit.ly/1VsBFQC
That is so nice of you!! Thanks SO much for letting me and good luck with your blogging journey!
I tried to leave a comment on your blog but I couldn’t get logged in. I love your idea of “base zero”. Enjoy your blog!
I am most guilty of “Will probably need this in the future”. I was battling this habit of mine for years and things kept piling up in my home. Until it became too stressful for me with all the cleaning and storage shortage. I decided to declutter my home, gave away most of the kitchen gadgets and whatnot to neighbours, family, and friends, which was an amazing solution to my problems. You say it yourself, you can always borrow what you need from the people which are close to you. No one should bury their lives under piles of possessions.
To the lady with the antiques and historical things I have a suggestion. I took my “treasures” 2 at a time to a well known antique shop in my area to see how much they were worth and it’s a free appraisal. Funny, they were worth way less than I thought. This way I can now sell them or give them to a family member because I’m not so attached that I can’t part with them. They are just taking up space.
To the two ladies with all their kids papers I have an easy quick solution to that. Sit down one day and read them all and smile and cry about all the times your “kids” came home with these papers and how it made you feel and then GIVE THEM TO YOUR KIDS!! Let them store them in their house and have possession of them. My mom saved all of my stuff too. When I finally got out on my own she called to tell me she had a big present for me. Of course I sped over to her house to see what it was and when I got the box, at first it was “oh no, what am I going to do with all of this?” (She saved everything!)
When I took it home I was the one to sit down and go through all of it and smile and cry with the memories of it all. Through it all I did throw some of it out and kept only the most wonderful of it all. I had to give my mom such a big thank you for hanging on to this for me for so long. She was so happy that I was thrilled with her gift and I was so happy that she “gave up” all these things.
Great ideas!
Best blog post ever on decluttering! You really spoke to the dilemma about donate or sell and how to shed mass amounts quickly. We’ve successfully sold on Craigslist and eBay, so the temptation is always there, but I want to prioritize. I am going to be reviewing your words. Thank You!
Glad you found it helpful!
I have a very old set of encyclopedias that my parents got in 1980, and really is in great condition. I don’t want it anymore because we have internet in this age and decade. I have asked various people and places I could think of to donate the encyclopedias: school, library, nursing home, — all which I have been told are of no use to send them there. I even found a thread on a discussion on what to do with the old encyclopedias — some have said to use as “fire logs”, and a few even threw them away – at least one person said it killed her having to do that. A friend said I could try selling them on Etsy or that someone could use them as crafts. That’s what I am so torn about it because I want it to go somewhere it an be used. I just want it GONE asap!! Wht od you suggest??
Unfortunately, some things just run their course and encyclopedias are one of them. You could possibly look to see if any antique stores or used book stores will take them, but honestly I just don’t think people would use them. The info in them goes out of date and they are just not relevant anymore.
I don’t think anyone commented on how clutter relates to loss and fear.
First, several family deaths in my childhood contributed to my mother’s penchant for saving which grew into rather sad hoarding for years until in her 70s, she and Dad built a new home and guess what? They kept it neat as a pin!
This imprinting was what first impacted my saving nature.
Then, during my young adult life, our family moved constantly with my husband’s job. Only after many years did I recognize that my incessant saving of things was in rebellion to all that I had to leave behind time and again. My home, my town, my friends, my church – only to start all over again. At least I could have my STUFF! This was particularly true because we did not pay for the moves ourselves. The company paid.
As if this weren’t enough, we went through a devastatiing financial loss which led me to wear leaky boots and save the good ones. Et cetera. I also kept my old things to give the children when they moved away from home.
Everything seemed to have sentimental value, as well.
Finally, I learned that the memories attached to things could remain after the things left my house. I learned that my memories are MY memories alone. They do not get passed along in the way I might think. I am now able to get rid of things in a way I have never been able to do before.
Because I finally dealt with my fear and loss, my fear OF loss! A large part of my recovery was developing a stronger faith in Christ, and although I personally feel strongly about this and would recommend it, the important element in recovery is finding help. It may be God or a doctor or a book or a family member or a friend, but you have to get some perspective on the massive amount of THINGS in your life and begin to let go of it all. At least, I had to begin to let go of things.For my own inner peace.
I believe I will begin to say a lttle prayer for those like me, who have suffered fear of loss.
Thank you for this fine article!
YES!!! All such good points and very well expressed. I’m so glad that you were able to find your way through and totally agree that some outside help may be needed for those dealing with emotional issues. My favorite thing that you mentioned was that your memories are YOUR memories alone and they do not get passed down in the way you may think. Often, people hold on to objects thinking that they will be used/treasured by the generations to come. While this may be the case with a couple of specific items, for the most part, it just creates more stress/work/guilt for the people that they are passing it on to. Thanks so much for all of your insights!! xo
Jenn, I love your common sense approach to decluttering. My one area of clutter was mainly my desk, a little the rest of the office. I made it my goal to have that conquered by January 1, 2018. And it was — AND I’ve maintained it. I think part of the problem was I was “holding on” to my former career and was finally ready to let it go!
Good jumpstart! I need one every year! 🙂
Yep! You need to jump on while the motivation is high! lol!
I’ve used each of those excuses. Now I’m doing a little a time so I’m not overwhelmed. Wish me luck!!
Yes, I apparently need to read this quite often! HAHAHA. I almost felt liberated just reading this….I bet maybe if I could just put one of these things into practice I could get somewhere. I know this paralysis well! Thanks so much for the tips. Saw your post at the funtastic friday party! pinned this one:)
What a great post! Organizing and decluttering is very therapeutic to me and I look forward to it every year! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Great post! I have a massive problem: I just stuck in process of decluttering my home. I cannot stand such a huge piles of everything around me. Last 3 weeks my dining room is filled with 5 really big boxes of decluttered stuff that I don’t need / want anymore in my life and home, and now I have this problem – HOW to get rid of them?? Donation offices refused me, nobody wants to buy them,… I have no storage enough to put them… I look at them every single day and night, they look at me… making me exhausted. What to do when you cannot get rid of all your decluttered items / stuff? So now, I ma paralyzed and have no single idea how to move with process of cleaning and arranging my house? How to move on? Thank you!
First off, why did the donation office refuse you? Did they think that your items weren’t sellable or did they just have too much stuff? Often donation offices will shut down intake if they have too much product to stock. You can ask them when they will open donations back up again, and what items they are open to taking {sometimes they have too many clothes for example, but will take household items}. Get there early in the morning because if they’ve been shut down for a while, there may be a lot of people looking to drop off their stuff. Also, for-profit donation centres such as Value Village are usually more likely to take your stuff than non-profit organizations as they often have more resources available to them. Second, you can call around to various charities that collect items. In our area, we have Big Brothers and Canadian Diabetes Association that regular comes around to neighbourhoods to collect items directly. They will pretty much take it all.
If you’ve exhausted donation centres, you can post on craigslist or Facebook for items that you want to give away for free. Larger bundles or bigger ticket items work best for this, but it’s amazing what people will take for free. This can take some time, however, so reserve this for items that you really think are in demand so you don’t waste your time.
If you’re still left with stuff, you may need to come to terms with the fact that no one really needs it. Unfortunately, there is just TOO MUCH STUFF around these days. If this is the case, look through everything to see what can be returned to a recycling depot {electronics, paper products, recyclable plastics, etc.} and get rid of that first. For items that are left, towels can be donated to vet offices/animal shelters, quality clothing or small household items could go to a woman’s shelters, good toys or art supplies can go to schools are other children’s play centers, etc. You might just need to be a little creative. Again, you need to reserve this for items that are in good shape – otherwise you’ll just be putting the burden of getting rid of the items onto another organization.
And, finally, the rest of the items will just need to go to the landfill. Some things just run their course. Honestly, I feel that many people donate items to charity that really should go to the dump in an attempt to make themselves feel better about getting rid of the items. SO much stuff is sent to the landfill from donation centres and it just ends up costing them time, energy, and money.
Hope that helps!! In the end, I think it’s about choosing the best environmental option that is feasible for you to do. And remember – some things really are just garbage!