When you start decluttering, you think about your clutter (obviously). You think about what you have, probably feel frustrated that there is so much and stress over getting rid of it. You start decluttering wondering what to do with it all.
Even though there are plenty of how to start decluttering articles here, including closet challenges, the best place for specific donations and other resources, what you may need more than anything else is a clear vision of what’s important.
This is probably not the first time you’ve tried to declutter. I know that feels. Before I decluttered for good, downsized and stopped buying stuff I didn’t need, I was decluttering regularly. The only problem was that I kept filling up the space I was creating. I finally decided to break the cycle.
Start Decluttering With This One Simple Rule
When you start decluttering it’s important to understand how you actually use and enjoy your stuff. The 80/20 Rule otherwise known as the Pareto Principle can change everything. The Pareto Principle was initially about economics starting with the observation that 80% of Italy’s land was owned by 20% of the population. Fast forward (skipping all math because no one is reading this because they want to do math, including me), we’ve all heard that you only use 20% of your wardrobe 80% of the time. So it stands to reason that we only use 20% of our stuff 80% of the time. I think that’s a generous calculation. When I had 30 coffee cups, I still used my favorite cup every time. And if I had 100 coffee cups, I’d still drink from my favorite cup.
Consider your “stuff usage” especially where you have multiples. Do you use all of your coffee cups, dishes, black t-shirts or shoes? Or do you use a small percentage of your stuff most of the time? It’s also good to assess what percentage of your stuff you enjoy using.
Once you honestly acknowledge this 80/20 rule and see it’s real world application with your own everyday stuff, it get’s easier to let go of stuff you don’t actually use. This simple rule can help you shift from often feeling like you lack something to feeling like you have more than enough. Instead of drowning in scarcity mindset, you can thrive in a mindset of abundance or enoughness.
Create your own rules to start decluttering
Sometimes it’s helpful to create rules or strategies when you start decluttering. For instance, when I was still in debt, I created a rule to sell anything worth $50 or more to put towards my debt. Anything worth less, I donated.
The 20/20 rule for decluttering is explained here. The Minimalists say, “Anything we get rid of that we truly need, we can replace for less than $20 in less than 20 minutes from our current location. Thus far, this hypothesis has become a theory that has held true 100% of the time. Although we’ve rarely had to replace a just-in-case item (fewer than five times for the two of us combined), we’ve never had to pay more than $20 or go more than 20 minutes out of our way to replace the item.”
How to Start Decluttering Again: 7 Notes To Help You Live With Less
Use these 7 notes to help you to start decluttering. It’s a level of support and encouragement you need for the decluttering process and your personal simplicity journey. Turn these notes into wallpaper on your phone, or simply write the words down on sticky notes and leave them in the areas where you are decluttering.
1. Start decluttering by removing something that doesn’t serve you.
Create space for yourself by removing something from different areas of your life. Start decluttering with your junk drawer, to-do list, and your thoughts. Clear the kitchen counter or put away the dishes and laundry. If your kitchen table is a catchall for paperwork and other clutter, clear it and declare it a clutter-free zone. Just a little bit will make a big difference.
2. Notice what you love.
Noticing what you love will help you release what you don’t. When you look at the things around you, pay attention to what makes you smile. Noticing the stuff you know you want to hold on to and make space for will make letting go of the rest a little easier. Think about minimalism as removing the things that remove you from your life. One of the benefits of decluttering is having more time and energy for what you love and to create a lifestyle you actually want to engage in.
3. Consider that decluttering doesn’t have to be so hard.
Instead of pushing through, ease through. Don’t worry about turning a mess into a perfectly organized space. Instead, create extra space in your living room or other places for how you want to spend your time. When you are letting go of clutter and other things that aren’t serving you, remember that it doesn’t have to be painful. If letting go seems impossible, instead box up piles of stuff and hide them for a while. The distance you create will break the emotional connection and help you let go with more ease.
4. Start decluttering at a pace that works for you.
Honoring your personal time and energy availability is essential to create a sustainable decluttering practice. When you start decluttering areas of your home, check in. How much time do you have? How are your energy levels. Is it reasonable to start decluttering the basement or attic or would it be better for your mental health to find a comfy place to sit, turn on some nice music and sort through old mail, office supplies or digital clutter? Create a low energy and high energy declutter checklist so you can maintain some momentum even on the down days.
5. Declutter because there isn’t room for all of it.
There simply isn’t room for it. Not in a drawer, not in a home and not in a life. They told us we could have it all but forgot to tell us we might not want it. Hold on to what matters. Let go of the rest.
6. Slow progress is still progress.
It will be harder to declutter or do just about anything when you are overwhelmed. I recommend creating a list of low-energy decluttering tasks that you can do when you aren’t feeling your best. That way, you don’t have to make extra decisions about what to do that may contribute to more overwhelm. Consider that this might not be the best time to declutter or do a lot. Instead, ask yourself what would make you feel better. It might simply be time to rest.
7. Realize that you need way less than you think to be happy.
For a really long time I thought a bigger home or closet, more cabinet space and definitely more stuff would make me feel happier. Once I started intentionally simplifying and living with less, I began to notice what actually boosted my mood. Simple pleasures, quiet moments, an amazing night of sleep and spending time with people I enjoy gives me joy. Once you start seeing where your joy lies, you’ll probably see that it’s not about your things.
When you start decluttering again or for the first time, remember that this is the path to more space (inside and out), less pressure to take care of so much, more peace and ease and less overwhelm.
