Decluttering 101
I recently started thinking a lot about clutter, the benefits of editing down belongings, and the importance of being surrounded by what you need and enjoy. It seems Americans are always looking for more. We can order anything on apps. We are continually being advertised to via social media influencers and ads, billboards, magazines, and television. It does not stop. We are being told we need this and that and this thing is better than what was purchased two years ago. Last week I stopped myself from buying a new hamper that has straps – the advertisement told me that it was easier to carry downstairs; what we have is fine and I do not need this!
Our homes quickly fill with stuff. So. Much. Stuff. We forget about things – clothes get buried on top of clothes, junk drawers fill up, things pile up in the basement, cabinets overflow. We are running 100 miles per hour and will try anything to help us have more time in our day or make our day easier and more efficient. The more gadgets and things we buy to help us, we fill our home. Items are forgotten. Clothes go unworn, buried beneath the same three shirts we wear on repeat. Those planners we were told to buy to help us map and track our day sit empty on the dining table. The stylish lunch boxes and coolers purchased were supposed to motivate you to pack and bring your lunch to work wind up tucked away in the cabinet. The tool that was supposed to make my hair frizz free in less than 5 minutes (no matter the humidity) is buried beneath two hairdryers, a curling iron, and three flat irons (speaking from an experience).
I started a rule in our home a couple of years ago. Everything has a place. If there is not a place, do we need it? What can go to make room? It is a practice I am always fine tuning, and it is not easy. I know the benefits of minimizing clutter and unnecessary stuff from your home can be life changing. Studies show that you sleep better, have less stress and anxiety, save time and money, and more. A therapist I went to a while back encouraged me to unload the old to allow new energy into my space and life. And it worked. I was lighter, happier, found a new job, strengthened relationships, and my life shifted as I made room for new energy and opportunities to enter my life.
Here are a couple of things I do to stay on top of clutter:
I take it room by room or drawer by drawer; if I have a few minutes in the kitchen, I quickly sort through the junk drawer and throw out items we do not need. If I have a lot of spaces to tackle, I take the dining room and slowly go through it on a weekend and then move onto another room the following weekend.
I go through my clothes when I do seasonal swaps in my closet twice a year. I donate or sell clothing I have not worn in a year. Simple. Concise.
I keep a donate and trash section in my garage and as I come across items in the house I no longer use, or if I need to make room for something new, I place the item(s) in the donate or trash section. Once that section is full I discard the items all at once.
When we move every two to three years we sort through our things and determine what items are not used and need to be replaced, and we spruce up our organization system. Once my husband leaves the military and we stop moving so often I hope to keep up the practice of sorting through all of our belongings and evaluating our organizing systems every couple of years.
So moral of the story is that there is nothing to fear. Start slow and be kind to yourself. It can be emotional (I still have a few select baby items from my son, letters from my cousin who passed away, and some family heirlooms from my grandparents that I keep). It can also be mentally exhausting (sorting through paperwork can be tedious). But the end results are worth the rewards and sense of accomplishment you ultimately feel. Feeling lighter, less stress and anxiety, saving money and time, and making room for the new makes decluttering and editing down your belongings worth the effort (in my opinion). I wish you the best in your decluttering effort!
If you are looking to donate or sell, many options are available. Planet Aid, local electronic waste collections, transfer stations for recycling and bulk waste, ThredUp, and Facebook Marketplace are all good options to responsibly get rid of possessions you no longer need. If you are local to Aquidneck Island, reach out and I will email you my Donation and Discard Resource sheet.