Want to declutter? Let go of things you’re struggling to bin with these 3 tips
If you want to have a successful clear-out, the main thing you’ll need to do is ignore that voice inside your head. The voice that thinks all your stuff is super important and valuable. The one that’ll try to convince you that, sure, you could make a hand puppet out of that one holey sock.
So, picture this: you’ve finally accepted that you have too much stuff. And now, you want to do something about it. Alas, just minutes into the clear-out, you roll your sleeves back down in frustration. Gaaaah. It’s not that easy to part with your stuff. After all, the voice in your head wants you to keep everything. EVERYTHING! Though, given it’s the same voice that talked you into buying all that stuff in the first place, this is hardly surprising.
«Not the ravioli cutter wheel! What if you decide to make your own pasta someday?»
«Oh, your floral jumpsuit is uncomfortable? You did spend quite a tidy sum on it, though. And linen really is a lovely material. You should wear it more often. Plus, if your next party has a Flower Power theme, you’ll be totally ready!»
«What a bargain that stepper is. It’s small, but space saving too. Surely it isn’t bothering anyone by sitting there in the corner?»
And so it goes on.
The good news is, there are ways to turn down the volume on that nagging voice. Here are some tips that have helped me.
1. Start counting
I bet you’re drastically underestimating the number of possessions you have. So start by finding out just how bad it really is. Pick a category of items you’d like to declutter. Mugs, for example. First, take stock of how many you have on your shelf. Then count them again. How far off was your initial guess?
Personally, it was my bookshelves that had to come into the firing line. Before the clear-out, I created a table listing which of my books I hadn’t read. I was shocked. The list was long enough to keep me busy for the next 20 years. I read a lot. But not that much. Feeling tied to 20 years’ worth of book purchases was, to put it in a word, suffocating. It was like I’d unknowingly I built myself a prison out of paper.
Seeing the extent of my book pile spelled out in black and white really got to me. Suddenly, saying goodbye to a few titles didn’t seem too taxing after all. I’ve since filled the community bookshelves in my neighbourhood and imposed a book-buying ban. I’ll soon be getting a library card too.
2. Gut on, brain off
The voice in your head may be loud. But there’s another inner signal that’s here to help you: your gut feeling. Pay attention to the first impulse that arises when you look at an object. Sometimes, that gut feeling gets drowned out by your mind kicking in and counteracting it with rational arguments. Sometimes, your brain even overrides it completely. Next time, pay attention to your initial gut instinct and follow it. Is it positive or negative? Use that as a basis for what to do next.
But what if your inner voice ends up being right about you needing a particular object one day? Well, it’ll encourage you to be creative.
- Want to create a nice pattern around the edges of your homemade ravioli? Good news! A fork will do the job.
- If you’re invited to a Flower Power-themed garden party, you can still go without a jumpsuit. Instead, pop a real flower in your hair, borrow something to wear or spruce up a simple outfit with accessories like brooches, jewellery or other thrift-store finds.
- In the unlikely event that you decide to revive your fitness journey by hopping back on your stepper, you’ll find plenty of them at affordable prices on resale platforms.
3. Quarantine it!
If, despite your better judgement, you’re still ignoring your gut, a quarantine box might help. Grab yourself a box or bag, and pop in all the items you can’t bring yourself to bin. The stuff you’ve been holding onto, despite the fact they don’t bring you any joy and you don’t have a specific use for them. In other words, the kinds of things you tell yourself might come in handy someday.
You have nothing to lose here, so be generous in assigning stuff to quarantine. After all, you’re not taking the box straight to the thrift store – you’ll stash it in your basement first. But only for a limited time. Once that time is up, dig the box back out of the basement and reassess its contents. Is there anything in there that you missed having around? If so, take it out of quarantine. Are there some things you actually forgot you had? If so, get rid of them.
When it comes to clothes, it might be a good idea to wait a year – that is, through all four seasons. For household devices, a few months might be enough. It’s up to you. Admittedly, this method feels a little like cheating. But as long as it helps in the long run, who cares?
Do you have any other decluttering tips? Feel free to share them with us!
As a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.
Practical solutions for everyday problems with technology, household hacks and much more.
Show all
