Minimalism, organization

I Want to Declutter. But How Do I Start?

mindbeautysimplicity

What I love about the start of a new season is beginning it with a clean slate. Decluttering has become a therapeutic practice for me. A weight is seriously lifted when I’m finished. But I get a lot of questions on how to even begin such a daunting task. So here are a few things to consider while decluttering.

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Remove Everything From The Space

That’s right. Whether you are decluttering your wardrobe or any other closet space, take everything out & place the items either on your bed or a floor space. This practice allows you to start the process with an open & clean space as well as notice the amount of items you had in that particular space. I know, from personal experience, when I would declutter my closet & leave the pieces hanging, I wouldn’t do a thorough job. I would quickly glance at the items & assume most clothing pieces worked for me.

Hold Each Item One At a Time

By removing & holding up each item, you are being more honest with yourself. Ask the question, “Do I truly use or wear this object enough to keep it”? [Marie Kondo also says to thank each item, but I find that a bit odd]. But there is a sense of appreciating your material items, especially when it’s time to let them go.

Split The Piles Into Categories

By organizing the piles into categories, the task seems less overwhelming & you can see how much of each type of clothing or item you have. This helps you pare down what you have a lot of & what you may be lacking.

Determine What To Keep, Donate or Trash

Once you have organized all your items, now comes the fun part. You have to figure out what you want to keep & what to let go. I like to consider a few things as I am making this decision:

By asking these questions, it really makes you think. I especially found pieces that no longer fit my age or never did. I had these shorts that were so unflattering & made me look like a 40 year old housewife. I also had too many graphic T-shirt’s & a bathing suit that made me look 12 years old.

The key is to keep what makes you feel the most confident. Everything else is negotiable & unneeded.

Also, when it comes to products, make sure to throw out your empties. I felt proud of all the bathroom products I used up & makeup I hit pan on so far. And when it comes to makeup consider these questions as you downsize:

Try Everything On

If you have the time, trying on everything really makes a huge difference in the number of items you end up keeping. I for one discovered so many that were too big on me or made me feel less confident. It’s so easy to assume something works for you & leave it sit or hang in your home. But there have been countless moments where I kept something for years, never touch it & realize it never fit me or was damaged in some way. You need to make space for fresh & uplifting things.

Put Back What You Love First

Now that you’ve paired down your items, it’s time to pair down even more. Start by only putting back your favorites & the things you use or wear the most. Whatever is left is still negotiable & maybe needs to be reevaluated. I realized this step helped me donate even more. My maybe pile always ends up being too much anyway.

Organize What You’ve Decided to Keep

Once you have everything you wish to hold on to, it’s time to organize it in a cohesive manner. If you haven’t checked out my post on capsule wardrobes, I recommend you do so. I discuss the benefits of having less clothing & having a certain number of items in that wardrobe.

Having less belongings & decluttering on a regular basis has helped me stay less overwhelmed. Cleaning takes less time & in some places, I’ve paired down enough where I no longer have to declutter. I hope these tips help you with your downsizing projects.

–B

Published by mindbeautysimplicity

68 thoughts on “I Want to Declutter. But How Do I Start?”

  3. Whenever im wanting to de-clutter (especially clothing) my mom used to make me put my stuff into 3 piles. Keep, throw away, and unsure. Once I had decided what goes where, I usually had a bunch in the unsure pile and would go over that pile maybe 3 times doing the same rule. Keep, throw away, unsure. And I would do that until I had sifted through them all. It honestly worked, because each time you give yourself time to think whether or not you are actually ever going to wear it again!

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  10. This is such a perfect post for me- I want to declutter so badly but it’s a bit hard for me but this is a great guide. I think my problem is letting go of stuff I don’t need but I’m working on that.

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  12. I love Marie Kondo and her tidying concepts. I’ve applied them many times to declutter my living space. While people find it hard to say thanks to objects they’re getting rid of, I find it easier to get rid of things once I’ve thanked them for our journey together. I’m a very emotional person and in the past used to hoard things because of sentimental value. This way I’m able to thank the items and let them go, if that makes sense. 🙈

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  30. 5-10 years ago, I thought that the more clothes the better, but now I’m like why bother if I wear the same stuff over and over again? Clothes don’t last forever, so there’s no purpose in buying a lot, unless it’s for desperate measures. Great post!

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  31. These are great tips! One thing that I’ve been doing is asking myself “When was the last time that I wore this?” Or if something doesn’t fit the way it used to, chances are it’s going. Life is too short for us to have clothes that just don’t fit anymore.

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  32. Great tips! I love a decluttering session!

    Once a month I like to go through my kitchen cupboards as I find that’s the only room in the house that accumulates shite over time haha!

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