Mindset Shifts for Decluttering
Organization and Action Steps to Help Get Your Home Decluttered
The journey to minimalism is not an easy one and it is definitely not for everyone. Shifting your mindset, however, is key to helping declutter for a peaceful existence. The goal isn’t just owning less. It’s about wanting less and figuring out that you didn’t even actually need that stuff anyway. Start decluttering with a small room like the bathroom so that you get a quick win under your belt. You’ll be able to see the results to motivate you to continue with your decluttering journey. Look to The Uncluttered Life’s Declutter Deck® for tips and tricks about home organization.
Organization
Owning less means organizing less. We often are trying to manage too many things that we don’t need.
Placing value on connections with others, such as family and friends rather than focusing energy on things, helps us to prioritize experiences over material possessions.
Decluttering is not wasteful. The purchasing is wasteful and we are trying to reduce that.
Every item that you keep in your home is one that’s going to have to be managed. Read that statement a few times.
When you declutter, you are trading things that are not adding value to your life for things that are. You will have more time and energy to do the things that you want to do.
If you’re storing your things for the future, it’s at the expense of living in the present. Also, others will have to declutter what you leave for them.
Action Steps
When you decide whether to declutter an item, ask yourself why you are keeping it.
Ask yourself, “What do I want my life to look like?” This should help you decide what to keep and what to let go.
Acknowledge that every item in your home takes a toll on your mental load. Ask yourself if you want to manage that item forever.
Decide what your most cherished items are, the ones you would grab in an emergency, and let the rest go. Those are the ones that matter most to you. Some of these items can now be digitized, like photographs.
Before keeping something, ask yourself if you want to leave it as someone else’s responsibility. Items become a burden to others.
See if you can take a photo or write a description of a sentimental item to let it go.
Determine what you need in this season of life so you don’t focus on the past or future at the expense of focusing on today.