The COVID-19 pandemic had me stuck—stuck at home, stuck in my familiar patterns, and stuck holding onto items that no longer serve me. So, I embarked on learning about minimalism. I binge-watched YouTube videos and read numerous articles about decluttering and minimizing. Then began the purge.
Twenty huge bags left my house last month. I am not a hoarder. However, it amazed me how much stuff was tucked away in cupboards and closets just in case I need it. I discovered seven frying pans in a bottom corner cabinet—no wonder I was constantly battling to retrieve cookware!
So, here is what I learned about decluttering and minimalism that I want to share:
- Forget extreme minimalism. I am embracing cozy minimalism. I need to create a warm and welcoming environment while keeping surfaces clear.
- If I do not love it, need it, or use it, I toss it. Overthinking makes me formulate “But” and “What if?” arguments in my head, which means that I should discard the item.
- Stuff bogs me down. The more things I have, the less time available to enjoy the things that make me happy. I might be spending too much time shuffling stuff around and less time using the meaningful items that allow me to live my life with intention. Less really is MORE—more time to do more and less stuff to clean, worry about and protect.
- I can organize and reorganize but decluttering and minimizing my overall stuff will have a more significant impact.
- I am not my material possessions. We are born naked, and we leave pretty much the same way. What we do in between is build connection, and hopefully with people, not with stuff. Focusing on our property does not leave much room for rich relationships with others. The stress generated by owning and caring for too much stuff takes away time and energy I could instead use to make a difference in the world.
Possessions can anchor us because they occupy valuable real estate—both mental and physical. We get stuck: in stress, in overwhelm, in needless chores and cleaning that gobbles our time. Decluttering relieves the malaise of all that. Try it:
- Know your “Why.” What is your goal in reducing your possessions? Minimalism—sometimes viewed as sterile and empty—may not be your thing. Find the balance that works for you.
- First declutter and minimize, then reorganize.
- Start with one closet or shelf. Eventually, you can tackle a whole room.
- Make time every day to declutter. Set a timer (5-15 minutes) to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Grab a box and go around your home, quickly collecting items in a first sweep. Do this often. Try a 30-Day Declutter: one thing on day one, two things on day two, and so on. At month’s end, you will have purged 500 items!
- Consider decluttering different areas: wallet/purse, computer hard drive, telephone apps, file cabinet, food storage, clothing, subscription services, car—remember that decluttering is a work in progress.
Be gentle with yourself. We accumulate things over the years. Expect it to take weeks or months even, to clear stuff out. When you discard what does not serve you, you make room for what matters. Minimizing your possessions by decluttering can help you see more clearly your pathway out of stuck and live your life with intention.
Photo courtesy of Vlada Karpovich from Pexels.