As winter for many means spending lots of time indoors, maybe now is the time to get started on that latest decluttering mission. Yet, who hasn’t found themselves overwhelmed with the sheer volume of decision-making involved?
We’ve all been there: attacking that spare room plaguing our mind for months, only to find we have no idea where to begin. Furthermore, having no plan or the wrong mindset for the operation can demotivate even the most willing participant.
Why We Have Trouble Letting Go
What’s more, it can be an emotional journey for some, not least when going through old items that rekindle memories. The web guide Becoming Minimalist shares scientific reasons for this domestic dilemma, citing things like “the endowment effect” and “fear of regret.”
These terms explain why we often find ourselves at an impasse, clinging to clothes we haven’t worn in a decade because we feel so attached. “The endowment effect” relates to memory bias, which puts an unwarranted higher value on items we own, making us fearful of saying goodbye.
Keeping a Clear Mind Isn’t Easy
For instance, that space-hogging giant panda you won at the county fair may only be worth two dollars, but its memory gives it a priceless quality. For some, the panda will never leave, gather dust, and prevent a clear mind.
Thankfully, decluttering experts have made steps to soften the blow for mere mortal organizers suffering this turmoil. Good Housekeeping’s Juliana LaBianca shared insight from a declutter expert, who weighed in on what can help in this situation. Primarily, she has a solution for those moments when you become stuck on keeping or binning something.
Always Ask This Big Question
Vanessa Lane of Nest & Bloom Concierge recommends making one consideration to help make those heart-churning decisions. Answering the question, “Would I buy this again today at full price?” could be a make-or-break moment in your declutter quest. Answering in the affirmative may suggest it’s time to move on.
Her next step would be to “Grab a box and go through each visible and portable item in the room.” If the answer to the buying question is negative, you put the item in the box. “When full, date the box and place it in the garage. If you haven’t reached for it in 30 days, donate or gift the contents to their new home.”
Other solutions come from Elizabeth Metcalf of House & Garden. She spoke to professional declutter wizard Mimi Bogelund, combing for wisdom. Advice she unearths includes decluttering by category, developing a system, and being realistic about the time you need to complete the task.
Go with Your Heart
Perhaps the best advice she finds is to “declutter with your heart and not your head,” which goes against what our instincts sometimes tell us. Moreover, to alleviate the guilt of items going to the landfill, why not list these items for donation or sell them on the local marketplace?
Ultimately, decluttering gets harder the more clutter accumulates, so there is a simple step Metcalf inherits from Bogelund. “Keep surfaces clear and commit to tidying them at the end of the day so you don’t wake up to piles of clutter,” she suggests.
Whatever your declutter dilemma, just remember that many have gone before you and struggled in order for you to declutter without stress. We salute those brave pioneers.