How to Declutter Without Giving Away All Your Stuff
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Decluttering isn't just about getting rid of stuff—it's an important step in creating an intentional home where every item serves a purpose and brings joy. Many of us feel overwhelmed by clutter, but with the right approach, tidying up can become a manageable and rewarding process. Decluttering can seem like a daunting task, especially when it feels like you have to part with many of your belongings in order to be more organized. But here’s the thing - you can tidy up your space without saying goodbye to everything you own.
Here are some simple strategies that will help you declutter and organize while still holding onto the things that matter most:
Start Small: Tackling an entire room at once might feel overwhelming. Instead, begin with a small area like a drawer or a shelf. This approach allows you to see progress quickly and keeps you from feeling discouraged.
Set Goals: Before you begin, establish clear goals for what you want to achieve. Maybe you want to create more space in your bedroom or make your living room feel more organized. Having specific goals will guide your decluttering process.
The Three-Box Method: As you go through your belongings, use the three-box method: one box for items to keep, one for items to donate or sell, and one for items to throw away. This method helps you make decisions about each item as you come across it.
Ask Yourself Questions: When deciding whether to keep or let go of something, ask yourself questions like:
- Do I use this item regularly?
- Does it bring me joy or serve a purpose?
- Can I easily replace it if needed?
Declutter by Category: Instead of tackling your entire home at once, declutter by category. Start with clothing, then move on to books, kitchen items, and so on. This approach allows you to focus on one type of item at a time and prevents you from feeling overwhelmed.
Be Mindful of Sentimental Items: It's okay to hold onto items that have sentimental value, but be mindful of how many you keep. Consider taking photos of sentimental items before letting them go to preserve the memories without taking up physical space.
Create Storage Solutions: Invest in storage solutions like bins, baskets, and shelves to help keep your belongings organized. Having designated places for everything makes it easier to maintain a clutter-free space.
Practice the One In, One Out Rule: For every new item you bring into your home, consider letting go of something else. This rule helps prevent clutter from building up over time and encourages mindful consumption.
Rotate Seasonal Items: Store seasonal items like holiday decorations or winter clothing in bins when not in use. Rotating these items throughout the year keeps your space from feeling overcrowded.
Celebrate Your Progress: Decluttering is a journey, not a destination. Celebrate your progress along the way, no matter how small. Remember that every item you let go of brings you one step closer to a more organized and peaceful home.
Decluttering doesn't have to mean getting rid of everything you own. By following these simple strategies, you can tidy up your space while still holding onto the things that are most important to you.
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Creating an Intentional Home
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Intentional Living is popular term that can be interpreted in a number of ways. I personally believe that to live intentionally means creating a life that reflects what truly matters to you, by making conscious choices that align with your values and goals. And your home is an extension of that life. By carrying intention into your physical environment, you can create a space that nurtures your well-being and inspires you to live authentically. It can also help you make informed decisions about what you bring into your home, what you spend your money on, and how much time you devote to home.
Decluttering for Clarity
The first step to creating an intentional home is decluttering. Unmanaged clutter can cause stress and add to your anxiety. For that reason, I like to do a good declutter a few times a year.
To get started, go through each room in your home and identify items that no longer serve a purpose or brings you joy. For some people this might mean a big purge of items, while for others it may only be a few items.
As you declutter, ask yourself:
- Does this item align with my values and goals?
- Does it serve a practical purpose in my life?
- Does it bring me joy or contribute positively to my environment?
If the answer is no, it may be time to let go. Consider donating, recycling, or repurposing items instead of simply throwing them away.
Side Note: Don’t feel like you have to give everything away when you are decluttering. Despite the popularity of minimalism, there is nothing wrong with keeping items that you love - even if you don’t use them all the time, or if it has sentimental value. I keep giant old 1972 Atlas from World Book Encyclopedia that is from my grandparents house. I used to look at it all the time as a kid. Do I need another reference book? Absolutely not. But I love seeing the familiar title on my bookshelf.
Organizing for Efficiency
Once you've decluttered your space, it's time to organize in a way that promotes efficiency and functionality. Having an organized space is just as important to my mental health as rest, regular movement and balanced nutrition. Because my personal energy is influenced by my physical space, organizing is one of those areas that I will invest in periodically. I use containers or bins to categorize belongings and create designated spaces for different activities. I like these style of metal shelves, which can be sized up and down, depending on space and need. They are particularly handy for kids bedrooms. I’ll occasionally pick up plastic bins from the Dollar Tree, for organizing my kitchen/pantry items and my refrigerator/freezer.
I designate a specific areas in my home for writing/ working-from-home, and other areas for relaxing and hobbies. (The perk of being an empty nester with a farmhouse is you have plenty of space to spread out). Each of these areas has a comfortable chair and good lighting, along with storage spaces, to help keep clutter to minimum.
By organizing your home thoughtfully, you can improve the energy in your home and create a sense of order that contributes to your overall well-being.
Designing with Purpose
Whenever someone comes to my house for the first they always, without fail, comment on how cozy it feels. That feeling of welcome is very intentional. From the front porch to the guest bedrooms, I strive to create a home that is beautiful and functional, but also promotes people to relax and enjoy themselves. If you spill a drink on my living room carpet, I will not be upset. I believe (my values) that a home is for living, not maintaining an aesthetic. I also believe in caring for your possessions, but not to the point of trying to always make things look like they are brand new. My favorite chair has thoroughly worn out upholstery; my wooden floors are clean, but full of scuffs and dents.
My general rules for designing and decorating my home in a way that reflects my values and personal style, while also being functional include:
I have to love it. I don’t keep décor items (photos, art, dishes, textiles) that I don’t love (or bring me joy in some way). If it’s not a heck yeah! It’s a hard pass.
If I don’t love it - it has to serve a specific purpose. This includes utilitarian things like dish towels, cleaning tools, cooking appliances, storage bins. If I’m eyeing the newest kitchen gadget at Wal-Mart (looking at you mini-waffle maker) I ask myself “How often will I really use this item?” More often than not, I decide to leave it on the shelf.
I have to have a place for the item. I see potential and beauty in just about everything I pick up at thrift store or antique shop. To avoid buying stuff just for looks alone, I need to identify a place in my home where it will go. If I can’t readily find a place for it, then I don’t buy it. I may go back later on and buy it, if I do figure out a place where it would go. I did just that with some the artwork in my sitting room.
How to Avoid Impulse Buys
A trick I saw on TikTok for avoiding impulse décor purchases in big box stores is to take the item you are thinking about buying to the garbage bin section of the store. Put it on the shelf next to the bins and decide if it still looks good. Often home décor looks better at the store because it is grouped with like items, giving a sense of cohesion. But once you bring it home, it suddenly looks out of place. If you still like the item when it is sitting by itself next to the garbage, then it might be a keeper.
Creating an intentional home is an ongoing process. As you grow and evolve, so too will your living space, taste in décor, and needs for your home. Periodically reassessing and refreshing your physical environment and making adjustments as needed can help create a home that nurtures your mind, body and spirit.
Thoughts on Happiness
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This week’s featured printable is a new quote about happiness - this time from Albert Einstein. “A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success accompanied by restlessness.” Einstein wrote this sentiment in 1922, but I think it rings more true today, than ever.
Capitalism tries to convince us that happiness can be bought, sold, and otherwise commoditized. Social media puts happiness on steroids, leading many people to feel like their lives are missing out. Thanks to the Internet we can connect with people from all over the globe - but still experience overwhelming loneliness. We can be successful in our jobs, but still feel like we should be more productive and hustle just a little harder.
I think the message that Einstein is really saying is that the source of joy in our life does not come from outer trappings. It comes from within us and our ability to appreciate the small things. As someone who grew up in general chaos, it’s taken many years to embrace the fact that happiness for me feels like peace, stability and quiet. I find abundant joy/contentment/happiness sipping my first cup of tea in the morning. I find it sitting on my back porch steps, watching the sunset. I find it when I am visiting with my kids.
These little moments of appreciation (I’ve sometimes heard people refer to them as glimmers) can be as simple as looking up at a starry sky or saying a whisper of gratitude to be back home, safe and sound.
I hope you find lots of little moments & glimmers to enjoy!
This printable is available in the Free Mabon House Library
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