Outward Simplicity: Beginning to Let Stuff Go
5 Tips for the beginning of any decluttering project
It’s almost impossible to write about living simply without talking about decluttering. It’s the act of clearing away all physical possessions that don’t matter to us anymore to clear wide open space. Space that can be used for calm, for love and for more energy.
What we allow on the outside of our surroundings affects us. The outside not only reflects the inside but has long term affects on what happens internally.
Surrounding ourselves with piles of clutter and using every inch of our space to store possessions can make it harder to think, feel calm or get decent rest.
So, where do we start decluttering? Is there an end point? What is the entire goal of our efforts?
The goal is self defined: do you want more room? To let go of things that you bought for a wannabe version of you and are no longer serving you? What about the declutter that happens before a move- where we let things go so we don’t have to expand the energy to pack, move and unpack our possessions? Saving time by not having to organize or clean as many things is also a big reason to begin to let stuff go.
My advice is to always start small. Think of some of the principles we’ve covered so far: the zorro principle- starting small and working to expand the circle before moving on to the next project and the small change process- adding a little more each time.
Recently, we’ve been beginning to clean out my mother’s basement. This is a room that due to medical reasons and restrictions, had not been cleaned out for about six years. It was only when I met my fiance, who has the ability to do steps over and over again, that we started to make progress.
My mother had decided she wanted to clean off the massive camping shelves first. Each shelf became my little circle and slowly began to spread out until all of the camping shelves were done. We’re working past them now, onto each of the other areas of the basement.
Besides starting small and knowing your why, there are a few other ways to begin to make a decluttering effort successful.
Make the maybe box smaller than you want it to be
The point in going through the decluttering process is to make firm decisions. Either something speaks to you or you need it or not. Many times we designate a third box called maybe. This box holds items we have not made a decision on.
I’ve used the maybe box in the past. Especially when decluttering clothing. I’ve marked boxes for 30–60 days later. I can count on one hand times I went back into the box out of hundreds of items.
If you feel you need a maybe box, make it smaller than you want it to be. Try to make a firm yes or no decision on everything the first go around. Designate a time frame to go through the box. If you forget what’s there or haven’t need anything, let it go after that time
Start with a specific area
Starting with one small area is more time efficient and productive, especially when working with bigger projects. Even when working on a small space, starting with a specific spot and working your way through will give better results.
If you’re starting with clothing, for example, choose a drawer and work your way through that drawer, through the dresser and then tackle the closet. If you’re starting with a basement, designate one shelf at a time.
Some projects can take days (the basement I’m working on would take a week of solid work).
Starting and working your way through in a logical pattern stops us from going back through and asking if we’ve already cleaned that area. It stops us from impeding progress.
It also helps as we begin to see the effects of the cleared off space. When we can see progress, it fires us up to keep going. Seeing a clean closet and knowing what is possible from having that area freed up is inspiring.
Use an X amount in X days approach
There are different variations of this project. There are the 40 bags in 40 days project, the 1 a day for x amount of days or x amount of items in x amount of days (30 items in 10 days for example). By designating a certain number of items in a certain amount of days, you get the benefit of working on a challenge while also taking your time to decide what needs to go.
Use the 20/20 Rule
This rule has been a game changer in my decluttering efforts. So many times we hold on to things we don’t need or use using the excuse just in case. As in, just in case I decide to go back there, I need… Just in case this ever comes back into style… just in case I decide to start scrapbooking again after 14 years. I’ve justified keeping things things for all of the above reason.
The 20/20 Rule was created by The Minimalists (both their podcast and blog content are amazing for any stage of living a minimal life) and states that if you can replace something within 20 minutes, spending $20 or less, it’s okay to let it go. You can easily replace that item if the need presents itself.
This rule has been liberating for me. It’s given me the okay to get rid of certain things that I had held on to for a long time but never used. It might work for you as well.
Discard As You Go
This is good for a collection or for items that you don’t know right now if you can bear to let go.
Maybe it’s the 100 books on your shelves, the closet or something that doesn’t allow for instant decluttering. It’s okay to go through these collections little by little. Decluttering is not an all or nothing effort.
My collection of books, for example, is something that I can’t go through in an hour or even a day. I’ve tried to let it go and I dive back into the discard pile. I try to KonMari process (does this item spark joy) and I’ve let go of fantastic books and kept ones I regretted later. It’s hard for me to even contemplate letting my library go. However, as I am gently going through and reading the books on my shelves, I’m beginning to realize that quite a few have lost their charm or run their course. These books, I have no qualms about donating. I just know I can’t do it all at once.
It’s okay to slowly go through an area of your stuff when decluttering. It’s okay to feel the need to wear things or read through things before making a decision. While this won’t lead to quick results, choosing this process might be right for you.
Conclusion
Decluttering helps in establishing a simple life on the outside. It allows us to clear space and be free of the need to clean so often. There are various ways to begin the decluttering process. It’s okay to go slow and explore each nook and cranny. Decluttering is not a timed activity even if we try to turn it into a game by clearing out so many items in a certain number of days.
