Decluttering: What does it mean?

DECLUTTERING

WHAT IS IT?

Decluttering is the process of letting things go that you no longer wish to keep. It is a time consuming process that can last for several days or even weeks, depending on how cluttered your home or space is. Decluttering, not only takes time, but it can be an emotionally draining experience. Items, or belongings, can hold an incredible amount of power over us, especially if there are memories attached to them. So, how do we part with items? In this blog, I’d like to discuss the difficult and time consuming process of decluttering and offer several tips and suggestions on how to confront a cluttered home.

WHERE TO START?

When confronting a cluttered home, it’s difficult to pinpoint how or where to even start. I believe the how and where depends entirely on whether or not you’re receiving help. If you are receiving help, start with the area that causes you the most stress. It will be much easier to go through this area with another person, as they will help you stay on track and push through until the area is completely cluttered. If you are not receiving help, I do not recommend starting where you are most stressed. Oftentimes, this creates an overwhelming feeling that is hard to hurdle over. If you are decluttering on your own, I instead recommend starting with the easiest area and working your way up to more difficult areas. If you start in an area where you know you’d like to get rid of things, this will release a rush of dopamine that will help propel you through the other areas that seem more difficult, as suggested in Harley Therapy’s Health Blog. If after trying to declutter on your own, you are unable to do it, I highly recommend asking a family member or friend for assistance. If that is not a possibility, look into hiring a professional organizer, like Aristotle Organizing Inc, who specializes in decluttering.

A woman deciding what to keep, donate, and trash.

HOW DO WE PART WITH ITEMS?

Parting with items can be very difficult, especially when memories are attached to them. Although I do not specialize in hoarding, I have worked with a few people who struggle in that arena. Although it is not as simple as separating a memory from an item, as there are many other psychological ailments that cause a person to hoard, I do believe that this process of separation is a great way to begin the decluttering process. So, how do we separate ourselves from our items? Well, there are several ways… One of the biggest and hardest ways is to remember that an item is just an item. The item does not hold memories or have thoughts. The item is just an item and can be repurchased. Another way to think about your items is to attach dollar signs to them. Your item, though perhaps purchased a while ago, is still costing you. Either it’s costing you in stress and anxiety or it’s taking up enough space where you can mathematically configure the cost of your rent/mortgage to the physical space it actually holds. Another tactic, is to envision yourself without the item. If you do not see it, hear it, or feel it, do you still miss it? If not, get rid of it. If these three ideologies do not connect, or do not apply to the object, here are some other questions to ask oneself to help you along the path of decluttering

Do you like this item?
Do you use this item/Does this item have a function or purpose?
How old is this item?
Is this item valuable?
If the answer is no to some or all of these questions, last but not least, ask yourself why am I holding onto this item?

Hopefully by looking at these three ideologies and asking yourself these five questions you will have clarity on whether or not to keep/donate/toss/recycle your belongings. I’ll leave you with this thought, a paraphrase from a famous philosopher, “Don’t let your items hold power over you. Your items don’t own you, you own them, and it’s up to you to decide whether or not you still want them.”

Written by Brennan Reid

Hi, my name is Brennan Reid. I am the founder of Aristotle Organizing Inc and the primary writer of this blog.

We specialize with young professionals and successful individuals looking for help when it comes to unpacking and organizing their busy lives. By incorporating beauty and function into each project, clients are able to not only see the changes, but feel them. Learn more about what we do…

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Aristotle Organizing Inc.

Aristotle Organizing Inc. is a professional Organizing company founded by Brennan Reid. Aristotle specializes in decluttering, moving, and organizing. Discover how to get started here!