Why, When and How to Declutter Your Home
Many self-help gurus recommend decluttering for various reasons. Decluttering your home can result in decluttering your life. When you get rid of things that you don’t need or things that have been lying unused for months, if not years, then you’re not just creating more space in your home. You’re also creating more mental space for you to move about it.
Why Should You Declutter?
There are many advantages of decluttering your home.
· Many people report that when they declutter their homes, they feel like they’re able to think clearly again.
· They also experience a sense of ease and comfort because they’re able to move around easily.
· Some people also report that throwing out old, useless things results in acquiring new, useful things which make them feel better.
When Should You Declutter?
What better time to declutter than before a big move? If you’re moving houses or even just apartments, you’ll be surprised to see how much stuff you’ve accumulated since the last time you moved. Even if you’re not the kind of person who makes impulse purchases or spends extravagantly, chances are you’ve still gathered more stuff than you realized. So it makes sense to declutter first and then move. This will ensure that your new home has the best possible chi—the best possible energy which will be conducive to your comfort and that of your family.
How to Go About Decluttering
If you go by what Marie Kondo says, the best thing to do is pile up all your things in the middle of the room and then go through each to figure out which one “sparks joy.” This is great for people who tend to be intuitive. But if that doesn’t describe you, then there’s also a simpler way to declutter. Here are some questions you can ask yourself about your things:
1. When was the last time I used this? If you haven’t used something for the last year, it can definitely go. If a sweater, a pair of shoes, a vase or a small kitchen appliance has not been used for the last year, then it’s probably not going to be used in the coming year, and it’s just taking up space.
2. How does this make me feel? If you feel unattractive in a certain dress, if a pair of shoes pinches your feet, if looking at a painting on your wall gives you an unpleasant feeling, then why hold on to them? Get rid of them before your move so that you can start fresh.
3. How long have I used this? Sometimes, we hold on to blankets, t-shirts and many other things for a long time. Maybe we really loved them at one point of time. But if you find that you have used something for many years and it’s now ratty or in bad shape, get rid of it. This will create space in your new home for something new and bright.
4. Do I like this? It’s a pretty simple question, but it’s one that we often don’t ask ourselves. We let ourselves be influenced by what other people say, so we buy things that we don’t really care for. If you feel like your home is filled with things that other people told you you should get, then stop for a minute and ask yourself if you really like that thing. You can make your decision about whether or not to keep that thing based on your response.
Overcoming Resistance to Decluttering
When you’re decluttering, it may be very simple to answer all the above questions and you know, technically, what you should get rid of and what you should keep. However, you may experience a lot of inner resistance when it actually comes to throwing things out. You may start saying, “but this is really good for me” or “but I plan to lose enough weight to wear that soon” or “I should keep that as a backup.”
You’ve got to learn to realize that this is just resistance to clearing up your space and, consequently, clearing up your mind. If you find yourself coming up with reasons not to throw things away, then enlist a loved one, a friend or even a professional to help you with the decluttering process.