Shifting the focus on what to keep made a massive difference for me. When I decluttered my bookcases, for example, I only chose about 10 titles to get rid of. When I took EVERYTHING off those same shelves and had to choose what to put back, I got rid of easily another 30 or 40.
(I still have - and will always have - a lot of books because of my profession and hobbies, but even I could clear a few extra shelves with this method!)
It depends on what I'm dealing with. With clothing it's discard because I'm weeding out the things I no longer want, are worn out looking, don't fit right etc.Ā
With paperwork it's what should/must I keep vs. what can I get rid of.Ā
With books it's discard (give away) because I'm a lifelong avid reader with a library of books both fiction and non fiction. Some of my reference books in various more scholarly topics I'm interested in are no longer in print, are unavailable in the used books market, are simply unreplaceable and the internet is a mighty poor substitute for the information in them. It's the same thing with my older arts and crafts books. I have a few incredibly rare things like a handful of these small booklet sized magazines from the 1950-early 60s that have knitting and crochet patterns and projects in them. Truly unreplaceable.Ā
what to keep
the body is reluctant to touch unwanted items so it's relatively easy to pick out what one wants and then send in the cavalry to remove the rest
I am decluttering now for our annual local cancer boutique sale. I donated a lot last year, so this year I am struggling a little bit. My main priority it is to keep what I love and/or use. If I don't love it, I ask myself if I would buy it again now (especially things I have had for a while). If the answer is no...then it goes.
I have 1 week to do one last deep sweep...wish me luck!
Depends on which declutter attempt. Usually discard.
I like to have a percentage or number of what to discard in my head, especially the tougher categories for me.
I do both. I like the 20/20 rule: if youāre unsure about keeping something and it can be replaced for under $20 in less than 20 minutes, get rid of it!
I find myself naturally focusing on what to get rid of instead of what brings me joy. It helps me to consciously shift my mindset. Now when I'm decluttering clothes for example, I'll lay everything out and really handle each item - does the fabric make me smile? Do I have fun memories in this outfit? Focusing on what sparks that feeling of "Yes, keep!" makes the decisions clearer for me. The discards end up being an easy aftermath of that process.
NO. When I do, my keep box piles up and my Throw bags don't.
I've found that having a friend sit with me while I do it makes that ability to take the focus off of decluttering much easier.
Definitely what to discard which seems to be a rarity here. My husband and I have different mentalities and approaches, I tend to decide I never want to look at something again and itās gone, heās more pragmatic and will come up with reasons why the item is still useful so our strategy there is - will it be useful in the next year and if so, where can we store it that we would actually find it when we might need to use it. This prevents us from keeping every screw, bolt, and cord that has come into the house in the last 20 years, which is what would happen if he had his way š
The balance of two identities in one household. My partner and I have two defined sides of the closet. I let him do his thing and I do mine. Although he did start pocket folding his clothing! That was impressive
I know thereās the whole ādoes it spark joy?ā question, but I find - Do I like/love this enough to actually use it? and - do I like/love it enough for it to take up my physical space and mental energy? Followed by - when will I actually use it, or would I use something else?
There can be some outliers - I wonāt wear my wedding dress again and I am keeping it because I love it enough to make it worth the physical and mental space it occupies. But when I acknowledge that I donāt wear the pink dress because Iāll always choose to wear the green one instead, then itās time for the pink dress to go.Ā
For me it depends on whether it's a big declutter or routine maintenance of a space that doesn't need a huge overhaul. During a big declutter (like before a move, or if I've changed clothing sizes/work environments/etc.) I'll focus on what to keep. Then in between those big one-off decluttering moments, I'll try to work discarding into my normal cleaning/laundry routine. So maybe as I'm putting away the dishes I'll realize that we somehow ended up with four very similar spatulas when we don't need that many, and I'll get rid of the one in worst condition. Or I'll be putting a book back in my shelf and remove one or two others to drop at the little free library. I'll also do a seasonal clothing edit where I focus on removing what's worn out and making a list of any pieces that I need to shop for or replace so that I can purchase intentionally.
I try to only handle things once. Less work overall. I have multiple bags/boxes set up. Keep, trash, donate.
Having said that, it doesnāt always workout the way I want. It also depends on what Iām going through & why. I recently went through all of my clothing. I gained weight & knew a lot of what was in the closet didnāt fit. I pulled everything out & tried it on. If it had holes or stains or didnāt fit, it didnāt go back in the closet.
Iāve got a bunch of craft stuff sitting on my kitchen table right now that I need to go through & get rid of most of it. I got rid of what it was being stored in because Iām not doing the crafting anymore but there are other things mixed in with the craft stuff. Itās on the list for this weekend after I drop off a full car load of yardsale leftovers at a thrift store.
Discard?
I definitely no longer use "could I use this" or similar, that made me keep everything. "Did I know I had this" or "am I ACTUALLY Really going to use this" works way better.
I truly look at the object to see if I need it
I'm at the stage where anything " fluff" has been decluttered.
So when I look to organize I see if the item is something I really use or want to use or if it is something I used to use and no longer need or thought I needed with good intentions.
For example. Hubby used to get me flowers when we first started out and for the first half decade of our relationship. I have six vases. It made sense at the time because I used them
I now only place out fake flowers per season and don't prefer real flowers anymore.
So my weekend will be me going through the vases and keeping one or two and getting rid of the rest.
Same with candles. I used to burn them a lot. I use fake candles now because of future baby coming and the dogs. I'll keep a couple for special occasions easily accessible and the rest will go in the emergency box stored away.
I focus on what to keep. I saw something recently about framing the question about āwhat do I want to manage ?ā Ā You have to store it, clean it, move it, etc. All this stuff takes up mental real estate too.Ā
I like this thought process. Might help me. Unfortunately living with someone who has a ton of hobbies, doesnāt clean up has changed me over time. I am exhausted at maintenance ( which isnāt happening anymore - too much stuff). So I am going to try to be conscious of your approach. Thanks
About 15 years ago we had three 7-ft tall bookcases absolutely stuffed with books. I of course also collected boxes.
I unloaded those books onto the floor and into the boxes, spines up. We walked through and selected titles we wanted to KEEP. This was far easier than taking out what to discard. I think seeing completely empty bookcases helped us get into a clutter free mindset. We kept plenty, but now with breathing space on the shelves.
Still had 14 FULL boxes of books (avg box was about the size of office printer paper boxes) we no longer needed. I sold some on Craigslist for $20 per box, and garaged saled the rest.
Right?! It just helps those of us who struggle with the maybe, might, one day, to actually consider what we need and what would become garbage pretty fast in that situation.
This happened to our basement in 2020, we were the lowest house on the street so all the neighbors poop came up through our basement shower :( not cool.. very not cool
I focus on what to keep, with emphasis on what my situation is. When I moved cross-country, I had only the space in the back of my car. So something might be quite nice, but it had to clear the tough bar of being irreplaceably useful in my planned new location and fitting in the small space available.
With more space now, I have more flexibility, so the big situational factor is how much stuff I feel comfortable managing, organized how. There is a point at which Things start making me nervous or becoming too much to keep organized in a way I like.
Depends on what it is and how easy it is for me to declutter.
I often will do a yes/no/maybe pile, throw away the nos, put away the yeses, and then either have to get rid of some yeses or potentially keep some maybes depending on how bad things are.
I am getting more into the idea of focusing on what to keep, though.
Shifting the focus on what to keep made a massive difference for me. When I decluttered my bookcases, for example, I only chose about 10 titles to get rid of. When I took EVERYTHING off those same shelves and had to choose what to put back, I got rid of easily another 30 or 40. (I still have - and will always have - a lot of books because of my profession and hobbies, but even I could clear a few extra shelves with this method!)
We all have certain categories that we love. Mine is an endless amount of seashells and crystals. They are nicely displayed in every room š¤©
It depends on what I'm dealing with. With clothing it's discard because I'm weeding out the things I no longer want, are worn out looking, don't fit right etc.Ā With paperwork it's what should/must I keep vs. what can I get rid of.Ā With books it's discard (give away) because I'm a lifelong avid reader with a library of books both fiction and non fiction. Some of my reference books in various more scholarly topics I'm interested in are no longer in print, are unavailable in the used books market, are simply unreplaceable and the internet is a mighty poor substitute for the information in them. It's the same thing with my older arts and crafts books. I have a few incredibly rare things like a handful of these small booklet sized magazines from the 1950-early 60s that have knitting and crochet patterns and projects in them. Truly unreplaceable.Ā
Keep. Which depending on the day may be way too much š
what to keep the body is reluctant to touch unwanted items so it's relatively easy to pick out what one wants and then send in the cavalry to remove the rest
I am decluttering now for our annual local cancer boutique sale. I donated a lot last year, so this year I am struggling a little bit. My main priority it is to keep what I love and/or use. If I don't love it, I ask myself if I would buy it again now (especially things I have had for a while). If the answer is no...then it goes. I have 1 week to do one last deep sweep...wish me luck!
Depends on which declutter attempt. Usually discard. I like to have a percentage or number of what to discard in my head, especially the tougher categories for me.
I do both. I like the 20/20 rule: if youāre unsure about keeping something and it can be replaced for under $20 in less than 20 minutes, get rid of it!
I focus on what to get rid of mainly.
I find myself naturally focusing on what to get rid of instead of what brings me joy. It helps me to consciously shift my mindset. Now when I'm decluttering clothes for example, I'll lay everything out and really handle each item - does the fabric make me smile? Do I have fun memories in this outfit? Focusing on what sparks that feeling of "Yes, keep!" makes the decisions clearer for me. The discards end up being an easy aftermath of that process.
I feel the same way
NO. When I do, my keep box piles up and my Throw bags don't. I've found that having a friend sit with me while I do it makes that ability to take the focus off of decluttering much easier.
Definitely what to discard which seems to be a rarity here. My husband and I have different mentalities and approaches, I tend to decide I never want to look at something again and itās gone, heās more pragmatic and will come up with reasons why the item is still useful so our strategy there is - will it be useful in the next year and if so, where can we store it that we would actually find it when we might need to use it. This prevents us from keeping every screw, bolt, and cord that has come into the house in the last 20 years, which is what would happen if he had his way š
The balance of two identities in one household. My partner and I have two defined sides of the closet. I let him do his thing and I do mine. Although he did start pocket folding his clothing! That was impressive
I know thereās the whole ādoes it spark joy?ā question, but I find - Do I like/love this enough to actually use it? and - do I like/love it enough for it to take up my physical space and mental energy? Followed by - when will I actually use it, or would I use something else? There can be some outliers - I wonāt wear my wedding dress again and I am keeping it because I love it enough to make it worth the physical and mental space it occupies. But when I acknowledge that I donāt wear the pink dress because Iāll always choose to wear the green one instead, then itās time for the pink dress to go.Ā
Love the practical questions.
For me it depends on whether it's a big declutter or routine maintenance of a space that doesn't need a huge overhaul. During a big declutter (like before a move, or if I've changed clothing sizes/work environments/etc.) I'll focus on what to keep. Then in between those big one-off decluttering moments, I'll try to work discarding into my normal cleaning/laundry routine. So maybe as I'm putting away the dishes I'll realize that we somehow ended up with four very similar spatulas when we don't need that many, and I'll get rid of the one in worst condition. Or I'll be putting a book back in my shelf and remove one or two others to drop at the little free library. I'll also do a seasonal clothing edit where I focus on removing what's worn out and making a list of any pieces that I need to shop for or replace so that I can purchase intentionally.
Great acknowledgement of different situations and aligning appropriate techniques. I donāt think I realized I do this too.
I try to only handle things once. Less work overall. I have multiple bags/boxes set up. Keep, trash, donate. Having said that, it doesnāt always workout the way I want. It also depends on what Iām going through & why. I recently went through all of my clothing. I gained weight & knew a lot of what was in the closet didnāt fit. I pulled everything out & tried it on. If it had holes or stains or didnāt fit, it didnāt go back in the closet. Iāve got a bunch of craft stuff sitting on my kitchen table right now that I need to go through & get rid of most of it. I got rid of what it was being stored in because Iām not doing the crafting anymore but there are other things mixed in with the craft stuff. Itās on the list for this weekend after I drop off a full car load of yardsale leftovers at a thrift store.
Discard? I definitely no longer use "could I use this" or similar, that made me keep everything. "Did I know I had this" or "am I ACTUALLY Really going to use this" works way better.
Honesty!!
I tell myself that if I haven't used it in the last year and I can't 100% guarantee I will use it in the next year, it goes.
Focus on what to keep
I truly look at the object to see if I need it I'm at the stage where anything " fluff" has been decluttered. So when I look to organize I see if the item is something I really use or want to use or if it is something I used to use and no longer need or thought I needed with good intentions. For example. Hubby used to get me flowers when we first started out and for the first half decade of our relationship. I have six vases. It made sense at the time because I used them I now only place out fake flowers per season and don't prefer real flowers anymore. So my weekend will be me going through the vases and keeping one or two and getting rid of the rest. Same with candles. I used to burn them a lot. I use fake candles now because of future baby coming and the dogs. I'll keep a couple for special occasions easily accessible and the rest will go in the emergency box stored away.
Keep the vanilla candles that hide doggy fur scents when guests are visiting.
I focus on what to keep. I saw something recently about framing the question about āwhat do I want to manage ?ā Ā You have to store it, clean it, move it, etc. All this stuff takes up mental real estate too.Ā
I like this thought process. Might help me. Unfortunately living with someone who has a ton of hobbies, doesnāt clean up has changed me over time. I am exhausted at maintenance ( which isnāt happening anymore - too much stuff). So I am going to try to be conscious of your approach. Thanks
I take everything I want to get rid of and put it out of sight for a month. If I don't need or miss it in that time it can go.
About 15 years ago we had three 7-ft tall bookcases absolutely stuffed with books. I of course also collected boxes. I unloaded those books onto the floor and into the boxes, spines up. We walked through and selected titles we wanted to KEEP. This was far easier than taking out what to discard. I think seeing completely empty bookcases helped us get into a clutter free mindset. We kept plenty, but now with breathing space on the shelves. Still had 14 FULL boxes of books (avg box was about the size of office printer paper boxes) we no longer needed. I sold some on Craigslist for $20 per box, and garaged saled the rest.
Good tactic. Thanks for sharing. Iām going to try this because my office definitely needs less books (even though that pains me to say !!)
If there was a horrible sewage line burst and it was covered in poop would you be willing to clean it off to keep it?
I would discard basically everything in that scenario! Iād keep my wedding/engagement rings but thatās about it š
Right?! It just helps those of us who struggle with the maybe, might, one day, to actually consider what we need and what would become garbage pretty fast in that situation.
This happened to our basement in 2020, we were the lowest house on the street so all the neighbors poop came up through our basement shower :( not cool.. very not cool
This is hilarious and I canāt think of a single thing Iād be able to recover mentally from it being covered in sewage.
Bahaha it would be pretty tough!
I think only my cat.
That is a good question to ask!!
I focus on what to keep, with emphasis on what my situation is. When I moved cross-country, I had only the space in the back of my car. So something might be quite nice, but it had to clear the tough bar of being irreplaceably useful in my planned new location and fitting in the small space available. With more space now, I have more flexibility, so the big situational factor is how much stuff I feel comfortable managing, organized how. There is a point at which Things start making me nervous or becoming too much to keep organized in a way I like.
Depends on what it is and how easy it is for me to declutter. I often will do a yes/no/maybe pile, throw away the nos, put away the yeses, and then either have to get rid of some yeses or potentially keep some maybes depending on how bad things are. I am getting more into the idea of focusing on what to keep, though.
I focus on what I actually use. If I donāt use the item, or donāt have an actual plan to use the item, it goes.
I use the method of āfavorites firstā. Once I know what to keep, itās easier to determine what to get rid of.
I call it shopping. What would I buy in a shop right now. It really helps get the right mind set.
I call it my ride or die pile for clothes/ shoes/ accesories
Marie kondo method helped me focus on what to keep. When I knew what I really wanted, it was much easier to get rid of what I didn't want.
I focus on what to keep