13 questions to help you declutter
It can be easy in the midst of a big #declutter project to become overwhelmed, we may not know where to start, or maybe we started and now we have piles laying around and have forgotten what our game plan even was.
I have been there myself, from the rage purges to the calm and collected declutters with boxes, bags and tape ready to go. I’ve donated things and then regretted it, and made every mistake in the book. Which is great for you, because hopefully I can give you advice that prevents you from making as many mistakes as I did.
So if you are reading this because you need inspiration or just because you don't know where to go from where you are.
Sit back and relax , the middle of the process is always messy and slightly confusing and you aren't doing anything wrong.
In fact if you have donated some things, decluttered multiple times and still feel like you're not seeing the full picture yet, then you are literally right on track.
So how do you move forward? First you need to pick an area, what's your pain spot , a room, maybe a closet , or a pile on the floor?
Just pick a place to start, once you’ve done that you need a plan, where are gonna throw the trash (you might need to grab a bag) do you have a donation donation box, if you don't, that's okay a bag will suffice for items that aren't glass, like toys or clothes.
The idea is to make decisions intentionally, we hear all the time from “#declutter experts” to make fast decisions , but from personal experience if you want to walk away without regret, you don't want to make decisions without any thought. Sometimes you will just know you don't want something, other times it will be more difficult.
A great way is to ask yourself some simple questions. Now I know when you're decluttering, you don't want to have to look at an item and ask yourself a bunch of questions for every item that you come across, and you don't have to.
These questions are for when you’ve gotten stuck on an item and you need clarity.
These questions will help you get to the root of why you have kept the item, and if it's worth keeping any longer.
1) Does this add value to my life ?
I believe this is one of the most crucial questions we can ask ourselves when #decluttering. Items can add value differently. Maybe it's beautiful and therefore adds value to your life, maybe it's a useful tool that you use regularly.
So how do we determine what doesn't add value, simple, has owning it benefited you in some way?
2) Would I buy it again?
This is a helpful question especially for clothing!
3) Is it fulfilling its purpose?
Every item has a purpose, if you’ve got 7 coffee mugs, chances are there's a few that aren't getting to live out their purpose.
4) Am I always moving it around or does it have a spot in my home?
This can be a great question with decor in my experience, if something doesn't have a home, you can make a home for that item or decide to part with it. But ultimately the goal is that every item in your home have a home
5) Do I even like it?
Sometimes we don't think to ask ourselves the simple questions, and this question has benefited me the most in my #decluttering journey.
6) Do I regret buying it?
Ahh , buyer's remorse, you shouldn't have to feel guilty every time you look at a product you purchased, just because you spent money on it doesn't mean you have to keep it!
7) Is it taking up too much space?
As Dana k White says, “let the container be the bad guy” maybe your container is your home, or a closet ,or a drawer either way, if things don't fit comfortably in your space without taking to much room its time, to pick what is “container worthy”
8) Is it broken or worn out?
If something has hit the point that it's falling apart or too worn to use, then great, you have successfully used the item for its whole lifespan , don't feel bad about it, thank it for its service to you and get rid of it knowing you used it well.
9) Does it make me feel bad about myself?
If you own things, clothes, or old memorabilia, or anything that makes you feel bad about yourself, than that item is certainly not serving you, it can be helpful to dig into those feelings and ask yourself why, but ultimately you don't have to, you have permission to just part with it without reliving old pain.
10) Have I tried to get rid of it in the past and stopped myself?
I remember having many items like this that I wanted to get rid of but my own mind would stop me every time.
I learned that sometimes there's a reason your mind doesn't want you to get rid of it, it can be a sign that you shouldn't but it all depends on why you have had a hard time passing it on.
Does it mean something to you?
In that case maybe evaluate why you thought about getting rid of it in the first place, if it has no meaning and is a “just in case” item or you spent money on it and therefore you're having a hard time deciding , then you can give yourself permission to let go.
11) Does it harbor negative emotions/attachments
Not all sentimental items carry positive emotions, we as humans can become attached to things that actually remind us of a break up , or the loss of a loved one, and it's okay to cherish belongings from a loved one who passed on, or to keep a photo of someone you miss, but only if its serving you.
Is it helping you heal? Or is it hindering the healing process?
Does it make you sad or angry ? Ask yourself why, and let yourself process the pain. You don't have to keep things that hurt you.
12) Is your life better because of it?
13) Would your life be better without it?
The two above questions really sum up everything, and i feel like we should ask ourselves those two questions , not just about our things, but maybe even our habits, or behaviors.
They can really just set things right in your mind when you feel like you’ve lost clarity.
I hope you can pick some questions above that speak to you the most, that resonate with you in some way, and utilize them the next time you decide to declutter.
Whether that be right now, or next week, make sure to pin this for later, so you can come back to it or atleast write down your favorite questions so when you need them you have them.
