Ok guys, so de-cluttering is something that I feel like everyone struggles with to some degree. We all seem to accumulate things over the years and rarely are getting rid of them as quickly as we are getting them. I have always seemed to struggle with minimizing so I have made this year, 2016, the year of de-cluttering!
I tend to have a hard time getting rid of stuff not so much because of what the item is, but more so because of an attachment I may have to it, or the sentimental value it may hold. However, at what point do we just keep things in our homes and our closets that we don’t use, don’t “love” and do not feel like truly represent us, simply because we have always had them. Or, because it was given to us and we feel guilty for getting rid of it. Everyone talks about the elusive “mom guilt” that we constantly feel? Well let me introduce you to “house guilt” it’s a thing, believe me. Humour me “But that was your great great grandmothers, you have to keep it”, “that was the sleeper you wore when you were a baby”,”your cousin 3 times removed on your great uncles side wanted you to have that” (there’s a lot of sarcasm in here).
Over the last couple years I have been making more of an effort to get rid of or donate the things that I don’t love or don’t need and let me tell you, it’s been a process. I had old birthday cards, stuffed animals, dishes, furniture and its really difficult deciding what to keep and what to let go of. I find the whole de-cluttering process can be some what daunting so it’s best to break it up into small projects weekly, that way it feels a bit more manageable. Here are some of the questions I ask myself when I am trying to minimize:
1.) When was the last time I wore this, looked at this, used this, or read this?
If I haven’t worn, looked at or used the item in the last 6 months I get rid of it or if it’s something I can donate, I bring it to the nearest donation bin. These things are seriously everywhere now which is great because it makes them super accessible and easy for you to take the stuff there within a couple days. Otherwise before you know it you start convincing yourself that you were delusional the day before when you were de-cluttering and you will most definitely be using everything that you put into the bag the day before.
2.) Do I “love” this? And if so why?
This is a question that I always struggled with when de-cluttering until I added the second part. It’s easy to love everything I mean of course you liked it at one point because it’s in your possession but “why” do you love it. When you ask yourself this is makes you more accountable as to why you are keeping it.
3.) Does this make me feel happy?
This is probably the most important question to ask yourself. I want my environment to be a happy, positive one. For it to be full of things I love and that make me feel happy & are a reflection of myself and my family. So if something doesn’t make me feel happy, it’s time to let it go.
I hope these simple tips will help some of you guys out when going through your stuff and remember you can always take pictures of things so you can look back on it if you are really feeling guilty about getting rid of something or are scared you will miss it.
I hope you guys have a great day!
Kind thoughts,
Lauren Elizabeth
