Photo Credit: Shelah Riley Photography
When someone says the word “decluttering,” people often hear “throwing away everything precious that I love.” By that definition, of course decluttering would be a scary, intimidating process! We attach meaning to nearly every dish and picture frame and hand towel because there’s usually a story behind it.
I want to change the way you hear the word “decluttering.” Shifting your perspective will help you overcome your fear of throwing things away. Think of decluttering as a way of sifting through your current life to find what truly adds value and matters to you.
It’s less about what you get rid of and more about what you choose to take with you into your future.
Have no fear: I’ve made a free printable decluttering worksheet to accompany this post so you can face your fear with a bit more confidence. It includes some journaling prompts and key takeaways from this post so you can start keeping what’s important to you. Get it by entering your preferred email here.
How to Start Decluttering Your House
Changing our mindset around the process of decluttering starts with understanding the process. This is a life skill. It takes time and practice. It’s completely normal for it to feel a little uncomfortable at first, just like anything we do for the first time.
You could try to declutter your whole house in one day, but that can be difficult without the support you need, especially if you’ve never tried organizing before. As a professional organizer who has worked with many different types of clients throughout the years, one of my best pieces of advice is to simply start small.
Pick one room or area that stresses you out and block out time to tackle it. You will waste more energy dragging it out and resenting it than you will scheduling a time to take care of it. Continuously putting off something that you want to do can decrease your confidence. Just getting started, therefore, is an act of self-love. It’s a way to show yourself that you can do things even if you are afraid.
Let Your Goals Speak Louder than Your Fears
Once you’ve scheduled your decluttering session in your calendar, begin envisioning how you want to feel when you walk into that space or open that cupboard. Maybe you want it to help you get motivated, or perhaps you’d like a peaceful environment that reminds you to take care of yourself.
You can also consider your space on a more practical level. How would you like this space to function ideally? What habits do you want it to support? Who is this space for?
When the day comes to start the editing process, this vision will be the foundation for your next steps. Whenever you feel the fear or anxiety start to creep in, take a deep breath. Remind yourself that you deserve to have a space that serves you. Don’t give up on yourself.
Choose What to Keep
Like I said, decluttering is less about what you get rid of and more about what you choose to take with you into your future. Let this principle guide you through the decluttering process.
Imagine that you are decluttering, and you encounter an item that you don’t want to keep, but you are afraid to throw it away (or donate or sell it). This will happen to most people. We all attach memories to our things!
How will you respond when you encounter this obstacle?
Here are my recommendations:
Take a deep breath to recenter yourself. How does this item make you feel?
Remind yourself of your ideal vision.
Make the choice that aligns with that.
Take another deep breath. How do you feel?
If you’re finding the choice difficult, consider how you might make the decision easier and less intimidating. Here are some ideas to help you overcome your fear of throwing things away:
Take a picture, and then get rid of it.
Imagine the next person who uses this item getting a lot of joy out of it.
If you sacrifice a little bit of comfort by getting rid of this item, consider how you could give yourself a little comfort somewhere else in your life. Maybe you get rid of an expensive shirt, but you resell it. Maybe you donate a sentimental gift, but you reward yourself with the gift of a self-care activity with a friend.
Get Professional Support
If you need professional help, find an organizer who can empathize with your fear and encourage you to dream up what’s possible for your space. There’s no judgment about your past, present, or future.
We’ve worked with all different types of personalities in all kinds of homes, so we know how to bring your visions into reality. We’ve tested what works and what doesn’t, what saves time, what saves energy, and what inspires.
Cultivating a functional and peaceful home is an investment, but the benefits are a beautiful thing. Here’s what decluttering really means:
No more decision fatigue (where should I put this?)
No more wasting time searching for things
No more running late
No more spending money on things you already have
Decluttering is truly a form of self care. You deserve the investment! You deserve to live in a home that invites rest, peace, laughter, and fun. Do yourself a favor and take the leap, face your fear, and consider that you don’t have to do it alone.
To get the free printable decluttering worksheet, click here and enter the email address you’d like it to be sent to.
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