AES005 Decluttering

Decluttering... This topic recently brought up in my eldest daughter's classroom. The idea of decluttering has been in my mind for a long time now. I've been studying and struggling with it in the past few years of my life. I have watched hours and hours of youtube videos about decluttering and organizing, the konmari method, Swedish death cleaning, less is more, minimalism, ikigai, and so on.  

All I could remember is that I've been sorting all my stuff like always... I guess since I also have hoarders tendencies so things kept piling up endlessly. But after hundreds and hundreds of hours of practice, I feel that I can finally grasp some ways that quite effectively helping me to get rid of all the unnecessary stuff.

1. Prepare several boxes

It helps to prepare beforehand a keep box, throw-away box, and donate box, or maybe you can also add a sell box too (only if you have time to sell it). So you can easily sort out all the items later on.

2. Don't touch it

If possible make less contact with the stuff you're planning to get rid of. It's even better if you don't touch it at all yourself because the longer you touch and linger on it, the most likely you won't be able to get rid of it. It's the emotion and all the imaginary reasoning your mind will create that will hold you from throwing away that item that you don't even need or use.

3. Only work with one section at a time

I admit the konmari method of dump it all doesn't work on me well because I tend to become overwhelmed when looking at all that stuff and decided to hold it off for another time, letting all the stuff scattering everywhere.

4. When the throw-away box is full quickly throw the stuff in it away

Just don't give yourself a chance to look into it or even touch the stuff again. Just close your eyes and throw it away. It'll make the sorting way faster. You have made the decision before, so don't doubt it again.

5. If you didn't use it in the past ten years then you don't need it

Yes, that includes all the spare clothes that you've been keeping in that luggage all these years.

6. You're allowed to keep things as long it has it own designated place

If it starts pouring over your desk and floor then you can't keep it. Admit that you just don't have the space for it. 

7. It's best that you limit the item that comes in in the first place

The reason why I've been struggling all this time is because I keep getting more stuff quicker than I can handle. Yes, it's my own fault that I can't seem to reject free stuff. It's like a blessing and a curse at the same time.

All these tips are what I find works best for me. It might be different from everyone else though. So feel free to use whatever works best for you.

*This article might be updated from time to time