photo from: stylizimoblog

Around this time of the year, we start thinking about decluttering our home. We come up with clever storage solutions, get rid of a few things and freshen up a bit.

But if you want to see the clutter gone for good – the question to ask is: how did we let it get to this point in the first place?

Because, if we don’t challenge ourselves  – the clutter will return.

It’s easy to get caught up in the trappings of stuff.  It’s hard-wired in our brain, a pleasure center that is triggered by the promise of happiness. And we often spend our lives chasing it.

That feeling of “just one more will be enough” it’s a stressful place to live, because it never really is enough.

So, if we continue to respond and be guided by this impulse trigger – it’s going to be a frustrating journey for us.

And I think  it shows up in the form of clutter we collect.  

Clutter, no matter how well organised –  is a drag.

Our home becomes overrun with things that we no longer care about, that we don’t feel inspired by or even use anymore.

And the switch happens when we can recognise that feeling of wanting – and no longer confuse it for the feeling of happiness.

Declutter For Good

I’m definitely a work in progress. But, I’m very lucky to be surrounded by people who inspire me. From friends who have created a home with intention, to the many experts I learn from.

I’m sharing a technique that goes beyond organising and helps to declutter for good. It is simple – but it’s not easy  – because it forces you to look at your things in a new way.

If this speaks to you – give this technique a try.  I think this will work wonders!

• Set a timeline. You won’t need any special tools or materials to get started – just time and effort. Find a day that you dedicate fully to decluttering. You probably won’t be able to do the full house in one day so give yourself, for instance, every Sunday morning, for the next month.
• Organize by category. The book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is quite brilliant – the author Marie Kondo says that instead of organising by room, organising by category is far more effective. Here’s what you do:
  • Work on one category at a time: just your clothing, your make-up, your books, or maybe your kitchenware. Pick one.
  • Pull out every single piece from that category, that you have in your house, and
  • Put it all in one big pile in the middle of a room.
• See all your stuff. For the first time, you’re going to see just how much of something you have. You may spend a lot of time here, reminiscing and go over thoughts in your head. It’s really important to stay aware with your feeling as you go over your things.
• Decide what you want to keep. The first thing you do with this pile, is to pull out anything that you know immediately you want to keep. No question about it, you love it, you use it and you want it to stay.
• For the rest, let it go. If you do not find it to be useful or beautiful, if it doesn’t connect with you, help you, speak to you, make you feel happy – then let it go. Depending on the meaning you attach to your things, depending on your emotional connection with letting go – this process can be easy or hard.But be strict and ruthless and stubbornly persevere in your vision for simplicity.
• Put your things back away neatly.

After you do one category, plan for another and repeat the process. Kondo recommends that we do clothing, then books, then paperwork and documents, miscellaneous and leave mementos for last.

Decluttering for good is challenging. Seeing all your things, in one pile forces you to look at your choices. It’s going to  help you in the future to recognise that impulse trigger so that you are not just responding – buying and accumulating for the wrong reasons.

Where do you go from there? Create your Story, with intention. 

Once you have fully gone through your home and decluttered for good – you can really start to think about what you want to allow in and what kind of space, look and feel you want to create.

Now, when it comes to style – I’ve been rethinking its meaning:

I think “good taste” is what living with intention looks like. You have a perspective, you’re inspired by the world around you. You consider your options and make mindful choices.

When we see someone living with intention – we see beauty.

I hope this process helps you to see beauty in your home. Please pass along the inspiration by clicking the share buttons below.