How to Conquer Your Clutter

Clutter is something we all deal with. Yet, so often, when we want to tackle the physical clutter in our lives, we look outside of ourselves for the answer. But, the solution to tackling the clutter in our homes begins with clearing the clutter in our minds.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by clutter, here are three questions to ask yourself before you tackle any organization project.

1 - Is this serving me?

When you pick up a physical item, ask yourself if it’s serving you in your current life.

For example, if you pick up a spatula, ask yourself, “Is this serving me?” You might say, “Yes, I use it very often. I use it to make eggs all the time.” This is an item you’d want to keep.

Then you might look at a container on the counter. Is that is serving you? You might think, “I don’t actually don’t enjoy seeing this on the counter. It would serve me better in a drawer.”

Now you can make that change and feel the immediate benefit of a less cluttered kitchen counter.

We can do this with our thoughts and beliefs as well.

Is it serving you to think something like, “I’ll never be able to lose this weight.” or “Our marriage isn’t as strong as I want it to be.”?

You might find the answer to be no! Thoughts like these feel terrible, and they don’t help us make a positive change or propel us toward our goals.

Instead, you want to explore some other thoughts that you could intentionally choose that would make you feel better and help you take the next right step toward the result you want.

These could be thoughts like, “I’m am capable of figuring out what to do next in my weight loss journey.” or “I am going to figure out how to show up more fully in my marriage.”

These thoughts will serve you better in creating the results you want.

2 - Do I really want it?

So often, we are holding on to things that we used to want that we don’t anymore. Or often, we have things in our homes that we’ve forgotten are even there. 

If you really want it, find the place for it where it can continue to serve you best. If not, it’s time to let it go.

We don’t have to hold onto things we no longer want because of their sentimental value, because they were given as a gift, or because we used to enjoy them. It’s okay to accept that they no longer fit in your life and let them go.

Using this question with your thoughts can be very enlightening as well. 

I recommend getting everything out of your head by writing it all down. Then, just like you’d pick up an item out of a junk drawer, go through each thought in your head and apply the question to it. 

Do I like this thought? Do I really want to keep thinking it? Does it help me be the person I want to be?

If you find yourself answering no, it’s time to let that thought go.

3 - Is this current or outdated?

This question can be especially constructive when decluttering your closet – as you look at each item of clothing, as yourself the question. Maybe you’ll find that it isn’t something you would buy again, it’s outdated, or it doesn’t fit with your current sense of style. Maybe it just doesn’t fit your body anymore.

Be willing to let go of the things that are no longer working for you. Don’t let them clutter your space any longer. 

The same goes for your thoughts. 

Sometimes we’ve been thinking something because it was given to us as a child or a thought we discovered before we had more life experience. You might realize that thought is no longer in line with your current beliefs or the person you want to be.

Be brave enough to recognize and let go of your outdated thoughts just like you would an outdated pair of jeans.

Organize With Confidence

The most important skill you can master when asking yourself these questions is to let yourself decide quickly and confidently. 

I love home organizing, and when I used to help people with it, I would ask them these questions. Frequently they would hesitate and wonder if they would need that thing in the future, even if it wasn’t serving them now. They kept themselves from getting to the clutter-free, open, spacious place in their lives and homes because they delayed making a decision. 

Maybe you’ve looked at an item before and decided it’s too much work to determine what to do with it right now. Be aware that you’re just delaying having to go through the discomfort of deciding again in the future when you come across that item again. 

So, make it a goal to see how quickly you can to the answers to those three questions. And, if you decide to say goodbye to a thought or an item, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

You either used it, loved it, or thought you wanted it and changed your mind. Say goodbye. Let it go. Put it in a bag, give it to Goodwill, sell it, or give it to someone who would get joy from receiving it.

But just know when you do this, you are making space in your life for peace, joy, fun, or other emotions that will serve you better than the anxiety and stress that clutter brings.

Conquer the clutter and create a life you love

Once you get the clutter out, you get to consciously decide, “Okay, now what do I want?” 

Maybe you’ll find something to add to a shelf that makes you smile, find the perfect way to organize your drawer now that you have more space, or perhaps you’ll find an item that you need to add to your wardrobe that you didn’t even know you were missing before.

When you say goodbye to what’s not serving you and let it go, you have the space to focus on your future.

This is how we conquer clutter. This is how we free up space in our minds.

Are you ready to fast-track life’s chaos into calm? Let talk! Schedule a free Peace Strategy Call.