Are you decluttering your home? Watch out for these 5 common decluttering mistakes you might be making!
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I’ve spent the last several years coming around to the art of decluttering. I use to cringe at the idea of letting anything go. It was all special!
But eventually, I came to realize that if everything is special, then nothing is special. I had so much stuff that I couldn’t really enjoy the few items that actually meant something to me and enriched my life.
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Decluttering can be very worthwhile and valuable, with a wide variety of benefits. However, on its own it can also be a fruitless endeavor.
In order for your decluttering spree to stick, it must be done in a certain way. Otherwise, you risk undoing it all within the next few days, weeks, or months. Many people fall into this trap. They set out to declutter and organize their homes, only to find themselves back where they started not too long after. I call these the Well-Intentioned Organizers, and believe me, I get it. I’ve been there, too.
So what kind of mistakes are Well-Intentioned Organizers making? And even more important, how can they be overcome? We all want to see lasting results in our home organization. To help you head in the right direction, here are 5 common decluttering mistakes you might be making (and how to flip the mistakes on their heads and see lasting results!).
Common Mistake #1: Decluttering doesn't require introspection.
Some people believe this to be true. If you just get rid of the stuff you having used in the last year, or donate an article of clothing each time you bring another one home, you’re not really getting to the heart of the issue.
That is, unless you’re really using introspection.
How to fix it:
For decluttering methods to stick… for it to truly be a lifestyle change… you need to evaluate your reasons behind the decisions you’re making.
For example, ask yourself questions regarding your values, passions, and desires.
Questions like:
- Why am I getting rid of this?
- If I toss/donate this, am I just going to replace it with something similar? Why?
- Am I trying to minimalize the items in my home, or am I making room so I can go shopping?
- Will getting rid of this item help me find peace and clarity in my home? Or am I putting off the real work inside myself?
When you ask yourself questions like these, you won’t easily fall into the trap of common decluttering mistakes. Instead, you’ll get a better sense of why you are decluttering in the first place.
(Your answers are entirely personal, by the way. There isn’t a definitive right or wrong choice.)
Knowing where you stand in regards to decluttering will help you zero in on the goals you want to accomplish. You’ll move forward with the decluttering process in confidence!
Common Mistake #2: Decluttering isn't tied to your attachment to "stuff".
If you clear things from your house willy-nilly, then you may never truly discover the personal issues you have with your stuff.
Why are you attached to the things you own? What is your real relationship with it all? Are you using these things as a stand-in for something deeper that needs to be resolved?
I’ll give you an example. If I’m not careful, I work from a scarcity mindset. I have this big fear of missing out, or not having enough, of getting stuck without enough resources.
This affects all areas of my life, from what I pack on trips, to what I buy at the store, to what online courses I enroll in, and to what items I keep in my house.
I just realized this about myself about a year ago. I owned a lot of things, and I’d always figured it was because I’m a creative person. You know, when you love to do all things artistic, you own a lot of fabric and other craft supplies.
But then I realized I also own a lot of other things… like a few sets of unique shoes that “defined” my sense of style in high school. And items I’d been given as gifts that I didn’t actually like but was too afraid to give away. (The gift-givers might see them at Salvation Army, you know!)
The bottom line was this: I have spent too many years holding on to too much stuff that I don’t actually want or need.
How to fix it:
Check your motivation before you start decluttering. And definitely check your relationship with “stuff”.
Those shoes I carried around with me for forever (which were literally falling apart)? They live in my memory now. And that’s okay. (Sure, you can definitely keep some things that mean a lot to you. But when I sat and looked at those shoes, I quickly realized that what I was holding onto was the memory. I didn’t actually care about the shoes themselves. So it was easier to say goodbye to them.)
Once you have a better sense of your relationship with “stuff”, you’ll have a much more effective decluttering session! You won’t fall so easily into these common decluttering mistakes.
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Common Mistake #3: Decluttering without benefiting others
Here’s the thing. Decluttering without a plan could lead to reactive behavior. Instead of sorting through your belongings and donating things, or asking friends if they want any of it, you might find yourself tempted to just toss it all. Let’s face it… it is far “easier” to toss a garbage bag of clothes into your trash receptacle than it is to load it in your car and take it down to the nearest donation center.
But think of all the potential you’re wasting.
And let’s think of another way decluttering could benefit others. What about involving your kids and husband in the process? In so many ways, it’s easier to just get rid of things when no one else is looking. They won’t miss it, right? But in the end, it doesn’t benefit them to be excluded from the decluttering process.
How to fix it:
Instead of lazily tossing out perfectly fine items, take the time to actually donate it. You don’t have to put in the effort to hold a garage sale or anything if you don’t want to. But you should think of those who might need these items you’re ready to release. This is responsible and proactive (and honestly, one of the most-easily corrected common decluttering mistakes in this list!).
Decluttering with the help of your family members might not be so easy, but in the end, you can use this as an opportunity to teach your children.
It can teach them…
- how to be generous
- how to share
- how to problem solve and make decisions
- that there are others in the world less fortunate
- compassion for humankind
Oh, and have them come with you to the donation center!
Common Mistake #4: Decluttering has no impact on your debt.
This concept goes back to examining your motives and understanding why you’re decluttering in the first place.
Sometimes people declutter their homes in order to sell their unwanted items to pay down their debt. This is an excellent idea… if you actually throw your decluttering profits at your debt mountain.
But the reality is, some people don’t, which is why this is one of the most common decluttering mistakes made. When people sell their stuff, and get money in return, they often turn around and spend that money. On more stuff. New stuff that they didn’t have before.
Sometimes this is okay, but many times it’s reactive behavior.
How to fix it:
Time for some tough love, my friend. Be proactive and have a mindful plan for your decluttering profits. If you are clearing things from your house so you can pay off a student loan, then you’d do well to actually follow through with that goal. If you don’t actively make it happen, you’ll look up one day and realize your profits are gone, and you may or may not know where it all went. Oh yes, and you’ll still have debt.
Bottom line: Know where you want your decluttering profits to go, understand why you’re decluttering in the first place (so you don’t just replace it all with junk), and then follow through.
Common Mistake #5: Decluttering rarely leads to lifestyle changes
Again, I’m referring to mindless decluttering. It won’t become a lifestyle change if you clean and organize your home without thinking deeply about what you’re doing.
The habit won’t stick. Your efforts will only fall apart again within the following days, weeks, and months.
How to fix it:
Not only should you evaluate your relationship with stuff, as stated before. You should also consider what led you to this clutter in the first place. Is it partly the size of home you live in? Is it partly the amount of people living there? Is it that you need better systems for shopping smart?
There are a million reasons why you might have this clutter to begin with. And if you’re not careful, you’ll end up with that clutter again if you don’t stop to analyze the underlying issues.
And when you know what the issues are, you can make steps to change them!
5 Common Decluttering Mistakes You Might be Making (and How to Fix them)
Did you find this post helpful? If so, don’t forget to pin it to refer to it later! Stay inspired, friends!
Taking the time to be proactive can go a long way toward creating the relaxing home you’ve always wanted. One that actually lasts. Decluttering in and of itself doesn’t work on its own. But if you combine it with mindfulness, it can lead to overwhelming success!
Until next time,
Janette
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