SpaCE FOR SERENITY
Space for Serenity
In a world filled with distractions and constant busyness, decluttering can bring about a sense of peace, clarity, and renewed energy. Taking time to declutter seems like a no-brainer but let’s face it, the path we know is not always the path we walk. For me, when it comes to decluttering, the struggle is real. In some cases it’s sentimental. I find myself emotionally attached to anything my kids made, loved or were gifted from someone who loves them. I find it difficult to part with items that were gifted to me on special occasions from special people, particularly people who are no longer with us. I’m also sentimental about memorabilia from significant events like concert tickets, playbills, old letters and cards. Then there are the things I don’t want to part with because of how much it originally cost or because it was once my favorite. There is also the stuff I keep because someday I may have a use for it or someday when I have extra time I could do a cool project with it. In reality “someday” never comes but I’ve become an expert at justifying why I should hang on to things and procrastinating on the purging that needs to happen. However, a recent conversation sparked the motivation I needed and slowly I am embracing a more minimalist mindset.
A few months ago I spoke with a friend who was dealing with the difficult task of clearing out her childhood home after the loss of her parents. It was such an overwhelming and time consuming task not to mention the emotional difficulty of it. She was convinced her parents had not purged a thing in fifty years and was so worried that she was going to throw away something special or a family heirloom that she felt obligated to go through everything with care. She said, “as soon as I am done with this, I’m starting on my own house because I don’t want my children to have to go through this.” And then she said something that really resonated with me, “when everything is special, nothing is special.” I knew the time had come for me to finally get to the business of clearing the congestion and creating a more orderly environment.
I figured my best plan of attack was to consult the experts. I’m sure you are familiar with Marie Kondo’s best-selling book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." I took many tips from this insightful guide to the KonMari method, which focuses on keeping only the things that spark joy. I also highly recommend Gretchen Rubin’s book, “Outer Order, Inner Calm.” It’s a must-read for anyone looking to transform their living space and find the way to cherishing what matters most. Lastly, I started following several accounts on social media related to decluttering and minimalism for some great tips and ideas. Check out @declutteringclub and @thatminimalistmom on Instagram. Here are some of the tips I found most helpful when getting started.
Start small: Begin decluttering by tackling one area at a time. Choose a drawer, a shelf, or a corner of your home that needs attention. By starting small, you'll build momentum and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Employ the 3-Box Method: As you declutter, use three boxes or bins labeled "Keep," "Donate/Sell," and "Trash." Be honest about what you truly need and what items no longer serve a purpose in your life. Ask yourself, does it spark joy?
Get rid of something as soon as it becomes worthless. For example, a lost earring, throw out the mate, a broken appliance, unless you’re really going to figure out how to fix it, toss it.
If you’re keeping things “just in case” think it through. How realistic is it that the scenario you are creating will happen? For example, I had about 15 mismatched wine glasses I was hanging on to just in case. The reality is the last time I had a large group over I ended up renting glasses from a party store. Thinking about this helped me to ditch them and only keep a few glasses I really love.
With regard to feeling guilty about parting with gifts remember that the purpose of a gift is to show love. Once the gift has been given and appreciated it has served its purpose.
If you’re keeping something because of the money spent on it, remind yourself that the money you spent is already gone. Holding onto something you don’t love doesn’t get your money’s worth, it just makes you feel guilty every time you see it.
One of the best strategies for me with regard to sentimental items was to give them a limited amount of space. For example, I designated one box for each of my children. Once the box was full, if I came across something I wanted to add, I had to take something else out. This helped me to choose the items that were most important to keep.
My decluttering is still a work in progress but I am already feeling the benefits. It is so satisfying to open a drawer or a cabinet and see only things I really use and need. It's also been very satisfying to pass items on to friends or neighbors who are excited and grateful to receive things they can use. Decluttering makes life easier and has helped me create space and time for the things that truly matter. Wishing you a month filled with clarity, renewed energy and more space for serenity! Happy decluttering!