Note: This is a guest post from Colleen Madsen of 365 Less Things.
I have never considered myself a natural organizer. But in 2007, my family moved to Australia from the USA. Because we were moving into a smaller home, I found myself needing to unclutter a large number of items. Fortunately, we were able to accomplish the task…but mostly, because I had no other choice.
Shortly after the move, a new stage of life surfaced. My husband was about to begin semi-retirement. And to prepare for our new life together, I set a personal goal to again reduce our possessions. Coincidentally, on January 3rd, a segment aired on morning television about people abandoning their New Year resolutions. Turns out, on average, most people only stick to their resolution for three days. Even though I had never been one to take on resolutions, I found great motivation in beating those narrow odds… in fact, the challenge was nearly irresistible to me
I decided at that moment to set a new resolution to minimize our possessions. I determined to remove one item each day for the next 365 days. I started with three items to make up for the missed days, and promptly began removing one thing a day for the rest of the year. I am happy to say I not only completed my resolution successfully but it was so simple and satisfying that I continued uncluttering in my slow and steady pace (an average of five items per week) for an additional two years!
Over these last three years of clearing clutter, I have removed over a thousand things from our home. Also, through the process and through my writing, I have had the opportunity to help many people realize their own goals as well. These conversations have sharpened my desire for simplicity and taught me important insight about uncluttering. I have learned that understanding just a few key principles can help anyone just learning how to declutter.
The 10 Most Important Principles I Have Learned to Help Anyone Unclutter:
1. Stop the Flow of Stuff Coming In. Uncluttering is a waste of time if you simply replace the old stuff with new. You’ll need to begin by slowing the flow of things entering your home. Determine today to buy less. Trust me, you won’t regret it. The freedom from desire to acquire is a beautiful thing.
2. Remove at Least One Item a Day. The process does not have to be a mad frenzy that disrupts your entire household. Over the years, my home has become quite minimalist by simply choosing one item a day to get rid of. This gradual process began to change the way I think about stuff. Eventually, it became a way of life rather than just a crash diet of stuff.
3. Get Rid of the Easy Stuff First. There is no need to make things difficult by trying to get rid of the hardest things first. Most likely, it will simply deter you from the task altogether. Instead, start with the easy stuff and then as you strengthen your will to reduce, the harder decisions will become easier.
4. Put a Disposal Plan in Place. Before you begin, investigate selling, recycling, donating and give away options for the items you choose to remove. The more prepared you are for the task, the simpler it will be… and the more likely you will be to follow through. Ebay, Freecycle, and our local thrift store became my favorite disposal options. However there are endless others to explore.
5. Decide to Not Keep Things out of Guilt or Obligation. Your home should only contain the things you love or use. Don’t let incorrect thinking or other people dictate what you should keep or give away. Remember, if the items are yours, it is your choice to decide what to do with them.
6. Do Not Be Afraid to Let Go. The urge to hold on to items you think you might need someday can be eliminated simply by being realistic about what need really is. Many items in our homes may be useful, but they are not particularly necessary to our happiness, well-being, or the functionality of our homes. Seek to understand the difference.
7. Gifts Do Not Have to be Material. There are so many ways to honor loved ones without giving gifts that end up as clutter. Encourage people to follow this concept when buying gifts for you. Some alternative gifts are gifts of experience or adventure, a gift of time spent together, even cash gifts are appropriate in some instances. I have two clutter-free gift guides at my blog if you are looking for ideas.
8. Do Not Over-Equip Your Home. A home does not need enough linen, crockery, cutlery, or pantry supplies to serve as a hotel. Be realistic about your true needs. In the rare event an unusually large number of guests arrive on your doorstep, you can always borrow from friends, family or neighbors.
9. Do Not Throw Out Things that are not Yours Without the Owner’s Permission. Everyone should have a choice about their own belongings, even small children. Honor them by allowing them to choose. You can encourage hoarding tendencies in others by ripping things away from them before they are ready to let go.
10. Do Not Waste Your Life on Clutter. Every item you own takes time out of your life: time to manage it, clean it, repair it, and maintain it; time to choose between objects of a similar category; time spent shopping for it… and that doesn’t even mention the time spent earning the money to pay for it in the first space. Decide to sacrifice less of your precious life on the pursuit and ownership of stuff.
These ten principles have kept me resolute for the past three years. I had no idea when I began this mission how much stuff I would relinquish over the next three years. What I originally thought was going to be an arduous task quickly became a way of life… so much so, we have just put a deposit on a beautiful, even smaller, apartment with fabulous views of our coastal city, a swimming pool, and gym all within walking distance of everything we want. Semi-retirement is becoming a beautiful thing. Uncluttering made it possible.
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Colleen Madsen blogs regularly at 365 Less Things where she inspires others to reduce their stuff one day at a time. You can find her on Twitter.
Further Reading:
The Declutter Your Home Checklist
Image: Yorick…
Basma Al_Rawi says
This concept is important on so many levels, First it helps your home to breathe and have enough space to move and store what you really need. Second this will either get you some cash if you are going to sell what you don’t really need or if you want to donate stuff, I can assure you that the feeling of helping others with things you don’t really need or use ,,,is priceless.
I know people keep their clothes in boxes for 10-15 year and they don’t really fit them any more. living with these ugly boxes hoping the will fit one day!!!
Colleen@365lessthings says
Hi Basma Al_Rawi, we are in agreement on this. A few extra dollars in ones pocket is nice but the joy of donating stuff is just as, if not more, rewarding. I get the added pleasure of seeing my stuff being sold at my local thrift shop because I volunteer there once a week. I bring in my stuff, price it, put it on the shelves and before my shift is done I end up selling some of it and seeing the happy new owning leave the shop with it. The charity I volunteer for runs suicide help lines so my donations have the potential of saving lives. Win Win Win!
Chris says
No.9 is so true. My mom did this to me. When I got married, my husband was in the army and we lived in another state for 3 months and then out of the country for 16 months. And my mom gave away many of my special things within the 3 months and then sold her house while we were out of the country she left behind the rest of my stuff. I still remember some of those precious items that are probably worthless to anyone but me. Now as I walk thru a flea market I occasionally find an item like I had and even though I know it is not mine I will buy it and tuck it away, Silly I know, but I do it.
And my kids are all married, one for 20 years, and 2 others for a few less year. And I still have packed in boxes in our garage the things they left behind in their rooms. I can not just give it away, even though all my friends say that if the kids haven’t taken it by now they don’t want it. But I just can’t do it. I guess its because of what my mom did to me.
Lynn Brown says
I am like you … I find myself buying things that bring back memories of my past even though it is not the same item, but it is of something that was sentimental to me. I think reading what others have written is going to help each of us if we take to heart what works. I wish you the best in your endeavor Chris.
Colleen@365lessthings says
Hi Chris, I always wonder if there is more to these stories when I hear/read them than appears on the surface. What is it about peoples past that makes them want to cling to things. If the things weren’t important enough to take with you when you married and left home then why do they become so important when the person you left them with (who has no attachment to them) lets them go because they may be a hinderance to them. Personally I wouldn’t have done what your mother did but I also don’t have to pay for the removal when I move house. (My husband is also military and our defence department pays for our removals.) I call my children and ask them if they want things before letting them go. I insist on them taking them off my hands as well. They understand and comply.
I have to admit I also get a thrill when I see items from my childhood at flea markets and antique stores. But rather than buy them and take them home I just enjoy the thrill in the moment and move on. There will always be another flea market and another antique shop to browse through another day.
What I have been doing recently is downloading photos from the web of items that remind me of my childhood to a board on my Printerest account. This was a tip from one of my readers. If I then want a trip down memory lane I can just sign in to Pinterest and enjoy a blast from the past.
Betsy says
AH! #1. No wonder I’m not making headway. I know this truth, but have continued in denial till today. My issue is paper, any paper, reading articles, magazines, etc.
Colleen@365lessthings says
Oh yes Betty, paper can be insidious. I used to have about a half dozen magazine subscriptions when I lived in the USA. I cancelled them all when I left the US but the stock pile took many culling efforts to finally decide to just let them all go. They were all paper crafting magazines. I find that with Pinterest and paper crafting web sites there is no need for shelves full of magazines to give me design inspiration. I also got rid of all my recipe books as the web is full of inspiration on that subject as well.
Kelly says
I absolutely love getting the Becoming Minimalist newsletter and appreciated this article especially. My husband and I purchased what most Americans (and our family) considers a small house at 947 sq ft. Shortly after moving in things began accumulating in the basement that did not have a home elsewhere. After settling in we began a mission to simplify. In the two years we’ve been in our “new” place we are still managing to find things we don’t need, use, or are willing to let go of. It feels so good the more we purge. The most challenging aspect has been teaching those we love not to give us “things” — especially considering we married this past year and around holidays. That said, I’m super curious to hear what those at Becoming Minimalist would consider “must haves” for living minimally? And do you have any rules about new purchases, e.g. wait a month before buying, or get rid of something for every new thing you bring in? Thanks!
Colleen@365lessthings says
Hi Kelly, I had no real problem getting family on board with not giving us stuff. My husband is in the military so we live a fare distance from all family members so they were only too glad not to have to mail things back and forth. I have four siblings and we all agreed years ago not to continue buying for one another or each others children once the numbers got too great. When I began decluttering I suggested to my mother and mother-in-law that we stop gift giving altogether and they were both happy to oblige. If we get together at Christmas we do a secret santa so we all only buy and receive one gift.
As for my friends, one had a little trouble letting the gift giving go but I lead by example. I take her out for a treat for her birthday and now she does the same for me. Sometimes she still insists a buying me a little something but she knows to buy consumable gifts and I do the same for her. Generally something special that we wouldn’t usually buy for ourselves.
My “minimalist must haves” are things that are useful, beautiful or loved. Anything that doesn’t qualify is let go.
As for purchasing new items. I do very little of this now but when I do I take my time to find the best item to suit my needs. I have always been a bit like this because I hate wasting money. Just recently I bought a new pair of shoes. They were just right but they cost $150. I wore them briefly only around the house for the first couple of days to make sure I was completely satisfied and could still return them. I always keep my receipts either until the warranty wears out or in the case of clothes or shoes for about three months. If they prove to be faulty in anyway they are taken back to the store. I refuse to be stuck with a manufacturers incompetence or a designers lack of foresight. I have returned many an item that didn’t live up to its promise, didn’t last as it should have or was simply poorly designed for the job it was intended for. If buyers don’t return these things companies will continue to get away with producing them. I like to give them incentive to do better because I don’t want to have to pay for their mistakes and the environment shouldn’t have to either.
carole says
I take back faulty items too, if you keep them the manufacturer won’t know that they are doing a poor job.
Karen says
We went into full retirement three years ago and I decided decluttering was my new “job.” My husband was not on board so I focused on my stuff. Although I was grumpy about doing it on my own, I finally realized this kind of action requires an individual’s “aha” moment and now I take pride in what I have accomplished. To each their own.
Colleen@365lessthings says
Good for you Karen, I was lucky that my husband has been on board with my mission from the start. He is however, inclined to keep much more sentimental stuff than I am and that is OK. He is a bit of a historian and that is why he feels that “artefacts” are more important than I do I guess. If push comes to shove it will be him having to part with more but we will cross that bridge when we come to it.
Nicole says
What are your thoughts about childhood/sentimental items?
Colleen@365lessthings says
Hi Nicole, I have kept a few childhood sentimental items. Not of my childhood but of my children’s. When I was young we weren’t inundated with toys, clothes, books etc like today’s children, so things got worn out. I guess my parents eventually got rid of the items that did last but we had grown out of.
Recently, faced with the prospect of moving into a smaller place, sooner rather than later, I have been offering the items I have saved of my kids to them. If they don’t want them I simply let them go. I don’t find it necessary to live in the past and my memories are vivid of those times so I don’t feel the need to keep reminders.
I guess I am just always living for now and looking forward to the good times still to be had. So why dwell in the past even though they are full of happy times. Every period of my life has good and bed and that is what makes life interesting.
Slackerjo says
I have a crazy rule for myself. I keep almost everything I own on display. Obviously items like clothes and kitchen stuff are in cupboards but for the most part, 90% of my stuff is on display in my modest one bedroom apartment. What’s the point of having something interesting if it’s shoved into a box and crammed into the back of a closet?
My family thinks I am insane. I think I am adopted.
Colleen@365lessthings says
Hi Slackerjo,
putting the things on display makes sense to me. Much the same as “Use the good stuff.” So many people have the good china, the good crystal, the good jewellery… and these things never get used because they are too precious. Life is precious so why not use the stuff now, it is too late when you are dead.
I am assuming that your stuff is neatly on display of course. Personally I am not of lover of dusting and I suffer from dust mite allergy so I try to limit how much stuff is out on display.
Lynn Brown says
You just said something that made sense to me …. “so many people have good china, good crystal …..and they never get used because they are too precious …. Life is precious so why not use the stuff now, it is too late when you are dead ” …..Well I want to thank you for that comment. I have beautiful dishes and silverware that I do not use …. only for company …. but what the heck … they don’t appreciate it, so since I do, I should use it for my husband when we eat …. My husband is special to me and I should use it for “us” to enjoy ! ! ! Thank you for that comment Colleen ….. I am on my way to using what I have stored for company, and I don’t even invite anyone over because of the clutter and wondering what people will think of me ! ! ! ! You have made a fantastic comment that I will definitely use ! Thank you so much ….. Lynn
Colleen@365lessthings says
And Lynn, don’t worry if that special stuff gets broken. Better it be used and enjoyed. And while you are at it, why not donate your not so special stuff to your local thrift shop where someone who needs it can use it.
Lynette Balch says
My dad always told me “Save it, treasure it, never use it because it’s so special….and your kids will sell it… :) So we enjoy/use everything now…
Kristin says
This resonates with me. I saw an episode of a talk show years ago that asked the question “What are you saving for “good”? We are important enough to use our nice things. It kills me when brides register for fine china and never use it. I inherited my aunt’s wedding china. It is vintage Limoges. I use it every single day. I put it in the dishwasher. It horrifies my mother. But, I always think of my aunt when I use it. Now I need to start using my wedding china more! I remember using it for dinner once and my son asked me if we were having company, I said no, it was just us. His eyes got big and he said he felt special.. Tore my heart because, of course, he is special enough to use the good dishes,
Slackerjo says
Vertical storage is like a religion to me!
I put up a lot of shelves in my apartment. When I mean a lot, I mean about 40. Lucky for me, there is a lot of broken furniture left in the loading bay of my apartment so I made shelves out of many things – bed frames, dressers drawers, CD rack, table tops and some wooden boxes. The only cost is brackets, screws and time. And my trusty saw.
Dusting takes me about 20 minutes and I will admit, it’s not my favorite thing to do but once I get going it’s not too bad.
Diane says
Slackerjo
what a great idea! I think this is a fabulous idea, and you are absolutely right. why keep your things in boxes/cupboards where you cant see and enjoy them. this little tip will help me tons. thanks for the input
laura m. says
Slackerjo: We are “visual” people as many of us are. Some fill their attic, closets, storage sheds with boxes of knic naks, art, glass wear, memorabilia, dishes, hobby items, old furniture, then forget about them until they move or pass on. I hear about this all the time. I know items not displayed are soon forgotten. When I go thru clothing, cd’s, dvd’s I ask myself will I wear, play it again? If not, there are many in need/charities in my community. I encourage retirees to go room by room and really pare down so as not to burden others someday. It is a relief, and once done it is easily done several times a year.
carole says
I display most of my stuff too, I find it helps me keep only the things I actually use and that are pretty.
Steven Blake mba says
What a brilliant article, thank you for sharing. It really struck a chord with me as I help people declutter their minds. Every single heading you used is helpful in my work as well as in the physical nature of decluttering. Very much food for thought. Thanks again, Steven
Colleen@365lessthings says
Hi Steve, thank you for your comment.
I soon discovered that decluttering stuff was all about clearing your mind. The clutter is all about what goes on in our heads after all. Letting go of the stuff physically is easy once we let go of the idea in our heads that we need it. I can’t get rid of the things quick enough once I have made the decision to let it go.
Amanda Ware says
Steve you can certainly help my cluttered mind then, I’m finding it really hard to get my head around letting go of my clutter. My husband doesn’t understand how hard it is for me and it causes such friction.
Lynn Brown says
Amanda – I am with you. It is so hard for me to let go also. My mom was a clutterer and always had more than 2 of the same item and hoarded a lot of stuff. I do the same …. I try to let it go by giving it to my grown children, but they don’t want it and it hurts me that they don’t look at it like I do as Memories and Sentimental things. Problem is, everything is sentimental to me. I did give things to donations places and felt good to clean the stuff in my trunk, I have had yard sale, but not much goes ! That should tell me something, but I am glad when I still have the left-overs ! ! ! Sick, I know …. and my mind is definitely all cluttered all the time. I get where I feel so overwhelmed that I just don’t do anything then. I find it hard to believe that I hate clutter, and this is exactly what I do …. I don’t know what the heck is wrong with me that it is so hard to let go. I always feel I am going to need the item or that it is too pretty to give away ….. so, stashed in the kitchen cabinets or closets or wherever I can put the items so I don’t see them and have to get rid of them is where they are now. I am going to try some of your decluttering tips, but it will take such a long time to let go of so much “stuff” …. I have to do something … not getting any younger !
Colleen@365lessthings says
Hi Lynn, I have to say I was lucky in this respect, my parents, although they had a lot of useful stuff because they were both very handy people, they never had a lot of sentimental stuff. So I suppose I wasn’t raised to be sentimental about stuff. That is not to say I don’t have my little stash of things. I most certainly do. Having said that, I can still understand your attachment and how that makes it hard for you to let go.
My best advice is to focus your time and energy on the present, the people you love and the things you like to do, rather than on times gone by and the material items that remind you of them. If your stuff is draining you then it isn’t worth keeping. But as I have said in the article it is best to work on the easy stuff first. This will strengthen your ability to let go. Once you start to see the benefits of less stuff your desire to let go of more will hopefully increase, while decreasing your desire to keep stuff. In the meantime don’t bring any more items in that you are likely to become sentimentally attached to. The best cure is always prevention.
Loren says
Hey Lynn, I have been there with that overwhelmed and cluttered mind as well. One thing that helped me move through a bunch was what I call “Fire Sale”. It’s easy to do. Close your eyes and imagine that you had a fire and lost everything in your home (god forbid). Ok, now for the fun part. When you go to refurbish your home with stuff, what would you re-buy that you can’t live without…really think about it. Would you re-buy that pile of clothes that still have tags from 2 years ago. Would you really re-buy every single knick knack, or just the most important ones? Or that stinky teddy bear from your adult son’s childhood…If not, take a picture and let it go.. just take a deep breath and start with a few simple things…let the feeling of accomplishment sit with you for a day…you will feel a few pounds lighter and start to get mentally clearer…you can do it….I have. Good Luck!
Amanda Ware says
Thank you for this. We to have moved from a spacious 3 bedroom house to a smaller 2 bedroom apartment and we are overwhelmed with the clutter I have accumulated over the years. I want to try your advice of moving one item a day starting with the easier items then moving onto the harder more sentimental ones later. I hope I have the courage like you to keep going when I get to the sentimental items though.
ScooterShell says
Amanda, let me encourage you! You have a great plan in starting slowly and with the easy stuff. When you get to the harder things, remember to ask yourself if you LOVE it or if you USE it. Be honest with yourself (that’s the hardest bit).
My family moved, on average, every 2nd year until I was 18. Every time we moved, we had to declutter. And each time I would get rid of stuff. But each time there would be things that I just wasn’t ready to let go of yet! And that’s okay! You might be ready next time, or you might keep it “forever”.
Go for it! You’ll love the results!!!
Colleen@365lessthings says
Good advice ScooterShell.
Amanda Ware says
Thank you so much for the encouragement ScooterShell, I know it’s not going to be easy but I have to do this, for myself, my husband and mostly for my 10 year old daughters sake. I don’t want her to grow up holding on to things like I did, it is a bind that is so unnecessary.
Colleen@365lessthings says
Hi Amanda, I wish you the strength to let those sentimental items go. I have found that my desire to clear my space soon became stronger than my desire to keep most things. The things I do keep are either useful, beautiful or much loved. When it comes to decluttering the sentimental items, if I have a choice between something big or something small as a reminder of a person or memory I choose the small thing. The reason for this is obvious, the small thing will evoke the same memories but take up the least space. I used to have quite a few things that remind me of my grandmother. I have gotten rid of most of them but have kept her engagement and eternity rings. They are enough.
Also after starting this mission I stopped collecting memorabilia items. I don’t buy souvenirs, if attending an event I don’t keep invitations or other offerings and I don’t save reminders of things I have done.
Amanda Ware says
Thank you Colleen, I will certainly keep that in mind. I have also made a conscious decision from today to not take anymore things from others that they are chucking out no matter how amazing and wonderful they look or are. I will only take them if I really need them.
My big hurdle will be the boxes of drawings and crafty things my daughter has drawn and made me over the years. I have them in a “memories box”.
Joy says
What I have started doing with my children’s creations and art is photographing them. Then save them in two seperate places. Always there to refer back to, or to look through, but take up no space at all!
Carole in The UK says
Joy, what a fantastic idea.
My granddaughters are always ‘making’ me bits of art and I am always reluctant to throw them away. Photographing them is a fantastic idea!
Thanks for that.
Kelly says
You can then put those photos in a Shutterfly (or other similar) album and have it printed when they are running a 50% off special. My thought is if they are worth keeping, they are worth looking at. If they are not worth looking at, don’t waste your time- just toss them out!
Colleen@365lessthings says
Hi Joy, I scanned my son’s baby and 1st birthday cards before recycling them. Just as well I did because I found $30 inside. He was pretty darn happy too. He was 21 at the time.
Karen R says
There is a great iOS app a photographer friend of mine told me about called ArtKive. You can take pictures of your kids work and save it that way.
Colleen@365lessthings says
I was going to suggest ArtKive myself Karen R. Someone told me about that once and I posted about at 365 Less Things.
Kathy says
What has worked for me, as a mom of 3 girls, is to take photos of bulky things and scan artwork, school papers, certificates, report cards, etc. That way I still have the memory of the things, and the evidence of it, but I don’t have to have the actual things taking up space. I have a digital photo frame in my kitchen/dining area and those photos/scans are included with the family photos so we see their artwork and achievements as well as photos.
Stone says
Thanks to everyone for all the great suggestions! My strategy with my son’s keepsakes and childhood artwork, class projects and such has been two-fold. He’s 12 now and we “edit” his work together. For example, he will be changing schools this year, so I have gathered all the saved “stuff” from elementary and we will select only the pieces most important to him to keep. (Perhaps one or two important to mom, but no more.) It’s a chance to relive memories and see how he has grown. Then we say good-bye to the stuff, leaving a much condensed collection.
Secondly, I found that I had raised a son less sentimental about objects than I am! When he announced he was ready to part with beloved childhood toys, I was heartbroken. Yet, I decided to “re-gift” the most dear items to younger children in our lives with a note to their parents (dear friends) explaining their significance. Passing on a beloved “stuffie” this way feels like passing on a magical object!
Erin says
I apologize for sounding harsh here, and I totally understand the sentimentality of our kids’ treasured items, but if I were to receive a friend or relatives kids’ loved-up worn-out “stuffie”, no matter how precious it may be to the original owner, I would wait till the gifter was out of sight and then toss it. First, because stuffed animals are teeming with dust mites and other allergens, unless properly cleaned. Second, because just because something is precious to you does not mean it is precious to anyone else in the whole world. It is special to you because of the memories associated with it, and you can’t “gift” someone those special memories. Please, all you sentimental types out there that can’t bear to throw something away, don’t burden others with your “precious” items. I’ve been given things in that way before, and because I knew the gifter would look for them whenever they visited me, I felt forced to keep them though I never wanted them in the first place! Have a special burial service if you must, but please don’t “gift” them to anyone else unless that person specifically asks for it!
Vincent says
Ah, number 9. My grandparents often toss out things that belong to other people and sometimes it ends up being something important. Great idea to include that warning. Cleaning does need to be done with precaution!
Colleen@365lessthings says
Hi Vincent, I stress this to my readers often. However I would like to add that I do also subscribe to the idea that “Possession is nine tenths of the law.”. That is if someone leaves their clutter at someone else’s home, and on request, neglects to remove it within a reasonable length of time, then the person housing it should have the right to do with it what they will.