“If organizing your stuff worked, wouldn’t you be done by now?” —Courtney Carver
Organizing our things is important. It is helpful to know where things are stored and how to easily access them. But let’s be honest with ourselves, organizing is always only a temporary solution. We organize our things and find new storage solutions today… but are left again tomorrow, doing the exact same thing.
Finding better ways to organize our stuff holds some benefit, but that benefit is fleeting at best.
However, when we take the step of fully getting rid of stuff we do not need, we find permanent, longer-lasting benefits.
Minimizing possessions is an act of permanence because they are removed from our care entirely. It lays the groundwork for overcoming consumerism altogether. This step of intentionally living with less forces questions of values and purpose. And it provides the opportunity to live life pursuing our greatest passions.
Minimizing is always better than organizing. (tweet that)
How then do we accomplish this in our unique living space in a way that aligns with our lifestyle? We accomplish this room-by-room physically handling each and every item in our possession. And we learn to ask better questions.
In fact, almost all of decluttering comes down to asking ourselves only two questions:
1. Do I need this?
Discerning the difference between needs and wants has become almost a full-time job in our society. Advertisers routinely market items of comfort and luxury as items of need. I never knew I needed so much until somebody told me I did.
Almost all decluttering has to start somewhere. And every professional organizer will ask you to answer this question over and over again: Is this something I need to keep?
This is an important place to start because it provides a beginning framework within which to make better decisions. If we can identify the things we no longer need, we can begin to recognize the things that can be removed.
Of course, our human needs are actually quite slim: water, food, shelter, and clothing. It’s important to note we’re talking about more than mere survival here—nobody wants to just survive life, we want to make the most of it! What we’re talking about is realizing our fullest potential.
The deeper question then that we should be asking is, What items do I need to keep to realize my life’s full potential and purpose?
This question will get us further and provide an even more robust framework to make decisions about what to keep and what to remove. But even this falls a bit short.
Just because your answer is, “No, I don’t need this,” doesn’t mean you are going to remove it—or at least, not easily remove it. We all have things in our home that we know we don’t need. And yet, we choose to keep.
This, then, is where the second question becomes so helpful. And why it is even more important.
2. Why do I have this?
This question moves our thought process beyond functionality and into intentionality.
Ask yourself that question with everything you touch: Why do I own this? When you do, you will be surprised at the answers.
Case in point: Your closet. One of the first areas of my home that I chose to minimize was my wardrobe closet. When I did, I noticed all sorts of different styles and colors and fits—many of which I no longer wore.
And I am not alone in this—many of our closets are filled with items we no longer wear. Clearly, our over-filled closets have nothing to do with functionality. Instead, they have everything to do with intentionality.
Why do we own all these different articles of clothing and so much more than we need? Is it because we love them all or need that many shirts or shoes? No. We buy them because we are trying to keep up with changing fashions—the same changing styles that the fashion industry told us we needed to remain in style.
Additionally, when we look in our living rooms, we notice all kinds of decorations and knick-knacks cluttering our shelves. Why do we have them? Because we love them and they tell the story of our lives? Doubtful. Instead, we bought them because they were on sale, they matched the couch, or those built-in shelves needed something on them.
In each case, we buy things and keep them, not because they benefit our lives, but for some other intention. This realization makes the process of decluttering easier and it holds benefit for almost every item we own: Why do I own these CDs, that piece of furniture, these toys, these old electronics? Once we determine the why, we are better equipped to answer the What now?
Those two questions: “Do I need it?” and “Why do I have it?” form the basis for your best decluttering efforts going forward. They will prove to be enlightening and will open up new ideas about what items to keep and what items to remove.
And ultimately, isn’t that goal? To remove things entirely from our homes that we no longer need… so we can begin living the life that we want.
If you need more help on where to start, check out our Declutter Your Home Checklist.
Shirl Hrycko says
Good ideas Sister. Thanks for sharing!
marga says
I found this very helpful and enjoyed everyone’s comments. Another question I find works is – “Would I buy this article now, if I didn’t already have it?” If the answer is no, out it goes!
Anne Peterson says
Great question, would I buy this article now…and I think it’s a good question for things that have been given to us too. Getting rid of things we don’t like is not getting rid of those who gave it to us. And I bet some of them are not holding onto things out of guilt.
Helen connolly says
I had decided to go through all my clothes and get rid of what I wasn’t wearing, but not until trying every article on and checking it in front of a full length mirror. It so surprised me how I liked most of what I hadn’t been wearing. This helped me almost completely stop shopping for clothes, this was over two years ago and made a huge difference in what I spend and what I choose to buy, and it has taken away a need or desire to shop for recreation Also, getting ready for work or any other occasion is much easier with a closet full of clothes I like.
I did have some discards, but not many.
Peggy says
I love reading your post..
Jean Zastrow says
I need to tackle my clothes again. I donated 5 large bags last November when we moved. I need to lose weight so I have totes with quality smaller thing which I also purged but kept hard to find items. Am I crazy to hang on to them?
Meg says
This is about so much more than just owning less. Every thing you own takes some of your energy and attention. A cluttered home fights with you every day. When you move things out of your life that are not useful or joyful you make room for more of what really matters. Your clutter is stealing your life.
Mansukh says
I can fully resonate with Meg, everything you own takes some of your energy and attention. I also like ‘your clutter is stealing your life’
All that remains for me to do now is to start and that is the hardest thing to do.
I would also like to add that we are guests on this planet, just passing through. We need to think about what the ordeal the people we leave behind would have to undergo.. getting rid of our clutter.
Thank you.
Anne Peterson says
I totally agree. I get tired of the fight. I love it when I have a day that I fill a box and just get rid of stuff. And I know as I keep doing it, I will get to those things I swore I’d never part with. I need that energy and attention for more important things.
Samir Kadam says
Hi Meg,
You Have made my day by your post .
THANKS A LOT !!
Jamie says
10 Minutes a day is what I do. Place the items in a box/ Tupperware and donate to local salvation army or goodwill.
Michael Stringfellow says
Funny thing ? Men do not like to get rid of things, well I for one don’t
I kid you not. Every time I give something away, or throw it away. Two days later I need it ? ( Too Late )
Susan E Zimmer says
This may come off elementary for some, however, for years I pretend in my head that at the end of every month I have to move. This helps me to recycle, donate or put into my future garage sale tote. I am very good at re gifting as well. The day before each recycle and garbage day pick up I get crazy for purging. Living free of material is one of the best life style changes I could have ever done twenty years ago.
Rosemary says
My husband wants to keep everything. Hr would keep junk mail if I didn’t throw it out. He would never get rid of anything. His response is, “it is in good condition and I might need it someday.” That also is his answer to the “why do I have this?” question.
So he would say he “needs” everything that he has. How do I deal with this? Also, he gets very upset if I ask him to decide what to do with something that we no longer use or need.
Any advice? I need a better question.
Diane says
My husband is similar to yours. We rent a very inexpensive storage unit and the things he can’t bear to get rid of, he will but in a tub and take a photo of the contents and take it to the storage unit. That way, if he ever wants to just go “be with his stuff”, it’s right up the street, JUST NOT IN OUR HOME. I love it. I’ve told our children that when we die, just quit paying on the unit…it will all disappear and they won’t have to mess with it. He even bought his own casket to store there.
Philip Henderson says
Will they get used? All of them? Could you let go of some of them? would you? when?….. :-)
Donna Woods says
The hardest thing for me is: I am a crafter/scrapbooker. I have 60 plus finished albums. I have so much oodles of crafting/scrapbooking supplies…
Linda Hicken says
I love crafts and painting but don’t have a lot of space, so I get my “fix” making gifts for others. I bet someone would love you to make a scrapbook for them, for a special anniversary or birthday perhaps, especially if they don’t have time or the talent for it. Another thought, donate to a youth centre or kindergarten!
Michelle says
Struggling too, but there’s a lot of my adult children’s belongings I’m storing until they have homes of their own. Is it realistic to think they’ll want old year books, American Girl Dolls, artwork they’ve made, etc., in the years to come? They say yes but I’m doubtful.
Anne Peterson says
I still have artwork my kids made. It is important to me. If I have room to store a few things for my kids, I would. It depends on if it is infringing on your space, taking your peace of mind.
Maybe they could come up with another alternative as far as a storage space for what they think they will want in the future.
Krista says
If you make it their problem they will probably get rid of most of it. e.g. tell them they need take everything home with them or go together and rent a storage space for the things they want to keep. My son is still at home but he has to put his stuff in his room. That limits what he can keep. Of course this doesn’t work for kids away at college but that only lasts for a very few years.