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Five Declutter Questions

I am working through the 30 Day Declutter Challenge, and it’s going really well. It’s been a lot easier than I thought it would be to get rid of our extra stuff. It feels good to throw things away or to be able to donate it to people who could really use it.  Today I sharing five declutter questions I’ve been asking myself.

 

Slowly, my house is getting a little more spacious and less cluttered with each area that I’m working to purge.

There have, however, been a few objects along the way that I have had to set aside to really contemplate what I should do with them. Instead of pushing them farther into the closet to avoid having to make a decision about it, (which would normally be my first response) I found a few questions to help me

 

Five Declutter Questions

 

1. Do I use it regularly?

If it has sat in a closet for over six months do I really need it?  Case and point: My mixing bowls are a staple! I whip those puppies out just about every day, but that large platter I bought for that one party we had two years ago is still taking up space in my cabinet. And the funny thing is, it’s probably not even worth five bucks.

 

 

2. Do I have a similar item that serves the same purpose?

True story, my grandma had a closet full of every color of polyester pants you can imagine with some duplicates of the same color. She was a classy, matching lady, but the truth of the matter was she could only wear one pair at a time. Lesson learned: say goodbye to multiples even if they are the perfect shade of lavender polyester!

 

 

3. Is it worth the time I spend cleaning, storing, and maintaining it?

There is no point in wasting my time by organizing the same twenty balls of yarn that I always rummage through to find the only two colors I actually do use. If I find myself having to organize it all the time, that usually means I need to clear out the clutter.

 

 

4. Am I keeping this out of obligation, just in case, or to someday fix it?

I have to remind myself… No, there is not a hidden camera in my house sending video proof of me throwing away gifts that people have gotten me.

 

 

5. Do I love it?

For me, this is a great question when it comes to things like décor or objects I hold onto for the purpose of sentiment or beauty. If it is genuinely beautiful and special to me, it’s a keeper. If not, it’s just taking up space and I need to be like Elsa, and just  “Let It Go…”

 

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What are the hardest things for you to let go of? Are there any other questions that you find helpful?

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14 Comments

  1. These are great questions to think about! For me the hard stuff to decide on are the things with nostalgia tied to them. How do you walk that fine line between treasuring some items and not just throwing everything out?!

    1. That is a fine line, that I find difficult too! I like what Becca suggested about possibly repurposing and downsizing sentimental items. I’m still working through those things. 🙂 Let me know if you come up with something that works for you! <3

  2. Hi Jessica, happy friday! It can be hard to part with sentimental items.There are a lot of items we don’t use but for the big party or thanksgiving they are a lifesaver. If we have duplicates we need to downsize. But you have me thinking about lavender polyester pants. Should I find some? ! We all can let it go when we are open to it. All your questions have Me pondering Jessica. Some of the kid stuff is hard to get rid of , clothes toys, it’s sad to think they are going beyond that stage but have to move on. Huggs Dear, Terri.?

  3. My biggest issue is when it comes to sentimental items. I’ve really streamlined the rest but when it comes to objects that have memories attached I seem to hit a wall. My go to question is – does this object deserve space in my home?.

    Happy Friday !! Have a wonderful weekend!

  4. We could be cousins! My grandma also had a closet full of polyester pants in every colour. Well, hers were actually polyester pants suits. And we can’t really be cousins because I don’t have a cousin Jessica.

    Anyway, to answer your question, sentimental items are the hardest for me. Sometimes, however, I can find a way to repurpose a sentimental item. For instance my other grandma was notorious for starting sewing projects and never finishing them. I inherited a lot of quilt blocks from her – not enough to make a quilt, but tons. I ended up cutting them up and making a simple softie for every great-grandchild, along with a book about this woman and her husband. That way everyone has to share the burden of sentimentality, I mean, get to appreciate her craftsmanship.

    1. lol, its fun that we share a strong polyester heritage!! 🙂 I love your idea for for sentimental things! I’m going to see if I can do something of that nature with some of mine. 🙂

  5. Our home is 1,000 square feet. I de-clutter every few months and have taught my daughter how to do the same. It is amazing how simple life becomes with less material things. Would throw my messy husband out, but he has sentimental value. Lol

    1. lol. Yeah you might want to keep that one around. 😉 and yes! It is amazing how much ‘lighter’ life feels when we clear out all the extra stuff. Thank you for sharing. <3

  6. I started doing what you are doing (and asking these questions) about five years ago. It was a long process but I am happy to say that I don’t have an attachment to things at this point. Even sentimental things. Now, photos….hmm, perhaps the one area I hold on. 😉

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