3139: 5 Signs It’s Time To Stop Decluttering by Courtney Carver of Be More With Less on Enriching Life Experiences

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[00:00:58] With a minimalist Monday edition of Optimal Living Daily Episode 3139, Five Signs is Time

[00:01:04] to Stop Decluttering by Corny Carver of Be More's Less.com and my narrator Justin Molek.

[00:01:10] Now we keep this intro nice and minimal for minimalist Mondays, so let's get right to

[00:01:14] it as we optimize your life.

[00:01:21] Five Signs is Time to Stop Decluttering by Corny Carver of BeMore's Less.com

[00:01:28] I'm a big fan of decluttering.

[00:01:30] I've spent several years doing it and writing about it.

[00:01:34] I've gotten rid of most of my stuff, rarely shopped for new stuff, and have completely

[00:01:38] changed my relationship with stuff and shopping.

[00:01:42] Before decluttering, I always thought something new would change my life.

[00:01:46] I thought I deserved things because I worked so hard.

[00:01:49] I felt like I needed to own certain things to keep up.

[00:01:53] I thought shopping reduced stress, and I spent a bunch of money, time, attention, and energy

[00:02:00] on my stuff.

[00:02:02] After decluttering, I find confidence in who I am, not what I own or don't own.

[00:02:09] I know if I wait 30 days before I purchase, I usually won't want it anymore.

[00:02:14] I don't worry about people judging me on the things I choose to include in my home.

[00:02:18] Instead of shopping to reduce stress, I turn to self-care.

[00:02:22] I spend my money, time, attention, and energy on taking care of myself, people I love, and

[00:02:29] on projects and passions I really care about.

[00:02:33] I believe decluttering is a powerful part of the process of simplifying your life

[00:02:38] and creating more time and space for what you love.

[00:02:41] The problem occurs when decluttering takes over and begins to distract us from what

[00:02:46] we really want.

[00:02:48] That means something different for everyone, but when we are constantly defeated by not

[00:02:51] being simple enough or decluttered enough, we lose sight of what we are really after.

[00:02:57] The next time you are done decluttering your junk drawer, cleaning out your closet, or

[00:03:01] donating a box of stuff, stop.

[00:03:05] Before simplifying further, think about what you really want out of this life of yours.

[00:03:10] Is this the time to declutter more?

[00:03:12] Or is this the time to deepen a connection with someone you love?

[00:03:16] Is this the time to move on to your bookshelves?

[00:03:19] Or is this the time to create something new or serve in your community?

[00:03:24] You could read a book, go for a walk, or perhaps it is simply time to rest.

[00:03:30] If you aren't sure, consider these five signs it's time to stop decluttering.

[00:03:35] Do any of them resonate with you?

[00:03:37] Five signs it's time to stop decluttering.

[00:03:41] Number one, you are shopping faster than you are decluttering.

[00:03:46] If empty bookshelves and clear countertops have you sprinting to your favorite place to

[00:03:50] shop to fill up the empty space, slow down.

[00:03:54] Give yourself permission to not redecorate or shop for more.

[00:03:57] Be brave and hang out in the empty space.

[00:04:01] Take a little time to think about what you really want and need in your life right

[00:04:05] now.

[00:04:06] You might need a break to hang out in your newly decluttered space before subtracting

[00:04:10] or adding anything else.

[00:04:13] Be brave.

[00:04:15] Number two, decluttering feels like a competition or a race.

[00:04:20] There is no finish line.

[00:04:21] No one wins for having more or less stuff and trying to measure the success of your

[00:04:26] decluttering based on other people's journeys won't result in sustainable change or happiness.

[00:04:33] Hit restart on your decluttering efforts and move at a pace that works well for you.

[00:04:38] If that means stopping for a while, stop.

[00:04:41] Instead of comparing and competing away your accomplishments, zero in on what works for you.

[00:04:46] Be content.

[00:04:49] Number three, it is so hard for you to let go and decluttering makes you sad and anxious.

[00:04:56] If you've tried over and over again to declutter and let go but always end up

[00:05:00] feeling defeated and frustrated, stop decluttering.

[00:05:04] At least stop decluttering alone.

[00:05:06] Don't ask for help from friends and family or seek professional assistance.

[00:05:11] You don't have to do this alone.

[00:05:13] Be vulnerable.

[00:05:15] Number four, you feel frustrated when there is nothing to donate.

[00:05:20] If you spent the last month deep in decluttering and woke up this morning feeling

[00:05:24] annoyed that there was nothing left to toss, remember to take time to celebrate

[00:05:28] your accomplishments and think about what got you inspired to declutter in the

[00:05:32] first place.

[00:05:34] Look at how far you've come.

[00:05:36] Be joyful.

[00:05:38] Number five, you were fighting with your family because you gave away their stuff.

[00:05:44] If you're in a hurry to declutter and don't take your family's feelings into

[00:05:47] consideration, it might be time to step back and focus on your own stuff.

[00:05:52] Then choose love over stuff and have a gentle conversation with friends and

[00:05:56] family about why simplicity is important to you.

[00:06:00] Ask them what's important to them.

[00:06:03] Let them deal with their own stuff while you deal with yours and talk about it

[00:06:07] along the way.

[00:06:08] Be love.

[00:06:11] If you've been decluttering for a while and are wondering if you've done

[00:06:13] enough, take some time to live where you are right now.

[00:06:18] Can you be brave, content, vulnerable, joyful, and loving right here without

[00:06:24] giving one more thing away?

[00:06:26] It might not be time to stop decluttering, but if it is, shift your

[00:06:30] focus to what will make you feel even more brave, content, vulnerable, joyful, and

[00:06:36] loving.

[00:06:37] You've got the last part worked out.

[00:06:39] Now focus on the more.

[00:06:45] You just listened to the post titled Five Signs Is Time To Stop Decluttering by

[00:06:50] Courtney Carver of BeMoreTheLast.com and I'll be right back with my commentary.

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[00:08:22] Thank you to Courtney.

[00:08:26] A more rare kind of post for minimalist Monday.

[00:08:29] If you're new here, 99% of the time on minimalist Mondays we'll hear reasons

[00:08:34] why we should minimize our spaces or minds even.

[00:08:39] Tips and tricks on how to do that, where to minimize,

[00:08:42] challenges you can participate in like the minimalism game or Project 333.

[00:08:47] And then you have today sharing why you shouldn't.

[00:08:50] And I love that because we're all different

[00:08:53] and the minimalist lifestyle might not be perfect for where you are at this moment.

[00:08:59] First of all, it shouldn't be stressful.

[00:09:01] The whole point of minimalism is to get rid of things

[00:09:04] so we can focus on other more important things,

[00:09:08] which as the minimalists say aren't really things at all,

[00:09:11] but instead experiences, relationships, contribution, meaning, things like that.

[00:09:19] Even trying to minimize and all it does is stress you out and take up time,

[00:09:23] then the whole point is being missed and maybe it's not for you.

[00:09:27] Or maybe a less strict approach could do the trick.

[00:09:30] The point is as I always say,

[00:09:32] you have to figure out what's right for you

[00:09:35] and what's going to put you in the best place possible.

[00:09:37] That's what these articles and I really am here to help with.

[00:09:41] So hopefully it is helping.

[00:09:43] By the way, if it is and there's someone else you think it can help

[00:09:46] sharing this episode or the show in general with someone,

[00:09:49] would be greatly appreciated.

[00:09:51] But with that, have a great rest of your day

[00:09:53] and I'll see you tomorrow in The Tuesday Show,

[00:09:56] where your optimal life awaits.