3419: 8 Simple Strategies For When You’re Struggling to Declutter by Claire Wilde with Becoming Minimalist

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[00:00:38] It's a Minimalist Monday edition of Optimal Living Daily. 8 Simple Strategies For When You're Struggling to Declutter by Claire Wilde with BecomingMinimalist.com and I'm Justin Malik.

[00:00:49] Hope you're having a great start to your week. Hope you're having a great start to your week if you're listening in real time. This is where I read to you from some of the best blogs I can find and get permission from.

[00:00:58] So with that, let's get right to today's Minimalist Monday post and start optimizing your life.

[00:01:07] 8 Simple Strategies For When You're Struggling to Declutter by Claire Wilde with BecomingMinimalist.com

[00:01:15] Embracing Simplicity

[00:01:16] The idea just sounds so good, doesn't it? Can't you just feel those tense shoulders loosening at the thought?

[00:01:23] So many people feel overwhelmed, overworked, and overloaded, often living in homes which are overfilled, yearning for a simpler way to live.

[00:01:32] A couple of years ago, I too was crying out for simplicity in my life, my bank balance, my schedule, my mind, and most definitely my home.

[00:01:42] I had somehow accrued a lot of consumer debt through a spending habit which never brought me happiness.

[00:01:48] Becoming minimalist and a handful of other sites inspired me to make some big changes which, in the end, came easier than I had thought.

[00:01:57] First, I stopped buying things I didn't need. It was a transformation.

[00:02:02] The stream of gadgets and trinkets coming into my life dried up.

[00:02:07] Sure enough, my thirst for new toys soon dried up along with it.

[00:02:11] This, in turn, allowed me to simplify my money.

[00:02:14] I began spending less than I made.

[00:02:17] Whereas, once I was drowning in debt, now I am surfacing.

[00:02:21] Soon I'll be breathing again.

[00:02:23] Then, once I had asked myself how I could be a more responsible consumer,

[00:02:27] I started asking myself how else I might be a better and happier person.

[00:02:33] Where I had been prone to envy, too often comparing myself with others,

[00:02:37] my focus gradually began to shift.

[00:02:40] Of course, I'm not magically immune from jealousy now,

[00:02:43] but at least I recognize it when it does rear its ugly head.

[00:02:47] Simplicity has also allowed me to rethink and readjust the way I spend my time.

[00:02:53] Much of this has been easy, like selling all my computer games

[00:02:57] and rediscovering the simple pleasure of curling up with a book.

[00:03:01] But there's no doubt about it.

[00:03:02] I have found one aspect of simplifying very, very hard,

[00:03:07] drastically reducing the number of possessions I already own.

[00:03:11] I've gone from having far too many things to having a few too many things.

[00:03:17] This alone has taken more than two years,

[00:03:20] and I have to confess to feeling frustrated at times with my slow progress.

[00:03:24] It was easy at first.

[00:03:26] Gathering up a box of unwanted belongings gave me a thrill each and every time.

[00:03:31] But then, out of nowhere, I hit a wall.

[00:03:34] And I've been struggling to push through it ever since.

[00:03:38] I've removed a third of my belongings,

[00:03:40] but I still own neglected 90s CDs and reference books I never use.

[00:03:45] I think I have not one, but two dead laptops haunting me.

[00:03:49] And I definitely have a lava lamp with no bulb in a box somewhere.

[00:03:53] I recently decided to start over.

[00:03:55] And now, after a period of reflection and inspiration,

[00:03:59] I'm fired up and ready once again to dig deeper, go further, and do better.

[00:04:05] If you want to declutter your home,

[00:04:07] but have ever felt frustration or disappointment with a lack of progress,

[00:04:12] know that you are not alone and it's okay.

[00:04:16] While some people feel able to jettison all their stuff overnight,

[00:04:20] others will take their time.

[00:04:22] Here are eight ideas for when you're struggling to declutter.

[00:04:26] Number one, take things one step at a time.

[00:04:31] If you're struggling with overwhelm,

[00:04:33] concentrate on one room, one piece of storage,

[00:04:36] or even one shelf at a time,

[00:04:39] especially if the job as a whole seems insurmountable.

[00:04:43] Your speed doesn't matter.

[00:04:45] A step forward is still a step forward.

[00:04:49] Number two, find your people.

[00:04:52] Online support can be a huge help,

[00:04:54] but there's nothing like meeting up face-to-face with other people

[00:04:57] who are pursuing simplicity.

[00:04:59] Depending on your immediate surroundings,

[00:05:01] this may or may not be easy to do,

[00:05:03] but the more you share your story of the change you're trying to make,

[00:05:07] the more people you will find drawn to it.

[00:05:10] Number three, take before and after photos.

[00:05:14] Oftentimes, being able to see the progress you have already made is helpful,

[00:05:19] especially if we start to feel frustrated during the process.

[00:05:23] Number four, do half a job, at least for now.

[00:05:27] So you still have, let's say, a vintage teddy bear collection,

[00:05:31] and you're afraid to say goodbye to it completely.

[00:05:34] Could you let go of half of them?

[00:05:36] This strategy can be particularly helpful

[00:05:38] for some of those hard-to-remove items,

[00:05:40] like books, sentimental collections,

[00:05:42] souvenirs, or hobby stuff.

[00:05:45] Number five, inject some fun into the process.

[00:05:49] There are loads of decluttering games you can play.

[00:05:52] I came up with one called the 5 in 5 challenge.

[00:05:54] Can you find five items you don't want in just five minutes?

[00:05:58] You could even challenge your whole household

[00:06:01] to compete against each other.

[00:06:03] Number six, quarantine your belongings.

[00:06:07] Try boxing up items you fear you might need one day

[00:06:10] and hide them away for a set period of time before letting them go.

[00:06:15] If there's anything in there you truly do need,

[00:06:18] you'll realize before you've given it away.

[00:06:21] Number seven, work out your weak points.

[00:06:24] What have you found easy to declutter,

[00:06:27] and what have you found hard?

[00:06:28] Why is that?

[00:06:29] Perhaps you worry you'd later regret saying goodbye

[00:06:32] to sentimental trinkets or just-in-case items.

[00:06:35] Maybe giving away expensive toys is a painful reminder

[00:06:38] of what little value they gave you.

[00:06:41] Perhaps your conscience stops you

[00:06:43] from tossing items you can't recycle.

[00:06:45] Whatever the hurdle is,

[00:06:47] there will be a way around it.

[00:06:49] It may take more time and self-reflection

[00:06:51] than other areas in your home,

[00:06:53] but don't fear the process.

[00:06:55] It's always beneficial in the long run.

[00:06:59] And number eight, practice self-compassion.

[00:07:02] Don't beat yourself up if you're not seeing instant results.

[00:07:06] You might take a while to get to where you need to be.

[00:07:08] That's okay.

[00:07:10] If you're bringing less into your home

[00:07:11] than you are sending out, you're decluttering.

[00:07:14] You're heading to the same destination.

[00:07:17] You're just taking a little longer to get there.

[00:07:23] You just listened to the post titled

[00:07:25] Eight Simple Strategies for When You're Struggling to Declutter

[00:07:28] by Claire Wilde with becomingminimalist.com.

[00:07:31] And I'll be right back with my commentary.

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[00:08:44] Diggie to Claire.

[00:08:46] She mentioned something that I think is pretty important.

[00:08:49] She said she went from having far too many things

[00:08:51] to having a few too many things,

[00:08:54] basically saying she still believes she has too many things.

[00:08:57] And not only that, but it took two years

[00:09:00] just to make that kind of progress

[00:09:02] and at times becoming frustrated with that slow progress.

[00:09:06] But as she said, progress is progress.

[00:09:09] It's not going backwards or staying the same.

[00:09:12] And I would argue even staying the same

[00:09:14] can be a good thing when talking about minimalism

[00:09:17] because most people are always bringing more into the house

[00:09:20] and letting go rarely happens.

[00:09:22] That's why I like some of the challenges we've heard

[00:09:24] from some of the minimalist authors

[00:09:26] I've narrated over the years.

[00:09:27] For example, the one-in-one-out rule,

[00:09:30] which was sort of alluded to in this post,

[00:09:32] where if you buy a piece of clothing,

[00:09:35] you let another piece go.

[00:09:37] At least in that case,

[00:09:38] we're not expanding our collections,

[00:09:40] but instead keeping it the same

[00:09:42] and trying to be more mindful of our purchases,

[00:09:45] curating that wardrobe with each new purchase

[00:09:47] as we rid ourselves of the unused.

[00:09:50] Doing just that, or half a job as she mentioned,

[00:09:54] and practicing self-compassion,

[00:09:56] these are all great things to do

[00:09:58] when making any kind of change

[00:10:00] because it definitely won't happen overnight.

[00:10:03] So keep up those baby steps.

[00:10:04] I hope your weekend month is going as well as possible.

[00:10:07] Have a great rest of your day

[00:10:09] and I'll be back tomorrow reading to you

[00:10:10] where your optimal life awaits.