The New Minimalism Decluttering Process
HURRAY, IT’S DECLUTTERING DAY!
It’s finally here, the day you’ve been waiting for — it’s time to declutter (insert household category) of your home! We couldn’t be more excited for you. We recommend starting first thing in the morning, right after a hearty breakfast and a little caffeine. Don’t neglect the setting: turn on the lights, open the blinds, crack the windows to circulate fresh air, perhaps turn on some background music. And drink water! A couple of hours into sorting, these little tips will massively help your productivity and focus.
Staging
The importance of staging cannot be stressed enough. By removing items from the context of where they have been living in your home, it is easier to view them with an objective eye.
Gather all the items in the category (or subcategory) from every part of your home.
Stage items by placing like with like. (all t-shirts are piled together, all pants piled together).
Pause and take it all in. Did you realize that you had six pairs of nearly identical black boots? This is your reality check.
Clean. Return to the now-empty spaces in your home and give them a thorough sweep and wipe down. Strategize. With everything now removed from the space, try viewing it with fresh eyes. Use this time to consider your over- all organization strategy.
Set a goal for yourself. As you appreciate the beauty of your now-empty space, consider what percentage of items needs to be donated so that the room can breathe again. Select your favorites. cherry-pick your five favorite pieces and place them on display . These items epitomize your aesthetic or personal style and will subsequently act as your guiding light.
Designate piles. Write the following categories on sticky notes or directly on the bags you will use to sort your belongings:
Keep
Donate
Maybe—this includes clothing items to be tried on. Refrain from pausing the process every time you need to try something on. Save this for the end.
Recycle
Trash
To-do. This includes all the items that:
belong to someone else and need to be returned,
need repair or special cleaning,
need to be returned to a store, or
you want to sell at a consignment shop.
Sorting
This is where all the decision making comes in.
First, reference your favorites pile. Use your favorites to guide your decisions. Everything you keep should be able to hold its own next to these items.
Pick up each individual object, one at a time. (Yes, every single item.) As you hold each item, tap into your gut reactions, your first impulse. Notice what excites you. On the other hand, notice if you repeatedly validate why something should stay.
Decide where the item belongs and place it in corresponding piles )keep, donate, etc). until you are finished with the category or subcategory.
The Maybe Pile: The truth about the maybe pile is that if an item made its way there to begin with, it’s safe to say you can donate it. When in doubt during the decision-making process, reference your favorite items. This allows you to focus on the items that best serve you in the present day, making it easier to release old items related to outdated ideas about yourself.
WRAP IT UP
Build at least one hour into the end of the day to wrap up all loose ends. At this time you will undoubtedly be tempted to kick off your shoes, grab a mug of tea (or something stronger), and relax on the couch, but finishing your session with your home clear of items to be dealt with is worth the effort. Complete the following steps to wrap up your day:
Examine your to-do pile. Does it feel exciting or daunting? Be assertive and discerning, because it’s entirely counterproductive for you to be left with hours of projects to deal with at the end of the day! Use your newfound ruthlessness to donate the items that you are wavering over.
Return the borrowed items to their original owners.
Bring your donation pile to your local donation center. If you don’t already have a go-to donation locale, check the Resources section at the end of the New Minimalism: Declutter + Design book for tips.
Schedule a time in your calendar for any remaining tasks. Really! Take out your calendar, sit down, and find a day to complete these tasks.
Kick back and unwind. We recommend commemorating a job well done by savoring a quiet, easy evening, whether that means taking a shower, going out for a casual dinner, or cuddling up with a cup of tea or a glass of wine. Treat yourself!
This excerpt has been taken from New Minimalism Journal - Create Your Plan for a Less Cluttered Life.
