One of the most enjoyable things you can do is to declutter your house. Less stress, less debt, and more time to spend with family and friends are all advantages of a clutter-free home.
I undertook a major first decluttering a few years ago, and I haven’t looked back since. Every season, I make adjustments, but overall, I’ve managed to keep my home clutter-free.
Very early on in my minimalist path, I came to the conclusion that the “fill up a skip” philosophy wasn’t for me.
I detest the harm humans are causing to the earth and want to do my part to leave less of a carbon imprint.
Thus, in order to declutter our house, I have decided to take a more thoughtful approach.
Trash or treasure?
Keeping in mind what I like to refer to as the unlived lives of things is one strategy for maintaining this more aware attitude. Because the proverb is really accurate. Someone else’s treasure might be in my garbage.
like the motorcycle helmet that has been unused for over 7 years and is still in our garage. Maybe it wasn’t the intended conclusion to its tale? Maybe it was intended to use its remaining time to save the life of a young man who took unnecessary risks while riding his new motorcycle.
Then there is the outdated laptop that is kept in the extra closet. The hinge is ancient and sluggish, and it is broken. Yet, it could end up being a donor! When merged, parts from other devices that would otherwise end up in landfills are prevented from that destiny and are made usable once again.
While it may not be in style right now, the winter coat from our international vacation a decade ago is still in excellent shape. It would proudly ward against the cold for years to come from a new owner.
Instead of simply dumping our unwanted items at the door of our neighborhood thrift stores, taking the time to think about who could benefit from them might be a terrific option.
A tale of two coffee makers
Of sure, we shouldn’t give inanimate items such a high unjustified worth. After all, they are simply ‘things’.
But what if these items we keep hidden away in our garages and closets may be useful to someone else? If we aren’t utilizing them, they have little to no worth when they are kept in our closet.
But in the hands of someone who is in utter need of that specific item? Our mess turns becomes their treasure.
We were given an ancient coffee maker a few years ago. The owners had upgraded and were going to take their previous model, which was in great working condition, to the recycling facility nearby. Fortunately, it ended up at our residence. Let’s just say that coffee plays a significant role in our household.
I first retained our plungers because I thought they could be a useful backup. But after a few months, they started to anger me since they were collecting dust in the bench’s corner.
A buddy of mine had always drank instant coffee. mostly due to the somewhat higher cost of other varieties of coffee. In order to start her started, I stopped over for coffee and brought the plungers I no longer required.
For two families, two thoughtful choices about undesired objects made a difference. And if you’re a parent who has struggled with sleep deprivation for a long time, you realize these were radical adjustments!
Mindful decluttering
One of the core principles of minimalism is getting rid of the stuff you don’t need and keeping just the things that are really essential.
Yet I reject the feeling of immediate satisfaction that comes from throwing away things carelessly by stuffing them in bags. This strategy comes seem as flimsy and vacuous. Mindless.
In addition, there have been some regrettable effects as a result of Marie Kondo’s new Netflix series’ success. Attempts to keep up with the inflow of the “craze” have been difficult for charity shops throughout the globe, which are overrun.
Dropping boxes off outside your neighborhood thrift store is the simpler option when downsizing your house. Right, out of sight, out of mind?
When I had extra clothing, I used to pack them up and donate them to a local thrift store (which shall remain nameless). Nevertheless, one day as I passed by the shop’s rear, I saw them throwing many bags of donated clothing into a garbage skip.
I conducted some research and discovered another local group that sorts through goods and sends those that aren’t good enough for resale to be converted into rags after I had recovered from the shock and horror of this (fast fashion is the second worst environmental polluter behind oil).
Four reasons to try mindful decluttering
Save the environment. As I have said, one of the most rapidly expanding sources of environmental contamination is textile waste. This issue may be solved by buying used things or from eco-friendly clothing producers (think organic, sustainable material). Making sure that everything we take out of our closet isn’t merely thrown in a skip also matters. Ask your neighborhood used shop what they do with stuff they can’t display on their shelves.
Give to receive. Consider identifying individuals who may need your stuff and giving them to them personally rather than hauling boxes and bags to a store. To be able to brighten someone’s day by giving them something is such an honor and a gift. And it truly is better to give than to get, as the proverb goes. Giving offers an indescribable delight.
Make some money. I like the fact that contributing to neighborhood secondhand stores benefits charities like the Salvation Army and the SPCA, while I’m not suggesting avoiding donations to these establishments altogether. But if you have the time, think about selling your things. Pay off debt or save the money for your next vacation.
Repurpose. I began following the repurposing trends that appeared in my Pinterest feed a few years ago. Some of my favorite projects are shown here. After rejecting products, recycling or repurposing our “waste” is the best course of action. Before recycling something, see whether it can be used again.
Even if you choose to apply this more thoughtful method to 10% of your decluttering, it might have a significant impact on the environment, your financial situation, and your neighborhood.