We all know the feeling. You open your closet and it’s crammed full of clothes you never wear, shoes you never use, and jackets that are out of style. You open your desk drawer and it’s full of pens that no longer work, paper clips, and old receipts. Everywhere you look, there’s just stuff – and it’s all taking up space in your life. If this sounds familiar, then maybe it’s time to do a little decluttering.
Decluttering isn’t just about getting rid of material things – it’s also about decluttering your life. It’s about taking a hard look at what’s important to you and getting rid of anything that no longer serves a purpose. Before you start decluttering your home and your life, ask yourself these questions first.
38 Questions to help you declutter your home:
- How much time do I have?
- What’s my goal?
- What areas of my home need to be decluttered?
- Do I need to declutter all at once or can I do it gradually?
- How does this item make me feel?
- When was the last time I used it?
- Do I have more than one of these items?
- Is this item easy to care for?
- Do I love this item?
- Does it have sentimental value?
- What’s the emotional value of this item?
- Is the item in good condition?
- Does it fit my current lifestyle?
- Am I holding onto this for “someday”?
- Would someone else get more use out of it than I would?
- Do I need to keep the whole thing, or just part of it?
- Can I digitize it instead of storing it physically?
- How much space does this take up?
- Can I store it somewhere else?
- How much does this weigh?
- What would happen if I got rid of this?
- Would it put undue stress on me if I got rid of it?
- What items do I use daily?
- What items do I use weekly?
- What items do I use monthly?
- What items do I use annually?
- What items have I not used in the past year?
- What items could I easily replace if I had to?
- What items are valuable but unused? (e.g., collectibles, antiques).
- What’s the purpose of this item?
- Could I sell or donate this item?
- Am I keeping this item out of guilt?
- Is this item functional?
- Is the item expired or about to expire?
- What’s the cost of keeping it versus the cost of replacing it?
- How much work would it take to repair or clean this item?
- Can I consolidate these items into one container or room?
- What could I do with the extra space and time if I got rid of the items?
15 Questions to ask yourself as you declutter your life:
- What are my goals?
- What do I want to accomplish in the next year?
- What do I want to accomplish in the next five years?
- What’s important to me?
- What do I value most in life?
- What would I like to have more of in my life? (Time? Money? Love?)
- What would I like to have less of in my life? (Stress? Debt?)
- How would I want to feel every day?
- How do I want to be perceived by others?
- Do the people in my life support my goals and values?
- Do the things in my life support my goals and values?
- Is there anything in my life that is holding me back from achieving my goals?
- Is there anything in my life that causes me stress or anxiety?
- Is there anything in my life that I am keeping out of obligation or guilt?
- If I were to die tomorrow, would I be satisfied with the way I am living today?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best decluttering method?
There’s no one “best” decluttering method because everyone has different preferences and needs when it comes to organizing and managing their belongings. That said, some common strategies are often recommended as effective for decluttering.
These include techniques like breaking larger tasks into smaller ones, focusing on one area of your home at a time, and setting specific goals to keep you motivated. In addition, using tools like digital organizers or productivity apps can be helpful to stay organized and reduce the clutter in your home over time.
The best decluttering method is the one that works best for you.
Why is decluttering so hard?
Decluttering can be a difficult task for many people because it takes a great deal of time and effort to sort through all your belongings and decide which ones to keep and which ones to get rid of.
One possible reason why this process is so difficult is that we often have an emotional attachment to our things that makes it hard for us to let go of them, even if they’re no longer of use to us.
Additionally, many people struggle with the feeling of having wasted money on something they no longer need, which can make it difficult to part with things that were once valuable but are now just taking up space.
What should you not do when decluttering?
You should never throw away or donate items without first assessing their value or usefulness.
Don’t let your emotions guide you in deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. Instead, try to remain as objective as possible when decluttering, and take the time to think carefully about each item before making a final decision.
Don’t rush things when decluttering, as this can lead to mistakes and frustration.
Conclusion
After asking yourself these questions, you may realize that there are some things and areas in your life that could use a little decluttering – and that’s OK! The point is to get rid of anything that doesn’t serve a purpose so you can make room for things that are important to you.
So go through your stuff and ask yourself if each item is something you love or something you need. If neither is the case, maybe it’s time to say goodbye!
