Dogs see only in black and white. Popping your knuckles causes arthritis. Lightning never strikes the same place twice. Most myths are harmless. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for most decluttering misconceptions. At best, they’re slightly misleading. And at worst, they lead you to waste precious time and resources on things that will never improve the clutter situation in your home.
So let’s bust a few common decluttering myths once and for all.
Decluttering Misconception #1: Decluttering Means Getting Rid of Everything
Back in the early days of the minimalism trend, the idea was that you had to get rid of almost everything to live a clutter-free life. At least we all thought it worked, and to some extent it did. That’s why this approach to decluttering became so popular.
However, getting rid of everything isn’t as effective as it used to be.
The main reason? It’s not practical for a mom with kids who need a variety of things for their activities, learning, and development.
There are other reasons too. It’s emotionally draining and can lead to regret when you realize you’ve discarded something important. Plus, you might end up spending more money replacing items you hastily got rid of.
Which means that to create a more organized home, you can’t just throw everything out.
What to do instead:
You need to declutter mindfully by assessing each item’s value and necessity. For instance, keep what’s essential and has sentimental value but let go of things that no longer serve a purpose. In fact, the KonMari method recommends keeping only what sparks joy.
So if you’re looking to create a functional, organized home, here’s the approach I recommend trying out:
- Sort items into categories: Start with clothes, then books, papers, miscellaneous items, and finally sentimental items.
- Assess each item: Hold each item and ask yourself if it brings you joy or serves a practical purpose.
- Donate or recycle: Find new homes for items that no longer serve you.
Decluttering Misconception #2: You Need a Lot of Time to Declutter
Trying to dedicate entire weekends to decluttering is overwhelming. There’s so much to do, and if you’re busy with kids, it’s nearly impossible to find such large blocks of time. And then you end up feeling exhausted and defeated before you’ve made any real progress.
And if that’s not enough, here are 3 other reasons this myth won’t work:
- You get overwhelmed: Tackling too much at once can make you feel like you’re drowning in clutter.
- Lack of focus: With kids around, long decluttering sessions often get interrupted, leading to frustration.
- Burnout: Spending too long on decluttering can lead to burnout and make you want to quit altogether.
What to do instead:
Decluttering in short, focused bursts will help you achieve the desired outcome faster than marathon sessions. Combine this with a consistent routine, and you’ll gradually create a clutter-free home.
The best part is, you’ll save time and have more focus. Set a timer for 15-20 minutes each day and focus on one small area. This way, you make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed.
Decluttering Misconception #3: Decluttering Is a One-Time Project
One of the most persistent myths about decluttering is the idea that it’s a one-time project. So not true! Decluttering is a continuous process. Just like cleaning, it requires regular maintenance.
Decluttering is effective at keeping your home organized when you consistently incorporate it into your routine. However, if you treat it as a one-time event, clutter will inevitably build up again.
What to do instead:
Set aside regular time each week to declutter and organize. This could be as simple as spending 10 minutes each evening tidying up or having a weekly decluttering session for an hour.
For example:
- Daily: Spend 10 minutes tidying up common areas.
- Weekly: Dedicate an hour to decluttering a specific area, like a closet or drawer.
- Monthly: Do a more thorough check and clear out items you no longer need.
Decluttering Misconception #4: Decluttering Only Involves Physical Items
The truth? Decluttering goes beyond just physical items.
Even though you may be focused and diligent in clearing out your home, mental clutter and digital clutter can also contribute to a sense of chaos.
To really get the results you want, you should be decluttering your mind and digital spaces too.
What to do instead:
A simple step you can take today is to declutter your digital life by organizing files and deleting unnecessary emails. Additionally, practice mindfulness and reduce mental clutter by setting aside time for relaxation and self-care.
For example:
- Digital Declutter: Organize your desktop, delete old files, and unsubscribe from unwanted emails.
- Mental Declutter: Practice meditation, journaling, or simply taking a few minutes each day to clear your mind.
Listen to this episode where Nichole, mom of 3 shares how decluttering extended far beyond her physical items.
Decluttering Misconception 5
If decluttering was as easy as piecing together random checklists, and just getting rid of you stuff, we all would have done it by now right?
(By the way.. how are those random checklists, and attempts to do it on your own working out? Not so great I’m guessing, I see it all the time and everyone does it at some point!)
Haphazardly trying to declutter with patchwork information you’ve found in random places and just moving things from place to place indefinitely isn’t how you declutter a home, and keep it that way.
What does?
Implementing a step by step process that follows tried and true decluttering strategies that both remove your clutter, AND gets to the root of incoming clutter.
