If you have ever said “I should declutter”, but then you don't…
Then you are totally normal. One thing I have learned is that when I tell myself I should do something, it's almost always because I want to do something, but I don't know how.
Maybe that's you too. You want to declutter, but…
- You don't know where to start
- You cant find the time or energy
- The process feels totally overwhelming to you
That all sounds so much better than “I should” right?
The problem with saying I should is…
It's loaded with shame. It doesn't allow for you to get what you need in order to complete the task.
All it does it make you believe that something is wrong with you because you have said it a lot of times, but never do it.
Saying “I should” keeps you in a loop and prevents you from problem solving.
Telling yourself you should just stop saying should is also unhelpful.
There is a phrase that floats around that says “stop shoulding yourself”. And while that sounds nice, it's good in theory but not in practice. If we all could just stop this we would!
The same way we all would have decluttered by now if it was as easy as just getting rid of it.
A better way to handle the “shoulds” in your life is to figure out what you are missing that makes it hard for you to do the thing.
Let's practice together real quick. What is the gap for you when you say I should declutter? Some examples might be…
I don't know how to start. So I can google ways to start decluttering.
I don't know where to take my stuff, or make decisions on what to donate, trash or sell.
I can't find the time or energy to declutter. Or, I am just way too overwhelmed and need help.
And then you have a lot of problems to solve, and things to google!
Or you can just get all the answers to these in one place here! Decluttering Simplified