Finding happiness in abundance of life, not the collection of things...
All of us have so, so much -- houses and closets (and if you are me, your car!) filled to the brim with an overflow of stuff. How do you let go of it and begin the journey to a 'less is more' type attitude?
Lately I have been doing a ton of spring cleaning. We are moving the first week in June so it feels especially necessary to begin the process of purging, donating, selling, etc. Through it, I'm learning that I feel so much better with less 'stuff' on my hands. It's inspiring me to be a lot more intentional in my buying habits moving forward.
I very much want our future home to be a collection of memories and things that hold true importance to us, rather than impulse purchases cluttering our space. I know it's cliché, but getting rid of what doesn't feel important has made me feel sooo much lighter. And, it makes me excited to go into a new season of life, in a new space, with a cleaner slate upon which to create a more meaningful life.
For many (myself included), letting go of things is tough. I am trying to practice non-attachment, but truthfully, it's all too easy for me to assign value to things that really aren't that important. So, for those of us who need a little guidance, I wanted to create a mini guide on decluttering and clearing out your space to make room for what matters!
01. Have you used it in the last 6 months - 1 year?
I'm very guilty of holding on to things because I think I might want them one day in the future. Years will have passed without me using certain pieces, so I end up with a closet overflowing with stuff.
Obviously, some things may be worth hanging on to (investment pieces you don't have room for at the moment, heirlooms, etc.), but I can guarantee that décor from Target that you think might come back into style is not worthy of space in your closet!
02. Does it have any sentimental value?
There are, however, things I hold on to simply because they mean something to me. I actually have an entire memento box where I keep some of my more treasured items.
But, they key here is to be intentional about what you keep around even if it isn't being used or even looked at very often.
03. Do you like it?
Maybe a silly question, but seriously... do you like that thing you are holding on to? I recently found some old clothes I have been keeping around for YEARS because they cost me a good amount of money, but I haven't worn those pieces in way too long.
There's no sense in hoarding clothes (or anything for that matter) you don't like or enjoy simply because you may have invested in them at the time.
04. Could someone else get more use from it than you?
Before donating or selling anything, I try to imagine if there is anything I no longer need that someone else may like or find useful.
This also helps with the whole 'attachment' issue - if someone else I know can use this thing I no longer have use for, then it's not so hard to part with!
05. Do you have more than one? (Do you need multiple?)
Throughout my spring cleaning, I have found 'duplicate' items... For example, I may have had three plain white T-shirts, or two of the same book (yes, I bought the same book twice without realizing it).
Maybe you think that you need three plain white T-shirts because they all have a slightly different style, and that's fine! But the point is to think meaningfully about what you choose to keep around and parting with things that don't serve a specific purpose.
I have boxes of décor I have held onto because I think, "Maybe I'll use this again" or "Maybe this will come back in style." I do the same thing with clothes. It's SO hard for me to let go of certain items, especially when I paid a lot of money for it.
It's almost like I have a fear I will miss the item if I give it away! But, I've found that donating items rather than just throwing stuff away makes me feel a lot better - knowing that someone else will get some use or happiness out of something I no longer need.
Happy Spring Cleaning!
xx,
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