When you’re working on decluttering everything, it’s easy to get caught up in the process of getting rid of things.
That’s a good thing!
But it’s also important to take a step back and ask yourself “why” you’re doing this in the first place.
And whether or not your new system is working for you.
Decluttering is a great way to make everything feel more spacious, organized, and comfortable.
It can also help you save space by getting rid of things you don’t need anymore.
But before you start tossing things out, you should be asking yourself some practical questions that will help you decide what to keep and what to get rid of.
Define Decluttering
Decluttering is the process of removing unnecessary things from your life, either to make room for new things or because you no longer need them.
It’s a way of getting rid of things that are cluttering up your home, your workspace, or even your mind.
It is deciding what to keep and what to toss is an important part of the decluttering process, but it’s not the only part.
You also need to consider how you’ll organize your belongings once they’re out of storage.
This can be done in many ways: you can sell, donate, or throw away things you don’t use.
It sounds simple enough, but decluttering can be a difficult process.
You might have to get rid of some things that you’ve had for years or even decades, and this can be emotionally difficult for some people.
Benefits Of Decluttering
Decluttering is a great way to clear your mind and give yourself more space.
But what’s the point of decluttering?
Why would you want to take time out of your busy day to do something so tedious?
I’ll tell you why.
Decluttering has a ton of benefits, and here are just a few:
- You can organize your space better because you can find what you’re looking for faster and easier once you’ve decluttered.
- It’s easier to work when there’s less clutter around you because you’ll be able to focus on what you need to do without being distracted by clutter.
- Your home will look better with less stuff in it, which will make it feel more spacious and inviting.
- You’ll have more space for new stuff.
- You’ll feel less stressed and overwhelmed by life’s responsibilities.
- Your home will look better than ever before!
10 Practical Questions To Ask When Decluttering
There’s a big difference between decluttering and just throwing stuff out.
The first is an organized process that can help you get rid of things that are taking up space in your life, while the second tends to be more haphazard and messy.
We’ve put together a list of ten questions to ask yourself as you’re getting ready to start organizing your home or anything in your life.
So that you can make sure your decluttering project is intentional and not just a bunch of stuff ending up in the trash.
1. What Is This Item?
This question is one of the first things you should ask yourself when you’re decluttering.
It’s important to know what you have, because if you don’t know what something is, then it’s hard for you to decide if it’s useful or not.
You might have some clothes that are too small or too large and don’t know what they are, or maybe there’s a broken toy in your closet that you don’t recognize.
When you don’t know what something is, it can be hard to decide whether or not it’s useful.
This helps you decide whether or not an item is worth keeping or if it should be donated or thrown away.
If you don’t know what an item is or where it came from, then there’s a good chance that you don’t use it or need it.
2. Where Did It Come From?
When you’re decluttering, sometimes the most important question to ask is “where did this come from?”
For example, if you’re holding a book you haven’t read in years and don’t feel like reading again, why do you keep it?
Is there something inside that makes it special to you?
Is it a gift from someone special?
If so, maybe it’s worth keeping as a reminder of that person.
Or maybe there’s something else about the book that makes it worth keeping like a beautiful cover or an interesting subject.
If not, then ask yourself if there’s some other reason why this book might be valuable to others.
Is it something everyone should know about?
If so, then give it away!
Maybe someone will read and enjoy what’s inside.
If none of those questions can help you decide whether or not to keep the item, then consider whether or not there’s room for this item in your life right now.
If not, then get rid of it!
3. How Long Have I Had It?
If you haven’t used it in over 6 months, it’s time to let it go.
If you haven’t used it in over a year, consider donating it.
Who does this belong to?
If it belongs to someone else, ask yourself if they’d be happy to get it back or if they’d rather have the space in your home.
If they’d be happy to get it back, put a note on their door or try reaching out via phone or email.
If they wouldn’t mind getting the space in your home, consider gifting them a different item that might better suit their needs or interests.
Donating is one thing, but if you’re not using something regularly, why keep it around?
4. When Was The Last Time I Used It?
If you can’t remember the last time you used a certain item, then it’s probably time to get rid of it.
If you’ve forgotten about an item and it’s still in your home, then chances are good that it’s just taking up space and not doing anything for you.
If it hasn’t been used in a while, get rid of it!
It’s okay if something has sentimental value.
You can keep those items if they’re important to you!
Just make sure to have a place where they’re stored safely so they don’t get lost or forgotten about.
5. Is This Item Useful?
This is a big one.
When you’re decluttering, it’s important to ask yourself, “Is this item useful?”
If it’s not, then you need to consider whether or not it’s worth keeping.
If the answer is yes, then you should ask yourself if the item has sentimental value.
If the answer is yes again, then ask yourself if you could use that thing for something else, maybe a new project or some other purpose entirely.
If the answer is no again, then go ahead and get rid of it!
6. Do I Need It Right Now?
If you’re trying to figure out whether or not something is useful, the most important thing to ask yourself is, “Do I need it right now?”
If the answer is yes, then that’s great!
You can keep it and use it later.
If the answer is no, then it’s time to consider letting go.
Get rid of anything that isn’t serving a purpose in your life right now.
You’ll be surprised how much clutter you can clear out just by answering this simple question!
7. Is It In Good Condition?
If you’re going to declutter, you want to make sure that you’re getting rid of things that are still useful.
You don’t want to be throwing out your old couch just because it’s been with you for a while if it still has some life left in it.
So before you toss anything away, ask yourself.
Is this in good enough condition that someone else could use it?
8. Can I Find A Similar Item For Less Money Elsewhere?
If you’re wondering whether you should keep or get rid of an item, ask yourself: “Can I find a similar item for less money elsewhere?”
If the answer is yes, then it’s probably worth getting rid of it.
If not, and if the item is rare or hard to find, then keep it!
The cost-benefit analysis here is super important.
If you really want something, but don’t need it, try to think of ways that you could use the thing in question.
Maybe there’s a way to repurpose it.
Or maybe there’s someone else who might be able to make use of it.
If so, sell the product and donate all proceeds to charity!
9. Do I Want To Keep This Because Of Its Sentimental Value Or Because Of How Much Money I Spent On It?
An important question to ask when decluttering is, “Do I want to keep this because of its sentimental value or because of how much money I spent on it?”
When we buy something, we don’t always think about all the things that go into that purchase.
For example, when you buy a book, you might think about how much you like the story and how good it is at keeping your attention.
So when you’re asking yourself whether or not to keep something, ask yourself if it has sentimental value or if it has monetary value (like an antique).
If it has both kinds of value, then consider keeping the item!
10. Can I Make More Use Of This Item By Giving It Away, Selling It, Or Recycling It?
If you’re asking yourself this question, you’re on the right track!
If something doesn’t have a purpose in your life and you don’t have space to keep it, then it’s time to let it go.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get down to business.
How do you decide whether something should stay or go?
There are two main factors to consider when determining whether an item is worth keeping.
First, ask yourself if there is any value in keeping the item.
Could it be reused or repurposed?
If not, ask yourself if there is any sentimental value attached to the object.
Does it remind you of a person or place that holds special meaning for you?
If so, then maybe there’s a reason why that object isn’t just taking up space in your closet!
Download My Declutter Binder Now!
Are you ready to start decluttering your life?
Get started with the My Declutter Binder!
I have been working on this binder for a while now and I am thrilled to finally share it with you.
I hope you find it helpful and will be able to use it in your own organizing efforts.
This binder will help you get organized, and it comes with a free bonus guide that will help you make decisions about what to keep and what to toss.
Alison’s Notebook
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