Decluttering Tactic for "Chronic Over-Thinkers"

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🙋‍♀️Over-thinker here…caught myself trying to justify keeping sweats in case I ever broke my leg and had to get a cast! 🤪

In the past, I would try to sell “new/like-new” items while decluttering because, let’s be real, it’s nice to feel like we at least make a little money back on those impulse buys. But the other day I implemented your rule of “if I can’t get at least x amount from it, then just let it go”. I ended up setting some very nice items out on the curb with a “free” sign, and watched as a school girl passed by on her way home and picked up the cute pair of shoes I had debated letting go, and some pink nail polish. Another child stopped and picked up the pretty headbands. Then a lady pulled up and got the bag of nice toddler clothes. Someone else seemed excited to get the books and cute Fall decor... I found myself going through the house to find more things, because I was thoroughly enjoying how happy people were at receiving those little “treasures”.

I'll never forget the time my dad and I went to my (minimalist) grandmother's apartment and he needed to look something up in the phone book (pre-internet days, obviously), only to learn she'd thrown it away. "Ma, you threw the PHONE BOOK away?! Why?! You keep it in the drawer, no one even sees it!". She told him, "I knew it was in there and it got on my damn nerves."🤣🙃👍

I’m in my 60’s and lost my parents 4 months apart. I was the only living child and had to clean out their home. It gave me a whole new perspective on the stuff in my life. When you pass someone is going to have to sort through your things. I have vowed to make that as simple for my kids as I can.

The important rule for me “Do not buy any storage boxes or containers before I have decluttered 😮If I could take one thing away from the classes was declutter first then get organized. It took awhile for me to realize buying containers and stacking them is only organizing my clutter! Thanks

One of the best gifts I have ever got was from a family friend/employer who was decluttering her home. It was close to Christmas. She told us that we (employees) could all pick an item (lots of things still in boxes and some other nice personal items that had been in her home) as our Christmas gift from her. I picked a square folding card table. We have decorated and used it for 12 years now for receiving gifts at baby showers, graduation parties, birthday parties and more. This dear lady has gone to be with the Lord but I remember her every time I use that table. Thankful to have her memory.

Do you want to know the thing that helped me the most? Now I ask my grown son the question “When I am gone, is this something that you want as a memory or to keep? He always says “No, I am not attached to it I don’t care for it.” Then that makes me ask myself that if I don’t love it or am not using it, then why am I keeping this?” I’m not a museum…let it go.

I am/was a huge overthinker. My ex-husband died suddenly but not surprisingly in February of this year and the burden it put on my 30 year old son who lives in another state was more than I am willing to put on anyone in the future. So. Much. Stuff to go through in less than a week, so many decisions he had to make. My husband and I have started to radically declutter and with every room we feel better, freer. We both want to thank you for being a huge part in our journey. When I start overthinking too much (and decluttering really is a muscle that gets stronger the more you use it), I now know that I'm just tired and I call it quits for the day. Usually after sleeping on it. I roll my eyes at myself. My craft room is next. Wish me strength.

As a person in my 60’s, my gift giving rule is consumable items only, and something I know they’d like!

I just got rid of 3 purses that were really cute and they sparked joy to look at, but not to use. They were too heavy. Still hard to get rid of but I'm proud that I did it. Rule: If it's not comfortable or easy to use, don't keep it.

I loved watching you go through your decision making processes during decluttering. For 16 years we lived in a home that became like a warehouse because of all that went in and how little ever went out. Then we moved and were forced to confront the massive weight of all those delayed decisions, and this resulted in a massive axing of so much carefully collected stuff. I gave away 29 black trash bags filled to the brim with expensive clothing, much of which still had price tags, and gave away an enormous library of books packed onto shelves. Plus kitchen tools, plus furniture, plus lovingly amassed collections of prized 1950's mid century home decor items. I had not worn any of it, read any of it, cooked with any of it, displayed any of it. I thought I would deeply grieve separating from all this titanic amount of stuff and was stunned to realize that instead, I felt lighter than air. And that was one of the biggest wake up calls, the moment I wish I could bottle, to see what FREEDOM felt like no longer having to manage all of that inventory, and also not having to replace any of it, or even think about it again. It was akin to losing 100 lbs to divest ourselves of what had to be at least 2 tons of stuff. And rather than feel guilt or regret, I found I felt enormous relief. A do-over for the next season of my life. That is the most valuable outcome I could have achieved, bar none!

What helps me is realizing that everything deserves to be used. If I am simply storing it, then the item is not fulfilling it’s purpose in life. Letting it go is helping the item regain its reason for having been created.

Ok, I've commented before but I had to write a quick thanks. I got divorced after 24yrs. It's hard. I embraced retail therapy immediately after the divorce. Buying things he'd never agree with, or colors he hated. That worked for a year. But I was still sad, but now I was overwhelmed with stuff... who needs 19 handbags? No one. Now I'm downsizing and needed inspiration & found you on YouTube. I took loads & loads to Goodwill. I had a yard sale on Saturday and I sold 348 ITEMS. YES! YAY! I SOLD 348 THINGS! I made lots of money. Stuff I didn't sell is going on Facebook Market Place & all the littles are going to Salvation Army. I feel so much lighter. Thanks, Dawn for the good ideas and the encouragement. 🙂

The point you made about spending longer thinking about keeping it than you did buying it was so true! Mind blown

If I'm on the fence about something, like a book or clothing, I make myself read or wear it that week; if I don't, it tells me how I really feel...and to the donation bin (which I keep right in my closet, so I can declutter every time I get dressed and discover something doesn't fit). :)

For me, it was rethinking my obligation to keep gifts - the purpose of a gift is to be freely given and gratefully received. When someone gives you a gift, thank them sincerely, and then your obligation is over. Whether you choose to keep it or not is entirely up to you. The person that gave it to you did not want it to be a burden. This was revolutionary for me!

Literally yesterday I told my friend "I keep going back and forth on what to declutter. It's like I need someone to give me clear rules and guidelines as a form of permission." And here you are :)

If you have multiples of things (for instance baking dishes, pots and pans, food containers) and you are in doubt which ones you use and need to keep: put a piece of paper in them with a date on it. When you use the item, remove the paper. After some period (several months, a year) check which papers aren't removed. It's a variation on quarantaining, with the advantage that you don't have to restore them elsewhere.

One of my favorites when I pull something out of the closet is, "whoa was I with me when I bought that?" No problem getting rid of those things