2 Unexpected Effects of Decluttering—And 3 Steps to Prepare for Them
- Kerri Guidry
- May 5, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 15, 2022
Every time you walk by a space you wish was more organized, what is your physical, mental, and/or emotional reaction? Do you avoid cluttered spaces until you are forced to enter them through necessity? When you're replacing something you've removed from a cluttered space, what is your reaction when putting it back?
Does your relationship with your clutter look something like this?
Cluttered spaces often cause emotions to bubble to the surface. There's a reason you desire these spaces to be organized; however, it's the same reason you find yourself neglecting them over and over again. The reason? Discomfort.
There are 2 big reasons why discomfort can be a challenge during a decluttering session:
It can add unexpected time to the overall process.
It can intensify emotions related to items you're sorting through—making them difficult to let go of.
A good professional organizer will anticipate these challenges, and have a plan to thoughtfully help you work through them.
Because I want this process to be as streamlined and enjoyable as possible for you, there are 2 common effects of the decluttering process to be aware of—and prepare for—to ease discomfort, reduce stress, and save time.
#1 | Emotional Weight
We don't account for the amount of emotional weight our items carry, and how it can slow down the decluttering process. Our items can be very personal to us—especially when there are stories, people, experiences, money, etc., linked to the items. Each time we encounter an item, we can experience a flood of feelings associated with it. This brings us face-to-face with habits we started that were never fully developed, money we spent on an item we never used, or the possibility of offending a loved one over a gift we're considering getting rid of. Before you know it, what started as a simple decluttering session turns into an emotional storm we didn't anticipate weathering.
#2 | Visual Overwhelm
It's important to note the nature of decluttering requires that things will most certainly get messier before they get organized. The physical process of decluttering initially involves pulling out all your items so they can be clearly seen and worked through. This sight can be surprisingly draining, and feel as though you're getting further away from the task you set out to achieve—resulting in visual overwhelm.
3 Steps for Preparation
Emotional weight and visual overwhelm can take a toll, but some simple preparation can help the process move a little more smoothly.
Step 1 | Observe the area you are about to declutter.
Step 2 | Anticipate (and write down) any items you may encounter and what emotions they might trigger.
Examples of these scenarios can be found in the following table:
Item/Scenario | Emotion(s) |
a book you bought, but haven't read | disappointment, frustration, guilt |
clothes you keep, hoping they'll fit someday | guilt, frustration, sadness, shame, disappointment |
items from a loved one who has passed | sadness, guilt for unresolved issues, memories (both good and bad) |
a kitchen appliance you paid top dollar for and haven't used | guilt, shame, frustration, disappointment |
items from a chapter in your life that is closed | memories (good and bad), sadness, joy, regret |
Step 3 | Plan extra time so you have the opportunity to work through your feelings.
“Clearing clutter—be it physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual—brings about ease and inspires a sense of peace, calm, and tranquility.” —Laurie Buchanan, Ph. D.
This is ultimately why decluttering is such a great form of self-care (which you can read more about here).
Decluttering requires you to:
Evaluate the past and where you are now.
Accept your current situation.
Move forward with a fresh start.
Through this process, many positive things will happen:
There is gratitude found in things helpful to you in the past.
You can be thankful for personal growth you gain by letting go of things.
Wisdom is gained from the past and clarity is found in your current situation.
The process of decluttering gets easier as you move forward.
You will feel lighter—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
When the process of decluttering is complete, you’ll move through your home and daily life with greater ease and more joy.
I’ve helped many families navigate the decluttering process and achieve these benefits (and more). Check out some of these client sentiments.
When you’re ready, I’d love to help you achieve similar results. In the meantime, stick around. In my next blog, I’ll be elaborating on some of the points above and help you determine the best time to begin a decluttering project.
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