Getting into a decluttering mindset takes a little bit of time and effort, but once you get there, you are good to go.
Anybody who wanted to declutter their lives knows that it is not easy. It requires not only a lot of time, which is hard to find but also a lot of motivation. In other words, it is hard to get into the decluttering mindset.
You just postpone that decluttering day, and you just don’t have that mental energy to deal with all the stuff that has gathered throughout the years, even decades.
The thing with decluttering mindset is that it is the starting point of your decluttering process. And you either have it or not. If you don’t, it is going to be hard, even impossible, to start living a decluttered life.
But once you do have that decluttering mindset, things will start falling into place. You will find the time and motivation to declutter your life. You will be pumped and ready to start living a decluttered life.
So, what is this decluttering mindset? How do you get it?
What is the decluttering mindset?
The decluttering mindset is the state of mind where you are fully committed to decluttering your life. You are mentally and emotionally ready to deal with all the stuff that has been cluttering up your life.
You are ready to let go of all the things that no longer serve you. And you are ready to declutter your life and live a simpler, happier life.
If you don’t have a decluttering mindset, you hold onto things because you think you might need them someday. Or because they have sentimental value.
On the other hand, when you have a decluttering mindset, you realize that all this stuff is just stuff. It’s not important. And it’s not worth your happiness. So, you let go of it.
Signs that you need to work on your decluttering mindset
If any of these signs resonate with you, it means you need to work on your decluttering mindset.
- You keep postponing your decluttering project.
- You don’t know where to start.
- You feel overwhelmed when you think about decluttering.
- You keep buying things you don’t need.
- Your house is cluttered and messy.
- You feel like you are a hoarder.
- You are constantly cleaning but your house is still cluttered.
- You feel like you can’t live without all this stuff.
- You are attached to your things and have a sentimental value for them.
If you can relate to any of these signs, don’t worry. You are not alone. A lot of people feel the same way. And the good news is, you can change your mindset.
A decluttering mindset & a cluttered mind
These two can’t coexist. It’s either one or the other.
If you have a cluttered mind, your house is going to be cluttered. And if you have a decluttered mind, you are going to start making progress towards a clean, tidy home.
It all starts with your mindset. So, if you want to declutter your life, you need to start with your mindset. And this is what we are going to do. We will go through some ways to develop a decluttering mindset.
Ways to get into the decluttering mindset
The more of these mindset shifts you can implement, the better.
1. Constantly get inspired
One way to develop a decluttering mindset is to constantly get inspired.
Look for people who have already decluttered their lives and are living the life you want. Read their stories. Watch their videos. Follow them on social media. And let their story inspire you to declutter your life and live a simpler, happier life.
Also, look for other sources of inspiration. Read books, listen to podcasts, and watch movies that will inspire you to declutter your life.
For instance, on Netflix, you can find Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, which is a show about decluttering. And it’s very inspiring.
Similarly, there are many books about decluttering and minimalism that will inspire you to declutter your life.
Some of my favorites are:
- The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
- Goodbye things by Fumio Sasaki
- The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own by Joshua Becker
As you get inspired, you will start to develop a decluttering mindset. And you will be more motivated to declutter your life.
2. Material things are not going to matter at the end of our lives
One of the biggest mindset shifts you need to make is realizing that things are not going to matter at the end of your life.
All the stuff you have been holding onto is not going to matter. The only thing that is going to matter is HOW you have lived your life and the relationships you have.
According to BJ Miller, what matters at the end of life is simply love, the feeling of comfort, and respect. BJ Miller is a board-certified palliative and hospice specialist who works with people facing the end of life, so he knows what it is all about.
When thinking about death, we can easily define our priorities and what matters to us.
And when you realize that things will not matter at the end of your life, it becomes easier to let go of them.
It’s a powerful way to develop a decluttering mindset.
3. Fill your life with meaning
What do you want from this life?
To keep all of your belongings and stay where you are, and be always weighted down by your stuff? Or do you want to live a life full of adventure, experiences, and memories?
Do you want to have yourself tied up with your stuff? Or do you want to be free?
Do you want to spend your only life in a mess, or do you want to live in a clean, uncluttered, and organized space?
The choice is yours.
But true fulfillment and happiness come from having a life full of meaning. And you can only have that if you start decluttering your life and living with less.
When you have less, you are free to do more. You are free to pursue your dreams and live a life full of meaning.
4. Less is more
Similar to the last point, with less stuff, you have more freedom. You have more time, energy, and money to pursue the things that matter to you.
- Less clutter can lead to more happiness.
- Less clutter can lead to more focus.
- Less clutter can lead to more free time.
- Less clutter can lead to more productivity.
- Less clutter means more fulfillment and meaning.
When you think about it, it is true. You can’t have the life that you want when your life is full of clutter. It’s also not good for your mental health, according to Very Well Mind. You have to choose what is important to you and get rid of the rest.
When I say important, I mean what brings value and joy into your life. These are the things that you should keep and everything else should go.
5. The past is gone
I am sorry to tell you this, but the past no longer exists. So why hold on to things from the past? Why keep things that prevent you from living in the present?
You can’t change the past, but you can certainly influence the future. So focus on what is important to you NOW and let go of what is holding you back.
6. More stuff doesn’t equal more happiness
“Only if I had that kitchen gadget, I would be so much happier” or “If I only had that new car, my life would be perfect.”
We have all been there. We think that we need something new or different to be happy. But the truth is, more stuff doesn’t equal more happiness.
More stuff makes you have more responsibilities, and more to worry about.
So instead of chasing after material things, chase after experiences and memories.
For instance, rather than buying a new car, take a road trip with your friends. Instead of getting the latest gadget, go on an adventure. These are the things that will make you happy, and that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Related: How to be happy with what you have?
7. Picture your perfect life every day
Visualization is a powerful tool that you can use in order to achieve your goals, according to this article on Forbes. The better you get at visualizing your perfect life, the easier it will be to get motivated to declutter your life.
- What does a perfect life look like to you?
- Do you see yourself living in a beautiful home with only the things that bring you joy?
- Do you see yourself spending your days doing the things that you love, surrounded by the people who matter to you?
- Do you see yourself being happy, healthy, and fulfilled?
Keep this picture in your mind every day, and let it be your guide as you declutter your life.
8. You can’t put memories in boxes
You might be tempted to keep things because they remind you of happy times in the past.
But here’s what we know: memories are always with us, whether or not we can change that specific moment from long ago. So instead of lovingly storing these precious moments under your bed for safekeeping (which does happen), get rid of any physical reminders.
The photos and papers cluttering up space at home; trinkets collecting dust on shelves. And focus on keeping only mental ones alive by remembering where all those great stories were first told!
9. It’s not just about getting rid of stuff
When most people think about decluttering, they think about getting rid of things. But that’s not the only way to declutter your life.
While decluttering your stuff, you get rid at the same time of negativity, mental weight, and emotional baggage.
It’s also a great way to let go of things that no longer serve you, such as old beliefs, habits, and grudges.
It’s about making space for what does serve you and what will make you happy.
10. Just start now
Sometimes all we need is just to start. And then it gets easier, we get into the mindset,
Why? Because we love the results. We feel lighter, happier, and freer. We can finally breathe again.
Start with one small area, such as your bedside table, and go from there.
Be curious about how it’s going to go. Think about the meaning of your life and ask yourself if the stuff that is in your hands now will help you live that life.
If not, let it go!
And then observe the changes. They might be small, even non-existent but they should motivate you to keep going. You know that the end result is going to be wonderful, so you have no reasons not to declutter.
Related: Your complete clutter-clearing guide
Don’t be a prisoner of your own clutter
Make this mindset shift and see yourself as the person who is in control of your stuff. Not the other way around!
Be brave and make decisions.
Don’t be a prisoner of your clutter, don’t make it your identity.
You can escape, all you need is that shift button in your head to make the change. And you are ready to go.
And when you’re done, you can live the life you want to.
Now go and take control of your life! Start decluttering and let go of what’s no longer serving you. You got this!
Final thoughts
I hope that you finally have that motivation, that decluttering mindset to get rid of what’s no longer serving you.
I know that it can be really tough, especially when we get attached to material things. But once you let go, it feels so liberating!
And if it doesn’t, you still have to try. Don’t worry, you can always rebuy what you got rid of. And maybe one day you will come to a point when you enjoy decluttering and it’s going to be a part of your life!
If you have any tips on decluttering or how to get into the mindset, please share them in the comments below! I would love to hear from you.
Cheers, Diana
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