It's a really great point to start with your own stuff because I have a pattern of finding any excuse not to start. Blaming everyone else is easier. Thank you for holding a mirror up for me 😊
The hardest part for me is throwing things away that are not recyclable.. I always think I’d rather keep them and maybe use them in the future than them go to landfill
Everything ends up in the landfill eventually. Municipalities have developed them for the purpose of trash. Do not feel guilty. Your home should not be a pseudo landfill. Material things deteriorate over time. If it’s not in really good condition for a donation center, throw it in the trash. I am in the middle of a major closet clean out and have thrown so many things in the trash. They served their purpose well and it was time to say thank you and goodbye.
That's difficult but getting rid of those things can also be a message for you for later to be wise with other purchases, the damage was made when you bought this thing don't beat yourself up and feel bad every time you look at this item. What you can donate - donate what cannot just get rid of it and free up your mental space. Maybe there are local groups where you can give things away for free. ❤️❤️❤️
It's a hard thing to accept, I know. But I think going through this process is necessary because it makes us more mindful shoppers in the future. And I agree with above, try to find local groups (FB maybe) for free stuff and you will likely find people interested in some of those items.
Keeping something because "everyone should have...." (dining room table, or even an dedicated dining room, bedroom chest of drawers, other big pieces of furniture, area rugs, etc).
I have never decluttered by moving everything out, that's overwhelming and makes things much harder. It can also be, for someone just starting to declutter, very counterproductive. The method you're describing as "small declutters" is far more motivating. A little at a time, consistently, accomplishes a lot more.
I would say that a mistake of decluttering is doing it before you're mentally ready to tackle the job. You have to want to do this to do it effectively because it takes work, ruthless decision-making, finding repositories for the items that can be donated or recycled and then taking them there. If we're not mentally ready, we just find a million excuses not to do it.
People just buy too much stuff. I declutter because I have too much and it looks bad. I also make sure I shred paper weekly and throw out junk mail right away.
The worst part about decluttering is what to do with it once you’ve decided to get rid of it. I don’t like going to the donation center or having to figure out how to properly dispose of things like old knives, cleaning products, & medicine.
It can feel so overwhelming at first, I know. But once you figure out some places you can go to take those items, it becomes easier. It's way worth it to create a space you love.
