The Truth About Decluttering: My Experience with Decluttering
Pursuing minimalism and implementing the skill of decluttering in my life has been a transformative journey. Though decluttering was not a skill I was taught. I have taken the time to research, learn, and practice the principles and am now living a more intentional life. I am grateful for the clarity and peace this mindset has brought me, especially in the chaos of modern life.
The Buildup of Clutter
2017:
My husband and I bought our first home. We received a lot of hand-me-downs (which I will forever be grateful for), bought new decorations for all the seasons, and moved in all our belongings from our previous homes.
2018:
We got married in our backyard and it was beautiful and messy and lovely. As a result, we introduced wedding decorations and wedding gifts into our home.
2017 – 2020:
Adam and I both developed new hobbies, which consequently came with more “things.” Scrapbooking (which didn’t last long for me by the way), gardening, and cooking. Woodworking and playing video games for Adam.
The gradual accumulation of possessions is a part of life; however, I now believe the need to simultaneously declutter our items is also necessary and unfortunately not taught to us before becoming homeowners ourselves. At any rate, we will come back to this.
Invisible Signs of Clutter
Throughout the three years we lived in our first home, the invisible symptoms of being surrounded by clutter started to creep up on me. I didn’t know how to recognize these at the time or have the awareness that they had anything to do with my physical environment until later in my journey.
I felt stuck.
I would tell my closest friends and family members that I had “unrest in my soul.” I didn’t know how else to describe it. Sometimes I would get looks of confusion, other times pity possibly?
I felt trapped.
No matter how much I tried to do my best, I kept falling behind and felt like a failure.
I felt overwhelmed.
I was drowning with all my to-dos, responsibilities, and expectations. Despite telling my friends and family members I needed help; I didn’t receive any. Which is probably because they were drowning too and didn’t know how to help.
I felt frustrated.
As a result, I was getting really frustrated with the people closest to me because I felt like no one noticed my struggle. What was I struggling with? I didn’t know. How could I have expected anyone else to know? (The things we learn as we grow.)
I felt alone.
Well, I lived this way, discontent, for years. It was emotionally and physically draining. Could anyone hear me? I’d say that I was overwhelmed in the hope that someone would offer suggestions, advice, or physical help. Instead, I mostly heard the response “yeah, life sucks.” I was drowning and I was alone.
The Change
I realized no one would save me from my internal chaos. I’d have to save myself or go see a therapist (at the time I wasn’t honest enough with myself to admit to needing therapy). I dug deeper. I read more self-help books, watched more documentaries, tried to figure out how to get control of my life. It seems dramatic, but if you’ve been there, you know how desperate you can feel to try anything to pull yourself up out of that mental space. I didn’t know the impact my stuff was having on me until I watched a documentary about minimalism and had a sudden mindset shift. All things considered; I felt a profound connection to what I had just watched. Minimalism is about living intentionally. It’s about having fewer material possessions to distract us from what truly matters to us. Basically, this was the catalyst to change my life. Obviously, the to-dos, responsibilities, and expectations didn’t magically disappear from decluttering, but they were significantly reduced. Keep reading.
The Truth
IF I HAVE LESS STUFF, I HAVE LESS TO MANAGE. Let me say that again. If I have less stuff, I have less to manage. I wanted a house that was easier to maintain. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the time to focus on the things that mattered to me? Like my relationships with friends and family and my overall mental wellbeing. It was time to simplify my life. To put it differently, it was time to put me first.
So, I started decluttering.
It hasn’t always been easy for me to declutter items, but over time it has become easier. And it became so much bigger than just the items. Decluttering forces you to be honest with yourself about what matters to you and makes you question if you are living an intentional life. I undoubtedly felt an immediate positive impact. I felt less overwhelmed, stressed, and frustrated with everyday life. I was gaining clarity as I was clearing out my physical space.
The Benefits of Decluttering
Freedom. 🙌
You have the power to detach your self-worth from material possessions. Letting go of clutter will help you discover what truly matters in your life, giving you the freedom to focus on your passions and your relationships with others.
Less to clean. 😊
With less clutter, your living space will become a breath of fresh air with less items to clean or maintain. This frees up time to do what you truly enjoy!
Reduced stress. ✌️
Decluttering isn’t just about cleaner living spaces, it’s about reducing anxiety, lowering stress levels, and promoting relaxation. Give it a try and feel the difference for yourself.
Increased Gratitude. 🪷
Naturally, as you release unnecessary items and focus on what truly matters, you will feel a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the things that truly matter in your life and the items that you keep. Take a moment to observe and cherish the beauty that surrounds you every day.
The Accumulation of More Stuff
Accumulating more stuff is inevitable in life, but I’ve learned to embrace it with confidence. New items flow into my life regularly, and I’m prepared to handle them with ease.
The minimalist mindset has been transformative for me since I discovered it in 2020. While I don’t consider myself a strict minimalist, I’ve adopted its principles as a powerful tool. With it, I’ve achieved greater intentionality in my life and a sense of control over my environment.
2020 – Present Day
Thanks to this mindset, I’ve navigated significant life changes with confidence. When we moved into our new home or when we faced the loss of loved ones and the best life change we could have ever had, which was the adoption of our daughter, I was prepared. My conscious decluttering habits and strategies have allowed me to remain in control of my surroundings, even in challenging times.
Conclusion
Take a moment to envision your ideal life. Afterwards, take the time to set your core values and set small, intentional goals. With dedication, you can make it a reality. Decluttering is not only about creating physical space, but also fostering mental clarity. Remember to prioritize both aspects and take the necessary steps towards a happier, intentional life. Have you experienced any benefits from decluttering a space? If so, I’d love to hear about it in the comment section below. 
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2 Responses
Beautiful, Cassie.
Thank you for reading Val!