4 Things I Wish More People Knew About Decluttering

Simply + Fiercely

I’ve been helping people declutter since 2015. During that time, I’ve noticed patterns—thoughts and perspectives that keep people stuck—so today, I’m pulling back the curtain.

As a former shopaholic turned full-time decluttering coach, here’s what I wish more people knew about breaking the clutter cycle.

The first is “junk”, like expired cosmetics, old magazines, and faded receipts. With these items, it’s more about cleaning than decluttering. There’s little emotional attachment and few hard decisions about what to keep.

TWO MAIN TYPES OF CLUTTER

Instead, you roll up your sleeves, put on a good playlist, and get to work. Until suddenly, you’re stuck. What used to work doesn’t work anymore, and this is because you’ve hit the wall with emotional clutter.

It’s like the decluttering equivalent of binge dieting—you might make short-term progress, but new stuff will catch up to you sooner or later.

Clutter is a symptom, not a problem.

Instead, it’s a symptom. – Maybe you’re going through a hard time without a support network, so you use shopping to stay sane (I’ve been there!). – Or perhaps you keep stuff because you didn’t own much growing up, and physical possessions bring a sense of security.

The real challenge most people face while decluttering is shame, and the horrible thoughts we have about ourselves make it so difficult to let go.

Self-compassion is your secret weapon.

Self-compassion. When you forgive yourself for mistakes, you stop judging and start learning

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