How to Stop Bringing Clutter Into Your Spaces
Many of you have embarked on the journey of clearing clutter out of your lives. Not just in your homes, but your offices, garages and vehicles. It feels good to come up with a plan of action and then seeing the results as you tackle this arduous task. The rewards make it all worthwhile.
A hidden benefit of facing clutter head on, is it helps safeguard you from over accumulating in the future. You now have awareness and choice, born from experiencing the freedom that comes from living with less, and the ease of life that follows suit. You have found that balance point of how much you want to live with, and maintaining that, will now be your duty moving forward.
How do you ensure clutter doesn’t creeping back in again?
As a culture, we don’t think twice about accumulating things. We’re largely unconscious about what enters our spaces. Yet it is much harder to get rid of something once it has crossed the threshold, than it is to accumulate it in the first place. So the very first step is maintaining awareness and making good choices for ourselves when it comes to purchasing and bringing home new items.
I’ve come up with a list of 10 top strategies based on my work with clients, to stop accidentally bringing more stuff into your spaces. The overriding goal is to first clarify your new found priorities, and then to safe guard the progress you’ve made. Let’s dig in.
1 to 1 Rule: Simple. Bring a new item in, an old one goes out. This one ensures that clutter doesn’t building up again. Tuck an empty cardboard box, out of site into a closet, so you can start accumulating those items. Once the box fills up, it can go to the Thrift Store. You and your family can use this box for general clutter removal on an ongoing basis as well.
Switch to window shopping: Try looking without the need to acquire. This is an interesting tip to help us find out how much we shop unconsciously. Let an item be inspiring, a spark of creativity and a moment to enjoy. And then walk away. You don’t need to own it to integrate that moment of pleasure.
Shop with your new set of priorities top of mind: Knowing your current priorities helps you question yourself when shopping, “does this item contribute towards my personal goals?” This tip ensures your home will continue to mirror back to you your greatest heart’s desire.
While shopping ask yourself “where will I store this item?” Often this will trigger a weighty feeling of stress, realizing we also need to store, clean, repair and then give away, this item during its life cycle in our care. That is often enough to stop us from bringing an item home really isn’t necessary.
Decorate your spaces to reflect your newfound balance point. Concretizing your life’s purpose and your new found clutter free environment, by surrounding yourself with quality items that resonate and reflect that back at you. Ask yourself before purchasing any decor: “Will this item inspire me everyday for years to come?”
Develop a new way of living where you make do with what you already have: Enjoy repurposing and resurrecting items you may have tucked away. The creative act of repurposing helps build your problem solving brain, and using what you already have not only saves you money, but time spend shopping as well.
Borrow or rent items that you use only occasionally, rather than taking on the labour of ownership. This also keeps us nicely connected to our community, and offers ways to help each other in simple yet meaningful ways.
Enjoy your freedom: This is a powerful way to maintain your balance point, by enjoying the benefits you’ve achieved. Holding and safeguarding that precious feeling, and really enjoy and utilizing your clutter free spaces.
Learn to master the art of graciously saying no to items loved ones are offering. It’s ok to tell them that you no longer have room, or simply say “no thank you”. Repeat this mantra if folk don’t accept your answer on the first try. You don’t need to explain if you don’t want to.
Start putting money aside for a bigger goal, like a trip, a course or a big ticket item. Save for what is important, rather than burning up cash on superfluous items. Make the commitment to yourself to safe guard funds for those special things that bring deeper meaning and fulfilment to your life. Saving will help you stay focussed and less likely to fall into old habits.
Try implementing some of these tips. The more you can maintain this balance point, the less often you’ll need to clutter clear in the future, and it will shorten the process when you do. It’s OK to have items around that spark your spirit and bring ease and organization to your life. Having that clarity plus a few solid practises will go a long way to helping you maintain your new space flow.
Good luck and let me know how it’s going on your clutter maintainance journey.