You know how little children have curious minds? They’re especially fond of asking the question, “Why?” Repeatedly!
A key element in becoming organized is eliminating items from our lives we no longer need. One of the reasons clutter accumulates is because of delayed decision-making. In other words, we struggle with deciding what to keep and what to get rid of, so we put it off. How are we supposed to decide what really matters?
Eliminating clutter isn’t about randomly asking yourself WHAT you can get rid of; it’s about asking WHY you have something! This question addresses whether an item really fits into your life anymore. By asking WHY, you find out what is truly essential to you.
A home should only be full of things that are used regularly and make your life easier (functional items), as well as things that you love and bring beauty to your surroundings (aesthetic items). In order to figure out what items meet those criteria and belong in the keep pile, think like that little child and ask yourself, “Why?” Specifically, why do I have this?
Let’s start with deciding on which functional items to keep. Functional items are things you don’t necessarily love, but you can’t live without. Things like your coffeemaker, hairdryer, cookery, toiletries, tools or linens. Functional items improve your life by saving you time and effort when getting things done and provide comfort on a daily basis.
So, as an example, perhaps you want to declutter your kitchen. Open up that utensil drawer and, one by one, pick up each item and ask WHY:
WHY did I buy this? Because it might come in handy some day? Because I needed it for one specific occasion? Because someone else had it and it seemed like a good idea?
When was the last time I used it? And if I haven’t used it in several months or at all, WHY haven’t I used it? Perhaps it took too long, was too complicated or didn’t work as well as hoped. Or that “might come in handy” occasion simply never came.
WHY does having this item improve my life? Because if it isn’t making your life easier, if it isn’t helping you in some area, if it isn’t being used, then it’s not improving your life. It’s draining you of space and energy because it’s in the way.
If you’re saving an item because you “might need it someday,” WHY might you need it? Keep in mind you’ll not only have to remember you have it but where you stored it! Those “someday” items never serve “right now” needs and end up collecting dust in a closet. Try to stick with functional items that make a difference in the here and now.
Finally, if it’s broken, ask yourself WHY you haven’t fixed it. Leaving an item unrepaired is a big clue that it’s not very important or necessary to you.
Some items will be easy to decide on and require little thought; others may challenge you. Keep asking WHY until you can determine whether it’s an essential item that makes your life better. And yes, there will always be some items, such as tools, that are only used sparingly but are good to have around. Often, even those can be condensed so you only keep what matters.
In fact, I recently cleared out my own toolbox. I had more than one hammer, tools I didn’t even recognize, and nuts, bolts, nails, hooks and screws of varying shapes and sizes. By asking myself WHY, I was able to be honest and realize I would never use much of what I had. That any project requiring tools beyond what I knew how to use would be a project I would rather pay another to do because I wouldn’t have the time or interest to figure it out myself. I decided someone else could use these things because the truth was I never would.
With that, I held on to the basics I knew I needed and bagged up the excess, passing it on to a local handyman. See, even organizers need to declutter!
Next time, I’ll address making decisions on those aesthetic and sentimental items in our homes. Knowing all too well how emotionally difficult those decisions can be, I’ll share some of my own experiences.
In the meantime, do you have any questions about organizing? Comments or tips of your own? Please feel free to share below!
