Ciao Luxtrites,
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To our new subscribers - Deicy, Cinzia, Paila, Ashley, Lauren, Tyler, A., Sam, Melanie, Katie, Susan, Brice, Ellie, Eloise, Katy & Joumana - welcome to the family 💚
Today I'm excited to be writing about decluttering - something I've been doing in earnest since early January this year.
SHE'S GOT IT BAD
People who know me well, will know that I'm regularly giving things away that I don't use. I've been using an App called OLIO for years (more on that below) and have given away hundreds of items - big and small - in that time. My conscience won't allow me to put anything in the bin that is in working order, so I make sure they go to a good home. I also use Gumtree (and to a lesser extent, eBay) to sell items that have a a bit of value.
But since the start of 2023, for some reason I've gone into decluttering overdrive. I think it's partly to do with the fact that I live in a smaller space vs. last year, and perhaps also as a subliminal reaction to not being able to control that many things in an unstable business world.
So… because I get so excited telling people about my new hobby, I wanted to share some of my learnings, in case it could inspire you too, to go a bit more minimal in some areas of your life.
My drawers are starting to look a bit like this… soooo satisfying.
TOP TIPS
1. Start small. But start.
It can be overwhelming, looking at all your stuff, trying to decide whether something should stay or go. Picking up every item and thinking about when you last used it, when you might use it, how attached you are to it, etc etc… its tiring! Decision fatigue sets in quickly. I found that just tidying up one drawer or neatly folding one shelf of sweaters, say, gives me such a kick, and makes me feel optimistic and want to keep going.
2. Sunk costs / admit mistakes
One thing that stopped me giving away items that I've not used in YEARS is knowing how much they originally cost. Trying to sell them online, you compare the suggested sale price with the original cost and gawp at the screen in shock. You think: “surely it should be worth more than that … I've barely worn / used it! Humph… well… in that case I may as well hold onto it!”
I've been there…
The item continues to sit collecting dust and taking up space. And despite well intentioned vows that this time, I really will lose a bit of weight, or that I really will make an effort to cook more… I never do.
Apparently this is all tied up with guilt about buying something that is now dwindling in the cupboard. We feel bad that we made the “wrong” decision and spent money on it. Sometimes just admitting to yourself that it was a “nice idea at the time” but that it didn't work out, can be a big revelation, and make it easier to let go.
3. Coming to terms with different seasons / chapters in life
This one links in to number 2.
There are many items we keep because they are tied up with someone we used to be or perhaps… more poignantly… they're linked to someone we want to be. We want to be a fitness bunny, so we keep all those exercise bits and bobs. We want to be someone who cooks fancy meals and hosts friends for fabulous dinner parties, so we keep the ice cream maker and the bread maker. We want to be as slim as we were 5 years ago, so we keep those too-small trousers…
A big part of decluttering is coming to terms with the fact that we are in a different period in our life, and that it's ok to change. It's ok to let go of things that no longer fit with, or are realistic in our current lives
4. Duplicates
This one was an eye opener for me. Three glue sticks (two of which were partly dried out)? Two hair brushes (both of which are not in great shape). I read somewhere that if you're looking for your “best scissors” or your “good spatula” it probably means the duplicates are unloved and just clogging up drawer space. Can you give away the “lesser” twin that you actually don't even like using?
RESOURCES
Perhaps surprisingly, I haven't read Marie Kondo's book. Rather I started with these ones:
Very easy read and a great place to start off your decluttering journey.
Fumio is definitely on the more radical end of the minimalist scale. This book appealed for his 55 tips. The rest just felt like padding, ironically.
I finished this last week and it cemented many of the lessons / tips I picked up in other books. It goes room by room and it's written in a relatable way.
OLIO
I've mentioned OLIO in previous newsletters. It's an app on your phone and it's now available everywhere in the world. Some people know OLIO as the food sharing app, but you can give away almost anything. Far fewer time wasters compared to Gumtree or eBay (but then again, you're giving things away for free).
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Fluff-ball of the week: Billie
This cutie owns one of my good friends, Emma (because we all know that people don't own cats. Cats own people). Emma and I are now neighbours, so I get to catsit Billie from time to time when Emma is out. 😻
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Have a great week ahead,
Founder | Decluttering Fanatic | Plant Parent
