Look, we’ve all been there. You open that closet door and immediately regret every life decision that led to this moment. The spare room that was supposed to be your home office? It’s basically a museum of things you might need “someday.”
I learned this the hard way last month when I finally tackled my garage. Twenty years of “I’ll deal with it later” staring me in the face. Old paint cans, broken furniture I swore I’d fix, boxes of who-knows-what from three moves ago. The turning point came when I realized I needed professional help – not the therapy kind (though that’s debatable) but actual waste removal. Found Brindabella Waste Canberra through a neighbor who’d just renovated, and honestly, watching that truck pull away with years of accumulated junk felt better than any meditation app ever could.
But here’s what nobody tells you about decluttering. Its not just about throwing stuff away. Its about making decisions. Real ones. The kind where you finally admit that vintage bread maker from 1987 isn’t “retro cool” – it’s just taking up space.
Why We Hold Onto Things (And Why We Shouldn’t)
The psychology behind clutter is fascinating and frustrating. We attach memories to objects. That broken lamp? It was in your first apartment. Those magazines from 2015? You might want to reference that one article about… what was it about again?
Truth is, most of us aren’t hoarders. We’re just optimists with storage space. We genuinely believe we’ll use that exercise equipment gathering dust. We think those craft supplies will inspire us next weekend. Spoiler alert: they won’t.
I’ve noticed three main categories of stuff we can’t seem to let go:
The “Just in Case” Items
These are the cables for devices you don’t own anymore. The spare buttons from shirts you donated years ago. That one specific screwdriver that fits nothing in your current home. We keep them because what if we need them? But here’s a reality check – in the rare event you actually need that exact thing, you can probably buy it again. Or borrow it. Or realize you’ve lived without it for five years just fine.
The Guilt Gifts
Oh boy, these are tough. The ceramic cat from Aunt Linda. The novelty clock from your office Secret Santa. Things you never wanted but feel obligated to keep because someone gave them to you with love. Here’s permission you didn’t know you needed: it’s okay to let them go. The person who gave it to you has probably forgotten about it. And if they haven’t, well, that’s a them problem.
The Fantasy Life Items
These represent who we wish we were. The guitar you’ll learn to play. The bread maker for your future baking phase. The camping gear for adventures you’ll definitely take. I had a whole corner dedicated to the person I thought I’d become “when I had more time.” News flash: I’m never going to be that person, and that’s okay.
The Actual Process (Warning: It’s Messy)
Starting is the hardest part. You’ll stand there, overwhelmed, wondering if it’s too early for wine. (It probably is, but no judgment here.) The key is to start small. Don’t try to declutter your entire house in a weekend. You’re not filming a reality show.
Pick one drawer. Just one. Empty it completely. I mean everything – even that mysterious key that’s been there since 2012. Then only put back what you’ve actually used in the last year. Be honest. Brutally honest.
The momentum builds from there. One drawer becomes one room. One room becomes one floor. Before you know it, you’re texting friends asking if they want your old DVDs. (They don’t, by the way. Nobody wants DVDs anymore.)
What Happens After
This is the part self-help books don’t cover. Once the stuff is gone, there’s this weird empty feeling. Not sad-empty, but like… now what? You’ve got all this space and nothing to fill it with. Resist the urge to immediately go shopping. Sit with the emptiness for a bit.
Because here’s what I discovered: that space isn’t really empty. It’s full of possibility. That corner where boxes lived for years? Now it’s where I do yoga. (Okay, I did yoga there twice, but the option exists.) The garage I couldn’t park in? I can actually use it for its intended purpose. Revolutionary, I know.
The mental clarity is real too. Less stuff means less to clean, less to organize, less to think about. You know exactly where things are because there are fewer things. You stop buying duplicates because you can actually see what you own.
Making It Stick
The hard truth about decluttering is that it’s not a one-time event. Stuff has a way of creeping back in. Amazon deliveries, impulse buys, well-meaning gifts. The key is developing new habits.
Before buying anything, I now ask myself three questions:
1. Where will this live in my house?
2. What will I get rid of to make room for it?
3. Will I still want this in six months?
Usually, by question two, I’ve talked myself out of it.
Also, regular purges help. Every season, I do a quick sweep. Clothes that didn’t get worn, gadgets that seemed useful but weren’t, books I’ll never read again. It gets easier each time because there’s less to sort through.
The Unexpected Benefits
Beyond the obvious perks of finding your floor again, decluttering changed things I didn’t expect. My morning routine is faster because I’m not digging through piles to find what I need. Cleaning takes half the time it used to. I actually enjoy being in my space instead of feeling stressed by it.
Friends comment on how “zen” my place feels now. It’s not zen. It’s just not cluttered. But apparently, in our stuff-obsessed world, those are the same thing.
The financial impact surprised me too. When you can see what you have, you stop buying duplicates. You think twice before bringing new things in. That money you used to spend on storage solutions? You don’t need them when you don’t have excess stuff to store.
Your Turn
If you’re reading this surrounded by clutter, feeling that familiar overwhelm, know that you’re not alone. We’re all fighting the same battle against stuff. Start small. Pick that one drawer. Or that one shelf. Don’t aim for perfection – aim for better.
And when you’re ready for the big stuff, the furniture that needs to go, the garage full of mysteries, don’t be a hero. Get help. There’s no shame in admitting you need a truck and some muscle to haul away years of accumulation.
The life you want might literally be buried under the life you’re living. Time to dig it out.
Remember: every item you let go of is a tiny decision to prioritize space over stuff, possibility over possessions. And trust me, once you start, it becomes addictive in the best way. You’ll find yourself looking for things to declutter. You’ll become that person who gets excited about empty shelves.
Welcome to the club. We have plenty of room for new members.
