How to Become a Minimalist and Start Decluttering
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You’ve heard of decluttering. You’ve heard of the minimalist lifestyle. You’re tired off all of your stuff weighing you down and are ready to give it a try. But, there’s a couple problems.
You don’t know how to become a minimalist…AND would your family even be onboard?
The good news is that’s it’s not as hard or scary as it sounds. In fact, since you’re here reading this post, you’re already on your way. Let’s keep up your momentum, cut through all of the information out there and show you how to become a minimalist and start decluttering with a family.
This post is your roadmap. So, dive in, learn the steps, and get ready for your life to change - not all at once, but in noticeable small ways at first and then in big dramatic ways as you get more comfortable.
The problem with a lot of the information out there is that it seems to be all or nothing. Maybe you just want to dip your toe in and not do your whole home at once. Most likely you are doing this alone - it’s okay, Mama! You be the trailblazer for your family. I know once they see how much happier you, are, the rest of your family will join you.
So, start here.
Discover how one little thing can lead to lots of wonderful changes. It’s like an awesome game of Domino Rally. The first one topples and they all follow suit.
Quick update - The Wannabe Minimalist Show is now live! The Wannabe Minimalist Show is a weekly podcast for those of us that want to live more minimalist, but do not want to throw everything away. On the show we explore our relationship with clutter and what it means to be intentional about the stuff we let into our homes, lives, and relationships. This week (episode 8) we discuss this topic of how to start decluttering so you can live like a minimalist. If you’re like me and enjoy listening to podcasts, I’d love for you to give it a listen and let me know what you think. You can find this episode and all of the other Wannabe Minimalists shows at LittleGreenBow.com/iTunes.
How to Become a Minimalist and Start Decluttering
The quick answer is to just start…somewhere small. I’ve outlined my step by step process below. Before you know it, you’ll have all of your spaces under control, decluttered, and will be enjoying a life of less stuff, less burden, and more joy.
Step 1 - Decide Where to Start
I’ve seen the most success when people start somewhere small or with somewhere in their home that’s easy. “But, I’m ready for a dramatic change!”, you might be saying. And that’s great! But, even if you’re ready for a change, if your family’s not, it’s going to be a struggle. And if you’ve never lived like a minimalist, you’ll probably rebound - just like a diet that begins on January 1st. Sure, some people are successful when they go cold turkey. But, most of us are not. The dieters that are most successful for the long term, have a plan and start with small changes.
And don’t worry, before you know it, you’re whole home will be decluttered and you’ll be living like a minimalist if that’s what you want, but it’s totally okay to realize that you do not have to do your whole home at once. In fact, my favorite places to start are:
The junk drawer
A bathroom
An area with the biggest impact on your daily life, like your entry way
Step 2 - Gather Your Supplies
Once you know where you are going to start, it’s time to get your supplies ready. The items you will need are:
pen and paper or a notes app on your phone
something to drink
trash bags
boxes for storage
hangers if you’re working in a closet
Step 3 - Get started
With your supplies gathered it’s time to get started with the actual decluttering. Make sure you’re ready by clearing your schedule, put your phone on do not disturb, and go to the bathroom so that you can work for a little bit without taking a break.
Set the mood with a ritual
Let’s be honest, as busy moms we do not have a lot of extra time. Nor are we able to do things at a leisurely pace. In order to be as productive as possible, I start all of my decluttering sessions with a ritual. My decluttering ritual includes:
Pouring myself a drink - usually a big, hot cup of coffee
Putting on some good tunes - I prefer something that energizes me, but not so recognizable that I get distracted by the music
Taking a deep breath - this gets me ready to tackle the task at hand
Create intention for the space
It’s very important to start any decluttering task with intention. That way you know where you’re going and you’ll know when you’re finished with a space. To create this intention, get your paper and pen or use the notes app on your phone.
At the top of the paper or app, write down one word you want to describe the space you’re working in or one emotion you want to feel when you are finished and have a decluttered space. Here are some examples for decluttering our spaces mentioned above:
The junk drawer - your word may be “efficient” or “prepared”
The bathroom - your word may be “clean” or “spa-like” (or “inviting” if it’s the guest bathroom)
Your entry way - the emotion you may want to feel is “in control” or “on top of my game”
This is one of my favorite ways to create an end goal for a project or space and it makes it so much easier to follow through. Try it out and let me know how setting an intention makes a difference when decluttering for you. I think you’ll be surprised at how something so little can make such a big difference.
Stay on task
Now it’s time to get to work. But, as with any task, distractions will come up. Stay on track by using the paper and pen or notes app to jot down any to-dos that come up. You may also find that as you are decluttering a space you may need something to fulfill a task or purpose for that space. Jot these things down as you go so you remember them and you don’t get sidetracked.
For example, in the entry way, you may need an additional hook to hold a backpack or you may need a tiered paper sorter for dealing with paper clutter. It’s best to write these items down and come back to them later instead of stopping your progress when sorting and decluttering.
Not only will it keep you on track, but you might find a solution around your house as you sit with the idea and not have to go out to purchase something new. Or once you have the whole space cleared out, you may realize you want to tweak the layout or flow a bit and that item you thought you needed is no longer necessary.
Create 5 Boxes/Piles for Decluttering
When decluttering a space, I recommend clearing and sorting everything currently residing in that space. This is why I like to start with a small area. And one of my favorite ways to sort through all of the items in a space is with the 5-Box Decluttering Method.
The 5-Box Decluttering Method is very popular and one of the easiest for most people to start with because it requires no prep work, can work in any space, and is quick and efficient. The method works by sorting your items into 5 categories. The 5 boxes or piles you will need are:
Love it/Keep it
Toss
Donation
Sell
Maybe
Most of these are self-explanatory, but let’s dive a little deeper, okey?
Your Love it/Keep it Box/Pile
It is helpful to completely clean out a space, so even if you know you love something and are going to keep it, I still recommend removing it from it’s current location and putting it off to the side with the other items you are going to keep. This allows you to look at your space with fresh eyes before it is filled up again and you might be surprised with wanting to arrange things differently.
Your Toss Box/Pile
These are items you no longer use and are not in a good condition to donate or sell. Often, I find people have a lot of paper clutter in their spaces. If you need help getting through paper clutter, check out episode 6 of the Wannabe Minimalist Show - it’s all about dealing with the daily paper clutter you get in the mail (and from your child’s school) as well as how to get rid of the piles of paper clutter around your home.
Your Donation Box/Pile
Any item that is in good condition, but you no longer use should go in your donation pile. And resist the idea that something is too good to donate. If you no longer use an item, it’s better to get it out of your home than to keep it hidden away, not to be enjoyed by anyone. Each time you finish decluttering a space, I recommend getting the donation pile out of your home, into your car and put it on your calendar to drop it off.
Your Sell Box/Pile
The only items that make it into my sell pile are items that are worth more than $50. Your number may be higher or lower, but it is important to have a threshold at which you put something in your sell box vs. donating it. The trick here is to put an expiration date on the sell box and donate anything that does not sell by that date.
Your Maybe Box/Pile
The Maybe Box is the lifesaver and what makes it easier for ANYONE to declutter their spaces. Even people who never thought they could declutter. This is the safety net. Any item you are not sure about goes in the Maybe Box. When you are finished with the space the maybe box gets stored out of your home (most likely in the garage).
Write an expiration date on the box. Sometimes this will be a month, sometimes half a year, and sometimes a full year. Whatever works for you. After the expiration date comes, anything still in the box should be donated. This makes it much easier to see what you really need and what you are hanging onto because of your emotions.
Sort EVERYTHING in the Space
Once you have your piles ready, it’s time to take everything in your space and sort it.
If you are starting with a drawer - I find it easiest to just dump the drawer out. That way you have to finish what you started or be left with a pile on the floor in your room.
If you are starting with a cabinet - like in the bathroom, I tend to sort as I remove everything. The only things that go back in the cabinet are items in my love it/keep it pile.
Same for closets. I sort everything while emptying my closets. Removing everything at once and piling it on your bed or around your room can be overwhelming and tiring. You’ll most likely need a break before you’ve done any work(!) - and I want to help you be as efficient as possible.
What if I am Still Struggling to Declutter or Let Something Go?
After you remove all your items and sort your belongings into piles, if you are still struggling with what do you with your items, I have found these questions helpful.
1. How do I use this space?
Go back to the intention you set for the space and determine if the item in question fits with your vision. If so, and you love the item, keep it. If the item does not fit with the intention of the space, but you love it, relocate it to where it does fit the intention of the room. If it neither fits with the intention, you don’t love it, and it’s not useful, it can be donated.
2. How do I want to feel when I am in this space?
This also goes back to intention. Let’s take an example from my home using the junk drawer. When I was cleaning it out recently, I set my intention for the space to be prepared and efficient. The drawer had gotten over crowded and as I was sorting, I decided all tool-related items (with the exception of 2 screwdrivers and 1 tape measure) would be best stored in the garage with all of our other tool-related items. Now, I know where to go when I need those things and my junk drawer helps me feel prepared for when I need things on a daily basis - like scissors, tape, a pen, sunglasses, or a match.
3. Do I use this?
We should only keep items we use on a regular basis or that would be incredibly hard to replace for the few instances when we do use them. Something that falls into that latter category for me are Christmas decorations. Sure, I only use them one time per year, but replacing all of that stuff every year would be incredibly wasteful.
4. Do I love this?
Our home is our personal sanctuary and should only be filled with things we love. If you do not love something, it’s not useful, and it does not belong to someone else, you can let it go.
5. Would I buy this today?
This is one of my favorite questions when decluttering anything. If I saw my home goods in a store, would I buy them again? It’s just another to see if you really like something or if other emotions are making you want to keep it.
6. Does this represent who I want to be?
This question is not meant to be superficial, but more about self confidence. If you feel good in what you are wearing or in how your home looks, that confidence is contagious and other people will feel it too. Life is too short to live for others expectations - so you do you and make sure your stuff reflects you too.
7. Does this item have bad energy, negative associations, or harbor guilt?
It can be so easy to keep things because we feel guilty letting them go, so I am giving you permission to let these items that no longer serve you go. (NOT that you need my opinion or permission, but sometimes we just need someone else to say it’s okay. If that’s you, here you go!) While you’re at it, get rid of anything in your home that reminds you of negative times - ex-lovers, family drama, old careers. These things do not serve you and only bring you back to that negative space.
8. Is this worth the time it takes to dust, clean, or maintain?
If you are tired of moving knickknacks to dust, perhaps it’s time to pare down. I love how much easier it is to wipe clear counters so whenever possible I store as much stuff away.
9. Is it worth taking up space in my home?
This is the most important question you can ask and is a culmination of the other before it. Your space is precious and personal to you and your family. It is where you unwind at the end of the day. It’s the springboard for going out into the world. Are the items in it, helping you live everyday to the fullest?
There you have it! Your road map to how to become a minimalist with a family and start decluttering. I am so proud of you and know that you are going to feel amazing as you continue on this journey. Don’t forget that I want to support you any way I can so I created the Minimalist Starter Kit for Families. It’s my free gift to you and is filled with actionable steps that will get you motivated and decluttering right away. Download it below.
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Cheers!
