I am currently in the process of moving. I’ve spent ten years at my current location which is a two bedroom apartment. I’m moving to a bigger place in the same city, but I do not want to bring all the crap that I’ve accumulated over these past ten years. Like many of us, I have way too much stuff. I have a ridiculous amount of things I need to get rid of, and have felt overwhelmed in the process. But there have been some things that have helped me get through the process with a little less stress. As I go through the mountain that is my “stuff,” there are several questions I’ve asked myself. Whether it’s for a move, new year’s resolution, or you just want a more organized space, I wanted to share some questions to ask yourself while purging your home.
The benefits of purging your home
There are dozens of benefits I could include about purging, so I’ll keep it to a short list.
- You’ll be less stressed – I speak from experience when I say my stress level went down when I cleared out my closet. Not having to climb over your junk, or constantly search for what you need, you’ll experience less stress.
- You’ll shop more wisely – As you get rid of things, you’ll be more aware of what you bring into your home. As you shop, you’ll think twice about adding clutter back into your home.
- Your home will function better – When you only have what you really want and need, your home just works better. Things are where you can find them when you need them.
- Your home will have better energy – You know how you just feel better when your home is clean and organized. That’s home energy, and it will be so much better.
Where do I start?
When you’re facing a mountain of clutter, whether in a closet, kitchen, or bathroom, you may have no idea where to start. Remind yourself that things didn’t get this way overnight, and don’t expect yourself to have this all done in one day. That said, start with getting rid of certain items. There’s a great article of 100 Things To Get Rid Of Today To Declutter Your Home. It’s a great way to jumpstart your clearing project, and includes things like: empty bottles, clothes that don’t fit, uncomfortable shoes, and more.
So as you get started with your decluttering and purging, here are some questions to ask yourself.
Does it still serve a purpose?
Do you have items that are just there staring you in the face every day? And why? Why are these things there? Things should serve a purpose in your life. Whether it’s to make life easier, more efficient, or it simply makes you happy. And something that served a purpose in your life before, may not anymore. Keep checking in with your stuff and if it doesn’t still serve a purpose, get rid of it.
Do you love it?
I had this conversation with a friend who gave me a little pep talk while decluttering. It’s a simple question, “Do you love it?” I get it, there are some things that you need and don’t necessarily love, but don’t you think that you should love most of the things that surround you? As I’ve been packing and purging, I’ve been constantly asking myself this question, and it’s helped me so much with getting rid of things.
Do you own duplicate items or something similar?
This one hit me hard as I went through my closet and drawers. No exaggeration, I had a minimum of 25 pairs of black leggings. I also have at least 100 pens, and in my kitchen I have more mugs that I will need in a lifetime. Time to go!
Can someone else use it?
This is probably the most motivating factor for me. Is this something that someone else could use more than me? Thinking of someone else enjoying the jewelry I no longer wear, the sneakers I have too many of, or still-good but unused cosmetics & toiletries, it made it much easier to pack up and give away.
