The Life-Changing Magic of Decluttering

My Journey from Chaos to Occasional Clarity

Until my mid-forties, I lived in chaos. Patterns, routines, and organisation were alien concepts to me. I moved through life without asking myself how a space could be arranged to make things easier. It wasn’t until my early thirties, when I shared a house with a friend named David Ashlee, that I began to understand how systems for clothes storage and routines for domestic clearing could save time and stress. Even then, I was hopeless.

decluttering

The fundamental shift came when I shared a house with someone who made clutter their life’s work. It wasn’t just about stuff lying around; they even kept an empty, cracked three-litre ice cream container with ancient, unreadable masking tape written on by their grandmother 40 years before. Then I realised these items were like physical databanks, holding memories, emotions, and forgotten fragments of life that needed defragmentation.

Another housemate left Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying, on the coffee table. I picked it up and read the whole thing in an intense three-hour session of hyperfocus. Kondo laid down two simple markers: everything must have a place, and you should ask whether an item sparks joy. This was my epiphany. For the first time, I realised that if I kept my pants in the same drawer, I wouldn’t spend ten minutes a day hunting for them in the washing pile. At 57, my house is now clean and as minimalist as possible, given that my life has included some twists and turns. When things start to feel chaotic, I know it’s time for a mini blitz of decluttering, nothing too overwhelming, just enough to make a difference.

Decluttering Methods That Worked for Me

Find What Sparks Joy

The Marie Kondo method has been transformative for me, where you touch each item and ask if it sparks joy. It’s not just about clothes (though I’ve had to deal with a wardrobe that’s ranged from M through to XXXL over the years). It’s about letting go of anything that doesn’t serve a purpose or bring happiness. This process helped me part with clothes I hadn’t worn in years and objects I’d kept for reasons that no longer applied to my life. In particular, it freed me from hanging on to remnants of past versions of myself, a crucial step toward embracing the present.

Hack the Four Box Method

I’ve adapted the Four Box Method to fit my needs. Instead of the usual “keep, donate, trash, and relocate,” I use charity shop, throw, and move. I find it a straightforward way to tackle clutter without overthinking it. For instance, when clearing out my kitchen, I realised how many gadgets I’d accumulated that I never used. Filling a charity box with items someone else might need took just an hour. Streamlining your decisions into three categories makes acting quickly easier and avoids getting stuck in decision paralysis.

The 30-Day Declutter Challenge

The 30-Day Declutter Challenge has become my secret weapon during Christmas and summer breaks. I start with one item on day one and increase from there. I put a box by the door and toss in whatever I find. By the end of the month, the box is full, and I’ve made real progress. The toughest part? Getting that box out of the house! But once it’s by the door, you eventually trip over it enough times to finally take action. This method works best when I’m on a break. How much easier it feels when the pressure’s off is terrific.

Facing the Book Battle: My Most Challenging Clutter

Books. My lifelong love. My Achilles’ heel. Over the years, they accumulated everywhere - my mum’s garage, two storage facilities, my ex-wife’s house. They’ve finally been reunited in one location, and I’m tackling them box by box. Here’s the trick: Start with the obvious throwaways - damp, tattered paperbacks or fiction books you’ll never read again. That usually clears out about 20%.

Then, I categorise meticulously: fiction, history, poetry, music, politics, and more. When it comes to politics, I subcategorise even further: Labour leaders, Conservative leaders, American presidents—you name it, I’ve got a system for it. And I don’t allow any more book boxes into my house until there’s shelf space ready for them. I’ve learned that a lack of space doesn’t mean I need more shelves; I need fewer books in the house. Still, whenever I open a box, I feel excitement and trepidation, a reminder that decluttering isn’t about perfection but progress.

One Last Thing: It’s All About Your Mindset

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, decluttering is a mindset. I’ve read every book on habits from Aristotle to James Clear, and the best advice I can give is this: start small. For instance, I never say, “I’ll fill the dishwasher.” Instead, I tell myself, “I’ll put at least one knife in the dishwasher.” That’s how you beat procrastination: start small and watch the momentum build.

If you’ve got ADHD like me, don’t panic. Begin with tiny rules and tiny amounts of time: “I will spend no more than five minutes a day removing things from the house.” Reward yourself with a mental high-five. Then, after a month, graduate to the Four Box Method—allocate an hour on a weekend and schedule time to take items to the charity shop.

Finally, if you want to go to the experts, find the Declutter Hub podcast.

Decluttering isn’t just about clearing your space. It’s about clearing your mind. And trust me, it’s worth every bit of effort.

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Useful Decluttering Methods

• Five-Minute Tidying Session: Use short moments to tidy up a small area.

• One In, One Out Rule: For every new item, one must go.

• 80/20 Rule: Focus on items you use 20% of the time, and let the rest go.

• The Boundary Method: Create ‘drop boxes’ (like my small wicker boxes) for items such as keys, change, or pens. These dedicated containers keep your essentials organised and prevent clutter from spreading around the house.