7 Decluttering Myths You Need to Know Now
The 7 Decluttering Myths we’re going to address today are keeping you stuck in your home, right this minute! Decluttering has a lot of stigmas around it that tell our brain that we’re not good enough, we’re wasteful + that we’ve messed up. And that nothing can be done about it! Nope!
I want to invite you today to unpack these 7 Decluttering Myths with me so you know how to identify them creeping up + how to blast past them with the right tips + tools. Let’s go get unstuck together!
PART 1: “Decluttering is something you do only once.”
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Well I’m sorry friend, this is NOT a one + done thing…it’s an ongoing process, but it doesn’t have to be hard! And this is true for ALL of us!!
And now here’s the good news… it becomes easier + you do less of it over time. 🎉 Once you get the basics down, you’re golden!
PRO-TIP: Start with the low hanging fruit - the stuff you don’t need to overthink - expired good, the shoes your child outgrew, the extra/bulky packing, the mail.
PART 2: “ALL clutter is the same.”
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There’s actually LOTS of types of clutter, believe it or not! Knowing the difference helps you make quicker, more intentional decisions. Here’s a few to consider:
〰️ sentimental clutter - inherited or items you have an emotional tie to for some reason (can be more challenging to make decisions regarding it)
〰️ reoccurring clutter - expired goods, food, packaging, grocery bags, school papers, mail, etc. (typically easy to part with and remove from your home - on going but can pile up quick!)
〰️ growth clutter - things you’ve physically outgrown, developmentally outgrown or there’s been a shift in taste, aesthetics or home life needs (items that no longer align with you and your family’s lifestyle)
〰️ occasional clutter - unwanted gifts, items you’ve fallen out of love with, items that need to exit because space is more valuable, broken, beyond repair items, etc. (not difficult to part with but are often ignored all over your home + eat up valuable space)
PRO-TIP: It’s important to know that not all clutter is the same because each category requires different amounts of mental energy from us to remove it. This is normal! Knowing this info helps you more intentionally declutter in your home + feel less stifled by items that seem hard to part with.
PART 3: “All clutter is from things YOU brought into your home.”
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Nope! Let’s unpack this a bit. Here’s a few ideas to about clutter showing up in your home + how it got there:
〰️ unannounced clutter - can walk into your home from gifts you didn’t ask for, generous offerings from friends or family, trinkets from school or a holiday event, work event, etc.
〰️ associative clutter - are things they come along with things coming in your home by default - like extra packing from things your pantry, grocery bags if you’re not using your own reusable ones, etc.
〰️ transformative clutter - something that once was very useful to you is no longer serving you or your family + is now clutter - this is normal + OK - this is why we have to occasionally check in on things we own.
We still have to deal with this clutter. And it’s a reminder when we do have control over what’s coming in your home, slow down + be intentional.
PRO-TIP: Questions to ask when bringing something into your home:
Do we REALLY need this? Do I WANT to manage this? Do I HAVE space for this? Will it truly ADD value to my life or others? Or is this just another THING in my home…
PART 4: “You’re either born knowing how to declutter or you’re not.”
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Nope! I totally disagree. After working with clients for years, I believe wholeheartedly it’s a skill that has to be learned, just like riding a bike or chopping veggies in your kitchen. Here’s some food for thought around why we’re not naturally wired to know how to declutter:
〰️ we are constantly in “consuming” scenarios that cloud our judgement when we go to part with things
〰️ intentionally bringing things into your home is more about setting boundaries than anything else - another skill we all must learn that effects every part of your life
〰️ decluttering is a lifestyle + mindset that combines self awareness, ability to filter + assess what’s useful, valueable + needed in your life + home
PRO-TIP: Practice makes progress. Progress build confidence. Confidence shows you just how capable you are + how easy it can be to live better with less clutter.
PHOTO NOTE: Most of what you see up above here is mess! It’s actively in use, it has a home + is easily wrangled.
PART 5: “Mess and Clutter are the same thing.”
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This is one of most shocking revelations you can make in your home to preserve your time + energy.
Here’s how to know the difference between mess + clutter:
〰️ MESS are things actively in use / think crafts your kids are currently playing with / piles up items in the entryway from weather shifts this week / clothing you wore than needs to be tossed in the to wash basket or hung up to wear again.
〰️ MESS comes + goes.
〰️ MESS can be wrangled + put back in a designated home quickly + easily.
〰️ CLUTTER has no intentional spot in your home.
〰️ CLUTTER is likely not in use + yet is constant - it’s lingering around, it’s making your daily tasks much harder than they need to be.
〰️ CLUTTER needs to leave your home - it’s not helpful day to day, it’s not worth the space it takes up, it does not make daily life better, it does not make daily routines easier. It does not add joy to your home.
Start scanning your home today + see what’s mess + clutter in your home.
What do you notice when you look at your spaces with fresh eyes?
PRO-TIP: Deal with mess when you can. As you identify clutter in your home, create an exit plan for it + have a donation bag/box ready at all times!
PART 6: “Decluttering ALWAYS takes a lot of time.”
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The truth is that decluttering can take as much or as little time as you want. You can weave it into any schedule, lifestyle or family dynamic.
Here’s some ideas on how to approach decluttering in smaller bursts of time:
〰️ focus on one small zone - your everyday day bag, one drawer, one shelf, one cabinet.
〰️ put a timer on for 10-20 minutes to help you focus in one area OR do a quick sweep through of your home for items to declutter
〰️ focus only in one room for whatever amount of time you want / I suggests breaks every 45 minutes (leave that space, walk around then come back) if you want to declutter longer on that area
〰️ declutter by one specific category - like books, jackets, shoes, games, kitchen utensils, papers, etc.
PRO TIP: Combine these strategies for even more ideas on how to declutter in short bursts in your home to create your own “super strategies!”
Example: Put the timer on for 15 minutes, focus on one category in one room in your home (like the bathroom focusing on decluttering expired + not used toiletries)
Get creative with these strategies to fit the needs of your home. You will soar, promise!
PART 7: “Decluttering is NOT FUN.”
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Decluttering has a stigma around it - it’s miserable, it takes a lot of time, it gets messy + it makes you feel bad about yourself.
I want to invite you to consider some alternative perspectives around decluttering:
〰️give away without guilt - you will not get your money back you’ve already spent - responsibly put items to good use in the community + move forward
〰️use impulse buys or even well thought out buys that flopped as helpful information - ask questions around the purchases to help you make better decisions moving forward - why were they a flop?
〰️we are all human + learning! Be kind to yourself as you continue to refine your daily essentials + be resourceful with your time, energy + money
〰️know what you have + where everything is in your home - don’t ever underestimate the power of knowing that you have enough to take care of your daily needs + where to find everything - this brings on safety + peace
〰️rediscover + find things you maybe haven’t seen in a while - once you know you want to keep it, give it an intentional home, take care of it + move forward!
WHAT TO DO NEXT:
〰️ Download my free declutter guide to get you taking quick + easy decluttering action in your own home (linked in profile).
〰️ Click the follow button for @fuzzyhipposhop to follow along for more decluttering tips + basics to get you unstuck in your home!
〰️ Make sure you go watch all the 7 Decluttering Myths in my instagram feed below (all reels take less than a minute to watch)!
Thanks for following along as we de-myth decluttering for our homes + get unstuck!
Watch all the short videos on Instagram below. Check out the HIGHTLIGHT for even more insider tips I shared in my stories you won’t want to skip!
7 Decluttering Myths You Need To Know Now:
Part 1: Decluttering is something you only once.
Part 2: All clutter is the same.
Part 3: All clutter is from things YOU brought into your home.
Part 4: You’re either born knowing how to declutter or you’re not.
Part 5: Mess and clutter are the same thing.
Part 6: Decluttering always takes a lot of time.
See the full instagram highlight with insider tips + all mini reels HERE.
