Decluttering Your Home: The Good, The Bad + The Unexpected Results.

I’m writing this as a PSA for all of us out there on our home decluttering journey…the seasoned declutterer, to the just starting, ‘it is my first rodeo’ crew. I want you to know what you’re up against when you declutter in your home. What benefits can you expect? What roadblocks are lurking around to jump in your way? I want to take away the mystery, once and for all!

Decluttering, like many things, has so many stigmas around it: it leads to a scarcity mindset, it’s a waste of time, it takes too long, you’ll give away things you shouldn’t, you’ll let be left with a stark white, boring home, etc. Once we unpack the truth about decluttering, you’ll be able to see which of these will easily fall off the bandwagon of stigmas.

So we’re going to lay it all out of the table here so you know EXACTLY what to expect the next time you start decluttering in your home, whether it’s your 1000th time or your 1st. Let’s dig into the clutter!

1. YOU MIGHT FEEL FRUSTRATED AT FIRST.

When you start decluttering, there’s a lot of unknowns. What decisions will I make? Will I make the right ones? Can I get through the stuff I want to? And I’ll just shoot you straight - starting decluttering is the worst part. But once you get going, it gets easier and then the actual motivation comes to keep you going!

2. THERE’S NOT GOING TO BE A ‘RIGHT TIME’ TO START.

A lot of people get caught up in waiting for the ‘right time’ to declutter, only to find that everyday life will bulldoze your time. Decluttering must be intentionally planned into your time, but it doesn’t have to take a lot of time.

And guess what, never will there be a ‘right’ day to start. But here’s the good news, ANY day can be the best day to start. Start small. I’m talking 5 minutes and your everyday bag. See where it goes from there. If you’re worried about having enough time in your day? Declutter a high traffic space in your home. Worried about getting your kids out the door to school with less chaos? Declutter your drop/exit zone. Want to get dressed easier each day? Declutter your clothing closet/drawers.

To recap: declutter to save time - and stop worrying about the right to start because it doesn’t exist!

3. THERE WILL BE THINGS YOU ENJOY ABOUT IT.

Yes, let’s imagine us enjoying the decluttering process…it’s possible! You might discover things you’ve been looking for. You might learn about things you no longer need so you don’t waste money down the line. You’ll clarify what is useful, valuable and life-giving to you and, most importantly, what’s draining you. You might find you love the quick dopamine burst you get having a short 10 minute decluttering sesh to clear out a drawer or your everyday bag; this short burst helps you feel a bit more in control of things during your chaotic day. There’s a lot more to this, but this is just the start of reasons why you might end up enjoying decluttering!

4. YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME REGRETS.

Truthfully, I can count on less than one hand that I either forgot I had decluttered something and went looking for it or I wanted it back. And even when this happened, I quickly moved on from it and it was not an actual issue. I was quickly fine with it being gone. If you find yourself in this situation, ask some more questions about why you are looking for it, see if you can use something else, and then if you absolutely must replace it, make sure it is something you’ll use frequently and have adequate space for. If you considered decluttering it at one point, it’s likely not worth bringing it back in your home, even in a newer or different version.

I believe the biggest regrets of decluttering come from realizing that you should have done it sooner. The weight of your stuff becomes apparent when you start removing things from your home that you don’t use or love. When you start feeling that physical shift in your home environment, you’ll wish you would have let yourself part with these things sooner, despite being unsure about how you’d feel after. Now you know.

5. YOU MAY HAVE TO PUSH PAST SOME GUILT.

The guilt that surfaces while decluttering is real. Some of it surfaces as sunk costs. This is money you spent on the item and feel bad or embarrassed about spending what you did, only to be left with something you don’t use. The bigger embarrassment here is not that you spent good, hard-earned money on something, its doing nothing about it. As a result, you end up surrounding yourself with things that weigh you down, cluttering up your daily routines and life, making them harder than they need to be. This is a strong cocktail for preventing you from living well!

Guilt also comes in the form of time. The longer you wait to declutter that spare bedroom, the closet you’ve been avoiding, your crowded kitchen drawers, the harder it is for your brain to take action. But again, remember the secret sauce to success here is merely starting! Start messy. Start unsure. But just start!

Guilt also comes from self-doubt. This guilt comes from believing you’re not good at decluttering, not a good homemaker, or have lost control over your home. Allowed of thoughts can make you quit all together. And I have to tell you, none of this is true. This is your brain sharing tricky, unhelpful thoughts with you that we CAN redirect to get unstuck. You are good enough and you CAN make some small shifts to change everything! You CAN!

6. YOU’LL FEEL LIGHTER IN MANY WAYS.

The lightness in your home after you’ve decluttered is unmatched. Once you’ve removed things from your physical space that you no longer need, the space that is created and reduced visual fatigue, simply because of looking at less, creates a new level of calm in your brain. Creating spaces in your home that help you rest and recharge is essential for your overall well-being.

You’ll be shocked at the peace you create in your mind by decluttering areas that are not readily visible. You know what’s there. Your brain and your body keeps a log of all the zones in your home that need help, that frustrate you, that you spend countless hours digging through to find things. I don’t believe in ‘out of sight, out of mind’ is a real thing. You mind is keeping a log and it’s causing stress that we then carry daily in our body. When you attack these forgotten spaces, you’ll feel unexpected peace.

This new level of peace comes from knowing you can find something, even if it’s hidden. Knowing that you can open your kitchen cabinet and see everything in order at a glance, that your kids can help themselves to toys and be able to put them away, that you can see the food low in stock in your pantry and reduce waste because you know what you have.

This lightness takes the feelings of frustration and the unknown we discussed at the beginning, and turns them into known, predictable ease throughout your home. It allows you to clarify essentials/values, helping you create visible simplicity by taking control over your spaces, simply by removing what you don’t use, value or love from your home. These things leaving your home are what allows you to create space for the life you want.

WHAT TO DO NEXT:

Are you ready to learn strategic steps to help simplify the process of decluttering in your own home? Learn to declutter anything, anywhere in your home in small bursts, without the overwhelm.

Check out my slew of decluttering resources below to help you take action now. ↓↓↓↓↓

+ 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 on instagram!

+ Check out more free decluttering resources HERE!

+ Check out more decluttering tools + guides HERE!

+ See our clients’ favorite decluttering resources:

All Access Home Bundle (includes 9 of our top declutter/organizing guides!)

Declutter Your Home Masterclass

Parents + Kids Guide To Decluttering

1 Week Home Reset Kit

Thanks for following along as we lighten the load of home + simplify our everyday to live better.

Please drop any comments + questions below. I’d love to here from you! // Kristin

5 Simple Ways To Declutter Before the Holidays

Lightening the physical load in your home, before the holidays, is a MUST! This transition to the holidays can feel heavy for many reasons. The physical load (stuff) surrounding you is only adding to an invisible mental load that’s weighing you down + making life day to day more challenging than it needs to be.

In these 5 Simple Ways to Declutter Before the Holidays, I’ll show you how to scan your home quickly, focus on certain hot spots + help you streamline your home in a way that’s simple, without the typical overwhelm you think of when it comes to decluttering. Nope, not here! Let’s get to it so we can all enjoy our holidays!

DECLUTTER FOCUS #1: Bulky packaging, grocery bags, paper bags, etc.

✔️Why it works:

〰️ All of these items are in the category of “reoccurring clutter”, which means it happens from living daily life + must be checked in on frequently or it will make daily routines/task WAY harder than they need to be in your home.

✔️How to do it:

〰️ Start by scanning your pantry + cabinets for bulky packing making it hard to see what you actually have to consume (examples: boxes of tea, snack boxes, cereal boxes, sparkling water boxes, etc.) / decant anything you’d like to make it easier to see what you have + keep it fresher longer.

〰️ Next scan for grocery bags + paper bags to recycle. Check locally (I take any plastic bags I end up with to our local Target). Keep a few of those large paper bags to cut + turn inside out for gift wrapping!

〰️ Recycle as much as you can + then consider reusable bags in lieu if plastics moving forward to cut out out this clutter culprit in your home! Yes please!

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DECLUTTER FOCUS #2: Expired goods + foods not being eaten from your kitchen / pantry.

✔️Why it works:

〰️ Seasonally we must check in on our food stock, as we might want to eat differently or bake certain recipes because of the time of year we’re in, or we’ve left behind some foods that we’ve forgotten about. This step will help streamline + simplify your meal prep + navigating what you have in your kitchen with more ease by assessing what you have!

✔️How to do it:

〰️ Scan your fridge + freezer for old, expired food items. Clean out + recycle what you can.

〰️ Scan your pantry for old items or items that no one is eating. PRO-TIP: If you’re unsure if something will be eaten, pull it out from your pantry + put it out on the kitchen counter in a basket + see what disappears in the next few days. If no one touches it, giveaway or toss it.

〰️ Don’t forget about your local food bank during this process. Non-expired goods you aren’t eating / are unopened can be taken there. Check locally for specific needs!

〰️ Have a notepad handy + write down anything you need to restock + most importantly, pay attention to items you DON’T need to buy again + save your money!

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DECLUTTER FOCUS #3: Scan your horizontal surfaces to declutter.

✔️Why it works:

〰️ Everything that’s out on tables, furniture + counter tops is begging for your attention - simplifying + removing a lot of what’s out will instantly elevate your space + create more visual calm throughout your home, leaving you feeling less drained.

✔️How to do it:

*For each zone you’re going to 1) put away things that belong somewhere else 2) donate items no longer needed or in use 3) tuck things away in a useful/intentional spot that don’t need to be out 4) aim to have out as *little* as possible!

〰️ First do a quick countertop scan through your home, or even in just one spot that’s a common clutter culprit (ahhhemmm I’m looking 👀 at you kitchen counters!!)

〰️ Now let’s do a quick scan on the tops of furniture - think credenzas, tv stands, night stands, etc. / get rid of trash, extra nicknacks you no longer love + simplify the entire surface / wipe off dust if you must 🤪

〰️ Lastly, scan table tops, like the kitchen table or your desk if you missed that spot. Edit like it’s your job. Stay as minimal as possible! Only keep it out if it’s an absolute have to!! Recycle, toss + shred or file papers as needed.

*With less out, you’ll be more encouraged to keep it that way + feel better in your spaces.

*A lot of clutter in these zones can be curbed simply by making small, quick decisions all week to put things away or remove them if they’re no longer needed. You’ve got this!

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DECLUTTER FOCUS #4: Scan for outgrown + no longer used items.

✔️Why it works:

〰️ This is another category that should be quick decisions. The jacket is outgrown. The book is no longer read. We don’t play with these toys. The game is broken. This throw pillow is no longer my aesthetic taste. The shoes are too small. If you run across something you’re unsure about, move on. Circle back on it in a month. We are focusing on the obviously items that need to go right now to create more space in your home + breathing room.

✔️How to do it:

〰️ You can scan each room one at a time, or pick + choose where you want to put your efforts. For me right now, I’m looking in clothing closets, toy areas + books, as it pertains to my kids. For me, I’m looking at some clothing items, accessories + home decor items to quickly edit.

〰️ As you scan the area you’re focusing on, have a box or bag ready for the obviously “no” items to drop in. If it belongs to someone else, bring them into the conversation on why it’s leaving. “You’ve outgrown these pants. We can replace them. Do you want something similar or different to these as we look around”? Keep the process transparent + nonjudgmental for best results!

〰️ If the controversial “toys” are being looked at, read on for my advice: Talk with your kids about the items you “never see them use or play with” + then ask some questions. Would they rather part with these + bring in something new to play with? Would you rather have more space to do your favorite hobby? If there’s a few items you’re all unsure about if they’re being played with, move them out for 1 month into a more obviously location (or just a more limited toy rotation to see if that helps engagement). If the items are never played with, donate them! Easy!

DECLUTTER FOCUS #5: Text + email unsubscribing.

✔️Why it works:

〰️In a short amount of time, you can greatly reduce the digital clutter on your phone + in your inbox, bogging down your time + causing visual fatigue every day! As marketing messages ramp up, this is the PERFECT time to check in on this category of clutter.

✔️How to do it:

〰️ Put a timer on for 5-10 minutes + focus on your phone for text message decluttering. Unsubscribe for any text message alerts you no longer want to receive. While you’re there, spend a minute to delete unwanted text message threads so it’s down to your most recent conversations that you actually need/care about!

〰️ Put a timer on for 5-10 minutes + focus on your email inbox exclusively. Since marketing emails are in full force right now, instead of just deleting emails from companies you no longer want to hear from, unsubscribe from it first, then delete it. In just a matter of days, you will notice A LOT LESS traveling into your inbox, plus LESS time spent during your days deleting things you don’t even want!

PRO-TIP: In gmail, you can simply put your arrow cursor over the email you want to unsubscribe to (without even opening the email) + an ‘unsubscribe button’ will appear. So quick!

Well friend, you did it! You’re on your way to a much lighter + joyful holiday season! Wishing you all the good things as we wind the year down. And remember, you deserve peace + simplicity all year round.

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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 on instagram!

〰️ Make sure you go watch all the 5 Simple Ways to Declutter Before the Holidays in my instagram feed below (all reels take only about a minute to watch)!

Thanks for following along as we lighten the load of home before the holidays + get unstuck in our own home! I’ve got you!

Watch all the short videos on Instagram below.

5 Simple Ways to Declutter Before the Holidays:

Part 1: Bulky packaging + grocery bags, paper bags

Part 2: Expired foods + items not being eaten

Part 3: Horizontal surfaces scan.

Part 4: Outgrown + no longer used items scan

Part 5: Text + email unsubscribing

See the full instagram highlight with all mini reels HERE.

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.

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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.

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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…

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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.

Part 7: Declutter is NOT fun.

See the full instagram highlight with insider tips + all mini reels HERE.