My Hesitant Decluttering Journey: From Hoarder to (Almost) Minimalist

The Mountain of Stuff: Where Did It All Come From?

Okay, so, decluttering. It’s one of those things you see on Instagram and think, “Oh, that looks nice. Maybe someday.” Someday always seemed so far away, buried under, well, everything. My house, especially my spare room (let’s be honest, that was just a polite name for “storage unit I pay rent for”), had become a testament to… something. I’m not sure what. My inability to throw anything away? My deep-seated fear of needing that chipped mug someday? Probably a bit of both.

Honestly, it started innocently enough. A few extra picture frames. A couple of impulse buys from Target (you know how it is!). But then, birthday presents piled up. Holiday decorations multiplied like rabbits. And suddenly, BAM, you’re swimming in a sea of… stuff. The sheer volume was overwhelming. I would walk into the room and immediately feel this wave of anxiety wash over me. Ugh, what a mess! It was easier to just close the door. And that’s what I did. For a long time.

But, you know, things have a way of catching up with you. I started feeling sluggish, unmotivated. Like the clutter in my house was mirroring the clutter in my brain. I couldn’t focus. I was constantly losing things. And the worst part? I felt guilty. Guilty about all the things I wasn’t using, the money I had wasted, and the space I was letting rot. Something had to change.

The First Step: Admitting I Had a Problem (Kind Of)

I wouldn’t exactly call myself a hoarder, but I definitely leaned towards the “sentimental attachment to everything” end of the spectrum. My mom always said, “You never know when you might need it!” And that little phrase, ingrained since childhood, had become my mantra. But the truth is, I *did* know when I might need it. And the answer was almost always “never.” That box of old concert tickets? Never gonna need those. The ten different shades of red nail polish I bought in 2010? Probably dried out by now.

The first real attempt at decluttering felt… painful. I started with my closet. I figured, clothes are relatively easy, right? Wrong. Each item held a memory, a potential future, a “what if” scenario. “What if I need this sparkly top for a last-minute New Year’s Eve party?” “What if this pair of jeans suddenly comes back in style?” I spent hours agonizing over things I hadn’t worn in years. The funny thing is, I found a shirt I’d bought for a specific event like, seven years prior. And had I worn it? Nope. I’d panicked and bought something else entirely. Go figure.

I used an app, Depop, to sell some of the nicer clothes. It was surprisingly effective. I made a few bucks, which helped ease the guilt of getting rid of them. But it was also time-consuming. Taking photos, writing descriptions, dealing with shipping…it was a whole thing. Was it worth it? Maybe. Depends on how much you value your time, I guess. I started to wonder if just donating the stuff would be easier.

The KonMari Method: Sparking Joy or More Anxiety?

I’d heard about the KonMari method, the one where you hold each item and ask yourself if it “sparks joy.” Honestly? Most of my stuff sparked a complex mix of emotions, joy not being the primary one. More like…nostalgia, guilt, obligation. Trying to apply the KonMari method felt like adding another layer of anxiety to an already stressful situation.

So, I tweaked it. Instead of asking if something sparked joy, I asked myself a few simpler questions: Have I used this in the past year? Do I genuinely like it? Would I buy it again today? If the answer to all three was “no,” it was gone. Even if it was a gift. Sorry, Aunt Mildred, but that ceramic cat is not sparking anything but dust these days.

One thing I regret is not taking better “before” pictures. I wish I had documented the sheer scale of the mess. It would be satisfying to look back and see how far I’ve come. But I was too embarrassed at the time. I guess that’s part of the process, right? Accepting where you are and moving forward.

Baby Steps and (Almost) Empty Spaces

I’m not going to lie, it’s still a work in progress. I’m definitely not a minimalist. I still have a tendency to accumulate things. But I’m much more mindful about what I bring into my house. I think twice before making impulse purchases. I try to be more intentional with my belongings.

And the best part? The spare room is no longer a source of dread. It’s actually… usable. I can walk in there without feeling overwhelmed. I even started using it as an actual *room* – a reading nook, of all things. Who even knew that was possible?

Decluttering wasn’t just about getting rid of stuff; it was about clearing mental space. It’s about creating a more peaceful environment. It’s about being more intentional about how I live. And while I still have a long way to go, I’m finally moving in the right direction. Maybe one day, I’ll even get rid of that chipped mug. Maybe.