My Messy Journey to Decluttering: It’s Not All Sparkling Joy

Okay, so, decluttering. We all know we *should* do it, right? It’s supposed to be this amazing, life-changing thing. You watch Marie Kondo, and suddenly you’re convinced you can fold everything into perfect little rectangles and your house will just *spark joy*. Spoiler alert: it’s usually a whole lot messier than that. And honestly, way more emotional.

The Lure of Minimalism (and My Initial Failure)

I think the first time I really got the decluttering bug, I was scrolling through Instagram (naturally). I saw all these gorgeous minimalist homes – stark white walls, perfectly curated shelves with like, three objects on them, and absolutely no clutter. It looked so peaceful, so serene. I thought, “I want that!” I dove headfirst into books and blogs about minimalism. I even watched a documentary about people who live with, like, 50 things. Fifty! I was horrified and inspired all at once.

My first attempt? A complete and utter disaster. I started with my closet. You know how it goes: “I’ll wear this again someday…” “This was expensive!” “This has sentimental value!” Three hours later, my bed was covered in clothes, I was exhausted, and I had managed to get rid of… maybe three t-shirts. Ugh, what a mess! The whole thing felt overwhelming, like I was being forced to confront my past shopping mistakes. Was I the only one feeling like this? It was definitely NOT sparking joy. More like sparking anxiety.

I think the problem was I tried to go too hard, too fast. It’s like trying to run a marathon without ever jogging a mile. You’re just going to crash and burn. And that’s exactly what happened. I gave up. My clothes went back into the closet, and the minimalist dream faded. I sort of just blocked the whole thing out.

Baby Steps and a Renewed Perspective

Funny thing is, even though my initial decluttering frenzy failed, something shifted. I started noticing the clutter more. The overflowing junk drawer in the kitchen, the stacks of unread magazines on the coffee table, the piles of… stuff… everywhere. It started to actually bother me. I think seeing those minimalist homes, even though I couldn’t replicate them overnight, planted a seed.

So, I decided to try again, but this time, I took a different approach. Baby steps. Instead of attacking my entire closet, I started with one drawer. Just one. And I didn’t try to be perfect. I didn’t try to channel Marie Kondo. I just asked myself, “Do I use this? Do I like it? Is it useful?” If the answer was no to all three, it went into the donation pile. It was way less stressful, and I actually made progress. I cleared out that drawer in about 20 minutes, and honestly, it felt good. Like a little weight had been lifted.

I also realized I needed to change my mindset. Decluttering isn’t about getting rid of everything you own. It’s about creating a space that supports your life and makes you feel good. It’s about intentionally choosing what you surround yourself with, rather than just accumulating stuff out of habit.

The Emotional Baggage of Stuff

One of the hardest things about decluttering, at least for me, is the emotional baggage attached to certain items. That old concert t-shirt from a band I used to love. The souvenir from a trip I took years ago. The sweater my grandmother knitted for me. These things hold memories, and getting rid of them feels like getting rid of a part of yourself.

I remember this one time, I was trying to declutter my bookshelf (another monumental task, let me tell you). I came across a small, worn-out book of poetry. It was a gift from an old friend, someone I haven’t spoken to in years. Immediately, all these memories flooded back – late-night conversations, inside jokes, shared dreams. I almost started crying. I knew I wasn’t going to read the poetry book again, but I just couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. I ended up keeping it. Maybe one day I’ll be able to let it go, but not today. And you know what? That’s okay. It’s about progress, not perfection, right?

It’s about recognizing those emotional attachments and deciding what’s truly important to you. Sometimes, it’s okay to keep the things that make you happy, even if they don’t fit neatly into a minimalist aesthetic.

Tools That (Actually) Helped

Okay, so I’m not going to lie, there are a few apps and resources that did help me along the way. I’m not a huge fan of overly organized systems, but a little bit of structure can be useful.

First, I started using a simple “donate box.” Every time I came across something I wanted to get rid of, I just tossed it in the box. When the box was full, I took it to the donation center. It made the whole process feel less daunting. Second, I discovered the KonMari method of folding clothes (yes, I know I said I failed at it initially, but hear me out). While I didn’t go full KonMari, I did adopt her folding technique. It actually does save space and makes my drawers look a lot neater. Plus, it’s kind of satisfying. I also used an app called “Sortly” for a while to track my inventory of stuff, but honestly, I found it to be a bit too much work.

The biggest help, though, was just setting small, achievable goals. Like, “I’m going to declutter my bathroom counter today.” Or “I’m going to get rid of five books.” Those small wins kept me motivated and helped me build momentum.

Still a Work in Progress (and That’s Fine)

So, where am I now on my decluttering journey? Still a work in progress, definitely. My house is nowhere near minimalist. It’s still a bit messy, a bit chaotic. But it’s also more intentional. I’m more aware of what I bring into my home, and I’m better at letting go of things I don’t need.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that decluttering is a process, not a destination. It’s not about achieving some perfect, clutter-free ideal. It’s about creating a space that supports your life, reflects your values, and makes you feel good. And that, my friends, is something worth striving for. If you’re as curious as I was about different organizing techniques, you might want to dig into the principles of Feng Shui. It’s another way to think about how your space impacts your life. Who even knows what’s next for my journey? But I’m definitely not giving up.