BHG
Decluttering is hard. Even when motivation is high, the moment we face the pile we must make a decision — and decisions are what often derail progress. I know this firsthand.
I’m not a decisive person. I struggle with simple choices like what to cook, what to order at a restaurant, or even what to wear. So being asked to decide what to keep, what to discard, and where to store everything feels overwhelming, like performing delicate surgery in my head.
Worse, my indecision sometimes pushes me toward shopping instead of clearing out. Bringing more in while trying to remove clutter only makes the problem worse. In short, I have too many things and too many excuses to deal with them.
BHG
That said, I’m not a hoarder. My home isn’t dirty or chaotic — far from it. We maintain systems and keep most areas orderly. Daily life creates small, normal clutter, but the house overall is clean and organized where it counts.
Still, closets and the garage are places I avoid. There is simply too much stored there, and I haven’t prioritized tackling it. Those are the usual, convincing excuses we tell ourselves. I suspect that’s true for many people: not hoarders, just accidental collectors of things that could be donated, recycled, or trashed.
Excuses I’ve used — and am learning to ditch:
All the things. All the excuses.
Over the years I’ve grown better at recognizing excuses and replacing them with actions. I’ve learned my habits and weaknesses and found strategies that work for our household. For example, accepting that I will likely never recover certain pieces of furniture helped me stop storing extra chairs in the garage.
Although everything isn’t perfect, I’m happier at home than I used to be — not because of appearance but because of how the space feels. For the areas that still bother me, I now have realistic plans and the patience to chip away at them.
Working toward a mostly clutter-free home has real benefits. Clutter affects mood and productivity, so reducing it makes daily life calmer. As I get rid of more items, decision-making gets easier; choosing to let things go becomes less stressful than keeping them indefinitely.
BHG
I don’t want to spend my time constantly deciding what to do with possessions. I have many other interests and want to enjoy a home that feels peaceful. That peace comes from keeping what we truly need and what brings joy or serves a purpose, not from overstuffed closets or garages. When you control your things, they no longer control you.
BHG
I’ve shared many organizing tips that work for me. Start with decluttering, then create systems that keep things manageable. A few of my favorite posts include:
The Secret to Getting Organized
A Bag A Day Keeps the Clutter Away
How to Get Organized in a Small House
How to Organize your House with Baskets and Containers
A Plan for Papers You Don’t Want to Lose
My Kitchen Pantry and Tips for Pantry Organization
Pretty and Functional Bathroom Storage Ideas
7 Ideas for Creative Master Closet Storage
Small Space Office Organization
5 Simple Ways to Get Organized
Organizing Entertaining Supplies
Organize Your House: A 12 Month Plan
5 Takeaway Tips from a Small Office
Organizing Your Most-Used House Project Tools
11 Ways to Spring Into Organizing
6 Tips to Kick Start Your Garage Organization
Organizing Craft Rooms and Wrapping Supplies: Small Space Ideas
More Inspiration for Craft Closet Organization
5 Minute Baking Drawer Organization: Using What You Have
UPDATE IN 2017: I compiled my missteps, excuses, and successes into a book about decluttering and simplifying called Make Room for What You Love.
Order my book Make Room for What You Love.
Pre-order my new book, releasing April 3!
Simple Organizing
Available for pre-order.
Downloadable prints and additional inspiration are available on my site.