This is my dream. To live in a clutter free space. When that happens I feel so light, creative and content. It’s easy to find things. I can open a cabinet and not be attacked by things inside. I can even put something in a closet or cabinet without pushing my weight against the door to get it to close again. I love clear counters and tables. The simplicity of a simple mantle or shelf without it being packed with cute accessories, knick knacks, or family photos and treasures is divine. Oh yes, it feels good not to have clutter. It is my dream.
I am constantly fighting back clutter around the house in the quest to have just what we need and have it all fit in an appropriate spot. That is a challenge because seriously you never know when you may need that odd ball item and the minute you pitch it you’re going to need it or it will have be important to someone in the family.
Approaching How to De-Clutter
It feels good to start going through a closet and see a growing pile of things to give away or pitch in the trash. The act of cleaning, reorganizing, sorting and redoing a space has a couple different methods to achieve that final de-cluttered look and feel.
Approach 1 is to take everything out of the space and only add back in what you want or need and put it in the “right spot.” I find this works really well for things like the plastic container cabinet, other kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets and linen closet. My personal opinion is this approach works well when it’s a very small space and you need to see the bare bones of the space and start from scratch. Sometimes that’s needed for a large room too but it can seem overwhelming to be that extreme.
Approach 2 is work in a small space and work your way through the entire area. I think this works really well in my child’s bedroom, the master closet, a room that needs a good overhaul and larger spaces.
Regardless of approach taken, I recommend preparing yourself mentally for this task. It’s major regardless of space you’ll be working in and it’s emotional. We get really attached to things or have this long term vision of how it could be up-cycled, needed in the future, will fit us one day, or was once really special. You have to be prepared to make those tough decisions.
For me I like to prepare by building my confidence about this task at hand and having a clear focus of my goal. I use these oils a couple days leading up to the work of de-cluttering to get in the right mindset for going through things.
Clarity is supported with oils such as these:
Confidence is needed because if you feel you’re going to cave in to wanting to keep everything or feel overwhelmed in the middle of it you’re going to make a bigger mess than just leaving it for when you are stronger. I like to prepare with these oils:
Going Through Stuff
When you actually start to sort things we each have our own way of choosing what to keep and what to part ways with. You can be as strict or loose about your decisions as you wish but do so in love and respect to yourself. Some questions to consider while going through this process include:
When the last time you used or wore it? Was it over a year ago?
Do you like it?
Is it special or have memories attached?
Was it handed down to you?
Does it fit?
Can someone else benefit from it more than you?
Was it expensive?
Can it be replaced?
If you could only take 1 bag of things from your home would this be something you’d have to include?
Do you enjoy it?
Did you remember you had it?
The act of parting with something takes courage and confidence but it also takes recognizing your own self-worth is not tied to material objects of any kind. If that object or item does not fill your heart with love, contentment, gratitude or joy then it becomes easier to say you it doesn’t serve you.
Essential oils can help us touch the emotional part of decluttering whether that is a physical space, our emotions or life in general. These oils are fantastic at helping us dig deep for those feelings of attachment and determining the service, emotion and connections we have to objects, spaces and even people.
Interested in more?
It feels good to get rid of things and see your space free of clutter. This is good for your physical and mental health as well. While the process of de-cluttering may not be stress free the result is much less stress and maintenance caring for things that no longer serve you or where you want to go next in your life.
If you have questions about the oils I mention in this post, please reach out. I’m happy to help.
amyk@dragonspitapothecary.com
With a doTERRA account you can purchase these oils and other natural health products at a significant discount. Learn more at:
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