End The Clutter Trap! Tips For A Mindful Approach

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Clutter in our homes almost always goes hand-in-hand with clutter in our minds. The clutter in our minds can express itself as overall stress and difficulty in managing tasks. What if there was a way to end the clutter trap and gain peace of mind, would you sign up?

A mindful approach to clutter, like everything, not only helps clear your space but can also help your head. By removing the physical chaos surrounding you your mind may calm down.

I hear people continually say, " I have too much stuff; I have to get rid of some stuff." These thoughts won't change until you attack clutter head-on. Mindfulness is another word for defining what you want the end result to look like, making a plan, and sticking to the plan no matter what.

Understand Clutter Mindfulness To End The Clutter Trap

The Definition of Clutter Mindfulness

Clutter mindfulness in its simplest form is this...you have lots of stuff surrounding you in your physical space, too much stuff, and need to get rid of it. What items do you love and need? Do you love the collection of (fill in the blank) or are they present because they ended up in your possession 40 years ago?

Mindfulness means using your mind to answer the question I just posed. Please answer the question as to how it relates to you today, at this moment, not a time in the past.

For example: Do you love the box of tchotchkes you inherited? Or do you think you have to keep the things because it was an inheritance from a person you may have adored?

Mindfulness is not a scary new-age concept. To boil the process down even further, pick up an item and ask yourself 'Do I love this or not'? Is it functional? I may not exactly love my saucepan but when I have to saute something it comes in quite handy. I will keep it.

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Clutter mindfulness is about being aware of the present moment when deciding to keep or discard the items in your space. It is the opposite of clutter blindness which is when you have things that have been in the same place for a long time you no longer see them.

It involves conscious attention to how you interact with your belongings and the intentions behind each item you own. This practice encourages you to consider how each possession affects your life. Does it add to the quality of your life or is it clutter that raises your stress levels?

The Benefits of Clutter Mindfulness

Practicing clutter mindfulness brings a lot of emotional and psychological benefits. It can reduce anxiety by helping you feel in control over your environment and free up mental space.

If you are so stressed out and distracted because you are living in a cluttered environment you can turn this around by putting in the time it takes to go through your physical objects and making honest conscious decisions about what is clutter, what to keep, and the things you no longer need or want.

Take back your power with a mindful approach to your decluttering process because this will allow you to make decisions with clarity and purpose about how you want to live your life today.

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Practical Techniques for Practicing Clutter Mindfulness

Mindful Decluttering Practices To End The Clutter Trap

Start small!

Set a timer for five minutes and focus on clearing one small area. This helps build a habit of regular decluttering without feeling overwhelmed.

Meditative Approaches to Decluttering

Some folks swear by meditation, others are not interested. Add into your decluttering routine whatever can help your efforts.

What works for me are long deep breaths in and out. Just a few is all it takes to ground me. When you feel overwhelmed try a few deep breaths in and out. Don't give up. Breathing calms me down.

Creating a Mindful Space To End The Clutter Trap

I can't think in a cluttered space. Loud music playing in stores distracts me to the point I have to leave. Your environment plays a crucial role in how you feel. You want to eliminate all the distractions in your home and workspaces.

Consider using natural light or soft music to create a serene atmosphere. A designated clutter-free zone can serve as a reminder of the benefits of mindfulness.

Be Mindful of Every Future Purchase

Purchasing items without considering their necessity can quickly lead to clutter. Be mindful of your buying habits. Ask yourself if you truly need the item or if it will add value to your life. By being selective with what you bring into your home you will help to maintain clarity and organization.

Adopting the 'one in, one out' rule limits the accumulation of new items. For every new item you bring into your home, remove a similar one.

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15 Pro Decluttering Tips To Start Working On Today!

Overcoming Emotional Barriers to Decluttering

Identifying Emotional Attachments

Emotional attachment ties to sentimental items are what often make decluttering difficult. These attachments can be memorabilia, gifts, or perceived obligations. By identifying these connections, you can acknowledge their significance without letting them anchor you to unnecessary clutter.

If you, for example, inherited some things from special people in your life, that you never loved, why are you keeping these things. I can't imagine your loved ones wanted to burden you with their things.

Habits Need Tweaking To End The Clutter Trap

What works really well is to replace old habits with new and better habits. Having clear goals before you start decluttering is another tip. Otherwise, how will you know when you have reached your goal?

By putting more effective habits to work you will save time. For example, instead of hunting for your keys every time you leave home, put your keys in the same place when you come home- Every time!

When you bring your mail into your home don't just drop it anywhere. There are no magical mail fairies that will come by and take care of the pile of mail, and it is a lot easier to sort the mail and recycle the junk mail each time you collect it.

Some important habits to consider changing:

• Do you buy too much?
• Do you procrastinate?
• How are your decision making skills?

If you need help figuring out how to easily donate your possessions I put together a free resource guide filled with charities and donation centers that will come to your home to pick up large items like treadmills. Many of these local donation centers will pick up at your home for free.

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Mindfulness Techniques to Let Go

Letting go of items can be a liberating experience. Approach the task with compassion and mindfulness. Hold each item and reflect on its role in your life. If it no longer serves a purpose, thank it for its service and allow yourself to release it. This practice makes room for more meaningful elements in your space.

Maintaining a Mindful Environment Post-Decluttering

Routine Mindful Practices to Maintain a Clutter-Free Space

Having a clear intention of what you love and don't love is an ongoing process because again, we grow and change and so do the things we love. You could add to your daily routine by looking at an item in your path and asking yourself if you still love it.

Consistency is key to preserving a clutter-free environment. Incorporate daily or weekly rituals to keep your space organized. By spending a few minutes each day returning items to their rightful places, or dedicating an hour a week to assess different areas of your home you will notice a big difference.

A home is easier to care for when you dedicate a space for every item to stay when not in use. Over time, these habits become second nature.

To End The Clutter Trap

Pick out your favorite favorite things because some people fear discarding items they love during their decluttering tasks.

Find practical steps that work for you. The steps you take that may be practical for another person may not suit you. Make your practical steps. The people reporting successful regular decluttering sessions are the people who schedule these sessions like they do a hair or a dental appointment.

When stuff pops up in your life as it surely will you may have to postpone a regular decluttering session, the key here is to immediately reschedule as you would with a hair appointment.
Embrace clutter mindfulness and transform not only your space but also your mind.

Photo byMarj Bates

Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutter-er and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. “Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.

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