There’s nothing like a deadline to make decision-making easier.
That’s one of the benefits of moving home.
Right now, our family is in full decluttering mode as we prepare to list our house for sale. And it’s been a reminder of the real rewards of letting go.
Decluttering means:
* Less to pack
* Less to unpack
* And a golden opportunity to let go of what no longer serves us.
Even better, our children are on board.
Last weekend, I went through our entire children’s book collection with my son and ended up with 12 bags to donate to our local charity shop.
I have to admit, some of those books were harder for me to part with than my children. I LOVED The Secret Garden and The Muddle-Headed Wombat. But it’s time to let go for a new, simpler chapter in our lives.
This is the process that we are going through as a family…
How I Declutter My Home
I have moved home more than 30 times, I have developed some simple strategies to help me keep making progress.
Step 1 — Focus On The End Goal
Decluttering becomes easier when you have a clear benefit at the end of the process. It’s not just about editing our collections. It’s about creating space for what’s most important.
In this season of my life, I am letting go to free up my time. When you own less, there is less to manage — tidy, clean, organise. And this creates more time to spend together as a family, and travel.
➤ Consider the life you want to live as a result of decluttering.
Step 2 — Tackle One Small Space At A Time
It is easy to get overwhelmed about all the spaces that need help. But when you focus on one small area at a time, you gain confidence and motivation to keep going.
Last weekend, we focussed on the books in my son’s room.
The hardest part was starting, but once we did the whole process became much easier.
➤ What is one small area you could tackle this weekend?
Step 3 — Let Go of Fear
Our brains like to keep us safe. They will come up with all sorts of reasons why we should hold onto something. Most of the time, this is fear talking.
I find it helpful to recognise when those thoughts pop up. They often look like:
“I might need this one day”
“I paid so much for this”
“It was a gift, and would be rude to get rid of it”
Instead of living out of scarcity, we can give ourselves reasons why it is a good idea to let go of something.
Try these thoughts instead:
“I can always borrow, rent, or replace it if I truly need this again some time in the future.”
“The money has already been spent. Holding onto the object doesn’t recoup the money.”
“The joy was in receiving the gift. I don’t need to hold onto the object forever.”
I also like to remind myself that someone else will benefit from what I’m passing forward.
The Takeaway: Make Space For What Matters Most
Letting go isn’t just about living with less — it’s about making space for more of what matters.
To maintain your progress, be a gatekeeper of what enters your home. Adopt the “one in, one out” rule, set limits on what you own, and make decluttering part of your natural rhythm at home.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
What helps you let go of your stuff? Or where do you get stuck?
I’d love to hear — share in the comments below. I read every single one.
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Useful tipps! I used to hold on to things, mostly for sentimental reasons. Over the years it has become normal for me to declutter regularly. Mostly, because I hate clutter and overflowing closets. For me, possessing to much just takes up way too much time and brain capacity! The thing that is difficult for me: my husband and son don‘t share the same satisfaction of letting go. 😅
I think that I have moved around 20 times, including interstate and overseas. I am adept at packing and unpacking but my biggest problem is hanging on to items that have long passed there useful purpose in my life.
I grew up in a family of ten children and as a consequence we didn't have much in the way of possessions, so over my adult lifetime I have gathered a lot of 'stuff'!! I am in the process of decluttering due to the fact that the house that we are currently renting has NO storage space!!
This process can definitely be overwhelming but as you have suggested, taking one small space at a time and working in that area helps to focus concentration.
I have been doing a little bit here and there for the past 10 months but yesterday I decided to clear the top of a table that is in a spare room. I managed to clear most of it in the couple of hours allocated and today I plan on completing that task.
I will still have a lot more to undertake... but the getting started is THE most important step!!