I love this message from one of you. Re-Decluttering is a thing, even though it isn’t a thing I ever wanted to believe was a thing.
Honestly, the thought of having to declutter again one day in the future kept me from seeing the point of getting started in the present. Who wants to redo this painful process? Wouldn’t it be better to wait until I have more time, am more decisive, and have a better idea what the future holds?
But out of desperation, I decluttered anyway. Imperfectly. And the phenomenon of re-decluttering being so much easier than decluttering happened.
Here is Celeste’s story:
Dear Dana,
I have to share how much you have helped me. I’m currently going through my house and re-re-redecluttering. I started following you about 5 years ago and have implemented your techniques ever since.
All throughout I’ve still been my slobby self but this time I’ve noticed the change. Not only has this decluttering episode been so much less than the ones before, it’s also been that much easier for me to get rid of stuff. I no longer have a “don’t go in there room” and my daily habits are so easy.
Also, people now come to me for cleaning/decluttering advice! ME?! Thank you so much for sharing your brain and what’s worked for us slob folk. You’ve changed my life for the better.
Sincerely,
Celeste ~ a mom of 5
If you’re overwhelmed and need a plan, check out my new book, Decluttering at the Speed of Life, available wherever books are sold. You can listen to the first three chapters of the audiobook version here.
It’s funny, I was just doing this last night in a spot in my house. Some people would call it re-decluttering – I call it a priorities change. Last night I was clearing out my kitchen cart. I’d previously done this spot, and it was in pretty good shape. However, I got the opportunity to get a much desired portable dishwasher (no longer hurting my back to wash dishes!), and the only place to store it is in the corner where my kitchen cart sits, so the cart – and it’s contents – need new homes. There were several items that had made it through the previous round because they are useful and would eventually get used. They are gone now. Keeping them around is no longer a priority when given the choice between those items and an item that will improve my quality of life *right now*. So, I don’t see this as a failure of my previous declutter, just as change of needs for my existing space.
I love our counter top dishwasher. It takes up counter space, but it keeps all the other counters clean, so it seems a fair trade off. (Although only after I started following Dana’s directions of washing the dishes even when it didn’t seem like it was time). I have had some amusing responses from friends though. One of them asked, with some confusion, where the counter had gone, if the dish washer was there. I think she may have meant ‘where is the dish pile?’
May favourite part of not having a dish pile is that there is no decluttering. Before I would go through the dish pile and through out the garbage and recycling that had ended up in it, put stuff back in the fridge, etc. But without a dish pile there is no clutter attracting zone.
I love this post! I almost could have written it. Except for the mother of 5 part!
I keep on re-decluttering. And it really does keep getting easier!
Perseverance is the key to success in anything you would like to do in life. Keep posting.