Decluttering in Numbers - Part One
Math was always my favorite subject when I was in school. It was black & white - right or wrong. I didn’t have to hem and haw about the details or length of the answer because the expectations were very clear. In this same way, looking at decluttering in numbers can demystify the process and hopefully encourage you to see things in a new way with less “fluff”.
Decluttering your home can be such a freeing process. While the overwhelm is real, once you start letting go of the clutter, you will find that you are able to fully enjoy the things that make you happy - whether they be physical items like photos, clothing and cooking tools, or in just having more time to do the things you love like spending time with your family, sports, and hobbies.
There is no “right” number of things to have - everyone’s tolerance for clutter is different. Some people feel most comfortable surrounded by many things they love (think books, memorabilia, etc) while others feel better with more open space. When decluttering your home, start with the low hanging fruit (items that give you that “meh” feeling, duplicates, things that are broken or you don’t use, etc.) while working towards the categories that take more thought. Keep memorabilia for the end once you’ve grown that momentum and confidence in your decision making.
Ok so let’s take a look at some numbers!!
You can’t fit 30 spoons in a space that holds 12.
Organizing 100 things takes longer than decluttering 40 and organizing 60.
Bins and baskets should be 50-60% full. If it starts overflowing, there will be no room for growth and therefore won’t be easy to maintain.
You save yourself $8 when you know exactly where the cinnamon is and don’t have to buy a new one because you can’t find the one you know you have…somewhere.
If you have 30 purses, that means in order to enjoy them all over the course of a year, you need to transition to a new one every 12 days or so.
Most people need a max of 2 suitcases when going on a trip (or if you are our family - one). If there are 3 of you in the house and 10 suitcases, do the math.
If you wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time, then 80% of your clothes are just taking up space and making getting dressed more cumbersome every day.
If you get 100 emails every day but only open 15, that leaves 85 unnecessary email distractions a day (plus the chance an important email will get missed).
You and your partner drink from the same 2 mugs a day, yet you have 18 others in the cabinet “just in case”. Free the mugs and keep only a few extras for guests.
You have 5 large bins of holiday decor in your basement but only use what fits in 2. Those extra 3 bins take up valuable storage space and do nothing but add hassle and frustration when you are trying to manifest “holiday spirit” while decorating.
Do any of these resonate with you? What do you get hung up on most when decluttering your home? Check back for Decluttering in Numbers -Part Two coming soon!