UPDATED 05/01/2025
Have you been feeling overwhelmed lately? Maybe it’s your surroundings, maybe it’s your calendar being too jam packed, or maybe it’s all those notifications that go off constantly on your phone. If you have no idea what to do, you’re in luck because this post is going to help you.
So Let’s Talk About It…
Clutter is basically having too much stuff in a small space. It’s when you keep things just because you might use them someday. The reality is, someday usually means never.
It’s natural for overwhelm to take over when we see clutter. It makes us feel stressed, depressed, and sometimes it can become such a problem that we don’t want to deal with it anymore. When I see clutter, I immediately get anxious. Dishes piled high in the sink is the worst for me. And yes, that is a form of clutter. When I see it, I start making piles that will eventually be cleaned up and then go down a rabbit hole of obsessive organizing and cleaning.
What do you think of when you think about clutter? You might immediately think of Marie Kondo. She’s the woman that encourages people to only keep the things that spark joy. I’ve read her first book and while her principles are great, they don’t quite fit for me. Which is why I came up with my own rules for managing clutter. These rules have evolved over time, but they are ultimately the rules I live and breathe by. I talk about these on the podcast, but you can read them here too.
Clutter Rule # 1 – Say no to Duplicates
How many spatulas do you have? If you are anything like I was, you probably have a few. I had 7 spatulas at one point in time. SEVEN!!!!! Why do I need seven spatulas? When I first started decluttering, I also had multiple mixing bowls, wine glasses, and baking dishes. But duplicates don’t stop in the kitchen.
What about the number of pens you have? I’m almost positive I have hundreds of pens! I can really only use one at a time, so why did I need that many? I like to use different colored pens in my planner for organization, but that might be around four or five pens.
Although this is my first rule, I want you to use reason with it. Use your best judgement for whether you need multiples. Having two to eight wine glasses might make sense for you if you like to entertain. Having a bunch of party trays makes sense for those summer parties you love to host. Only you can decide if having multiples of an item makes sense for you.
Clutter Rule # 2 – The Six Month Rule
Take a second to imagine the future scenario. You have a wedding to go to so you go out and buy a new outfit. Then wedding gets cancelled due to unforeseen reasons and ultimately never gets rescheduled. A year goes by and you still have that outfit but no place to wear it. Do you really want to keep it and have it take up space in your closet? Maybe, maybe not.
Here’s how this rule works. If you haven’t used an item or worn a piece of clothing in six (6) months, decide if it’s worth keeping. Go through your wardrobe and ask yourself if the item is “your style”, if it fits, and if you really see yourself wearing it again. If not, donate it or sell it on a site like Poshmark to make some extra money. If that seems like a drag, donate it. Think of the six months as seasons. Each season, you basically refresh your home by clearing out the old (and possibly getting something new).
The whole idea behind this rule is that it helps cut down on the excess and allows you to always be using things you like (or love). I started this rule the year my husband and I had six weddings to go to in one summer. A few of the weddings we attended that year were within our group of friends and I didn’t want to wear the same dress multiple times. In the world of fashion, wearing the same outfit twice is a big faux pas and while I’m not a fashionista, I still felt uncomfortable about it. I was able to wear one outfit to a few of the events and at the end of the summer, I donated it because I knew I wouldn’t wear it again.
I know this sounds might make you spend a ton of money, but it doesn’t have to. You don’t have to spend a ton of money with this rule, you just need to use your best judgement when it comes to your stuff. Every January and every July, do a refresh and go through every space in your home. Refresh your kitchen tools, your wardrobe, your pantry, and every other space in your home that needs an update.
Clutter Rule # 3 – No Purchases Without a Removal
This one seems simple, right? No purchase without a removal is fairly self explanatory. When you buy something new, get rid of something old. If you get a new pair of jeans, sell or donate an old one. If you buy a new coffee maker, throw away, sell, or donate the old one.
I started this rule because of Rule # 1. I would buy something new because I wanted an updated version of a cardigan or we didn’t have the exact kitchen tool needed. This would happen over and over again. I’d end up with four black cardigans, multiple kitchen tools that were similar but would kind of do the same job, and our cabinets would be overstuffed. It was just too much. Every few months I would do a deep purge and get rid of tons of stuff but ultimately, it would happen all over again. So in came this rule.
Ever since, it has been much easier to manage the amount of stuff in our house. Yes, there are times when I bend this rule a little bit—a black dress that’s tea length and sleeveless and another black dress that has 3/4 length sleeves and is a little shorter. They both can do the same thing but depending on the season, I may want to wear one versus another.
When you start to put this rule into place in your own life, go slow. It may take some time for you to ease into this one because you may want to declutter first. Don’t overwhelm yourself and don’t feel guilty if you cave and buy something new without removing something. It’s about gradual steps, not making changes cold turkey.
Now that you’ve heard my rules, and I hope you’re thinking this is possible for you too. What will you do with all the clutter you decide to remove? You can sell, donate, throw it away, or give it away as a gift. Depending on the condition of the item, how much it might be worth and whether someone you know needs it or not, the decision of what to do might change. Weigh your options and make the choice that works for you. Once you start, and see results, you’ll get excited and want to keep going. Clearing up the clutter never really ends. Just start, keep up with it and don’t give up. You’ve got this!
