The ONE Question to Ask Yourself When You Declutter
Decision making can be paralyzing when you declutter. It’s all the questions, decisions and options that weigh you down and bring organizing and productivity to a halt. How long have we had it? When did we use it? Do we love it? How many do we need? When we are faced with decision making back to back, we shut down before we start. How can we pare down the questions to just one question? Here’s the ONE question to ask to declutter.
Would I use it today?
Would I wear this today?
It’s a combination of do I fit in it? Is it my style? Is this a color the complements my hair and eyes? With all these questions, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and make no decision. If you put on an item, and decide you can’t or won’t wear it today, it’s time for that item to go. It’s just that easy.
Would I use it today?
Would I baste a turkey with it? Cut up veggies with it? Can I use it today to cut down a tree or hammer in a nail? If I can’t use it today because it requires repair or it’s not useful, it’s time to let it go and make room for another that can be used right away.
Would I refer back to it?
You’re about to start a landscaping or repair project, but would you refer to the article you cut out a while back to do that work? Often when we collect service people or clip articles from a magazine, we are thinking that we would use this information later. We have to admit sometimes it’s hard to find that information again and it’s easier to find it online. If you can admit that the information will not be used or easy to find when you need it, you can let go of that paper.
Would I start this project today?
So many project, so little time! You may have started a project and it became complicated, unwieldy, or boring. If you have moved beyond the project, you can let it go. It can be donated if there are unused resources. It’s completely okay to let it go as pieces.
Reflect on this question, “Would you use it today?” It’s going to simplify decluttering, help you eliminate more, and get you started on organizing.
I look forward to hearing you and learning more about your organizing and decluttering.
More ideas on how to simplify and declutter here on my newsletter! Join here!
I love this question! It is so versatile, and brings an items “raison d’etre” out into the open. So many items we plan to fix and use, but never do. It is so important to live in the present, and to surround ourself with things that help us do that.
Thanks @Seana! Truly it’s about living in the now and using what we have to its fullest value!
During any consultations I have with clients I actually bring up this exact topic. Getting into their minds and daily routines makes figuring out the answer extremely easy, and i wish more people asked themselves this on a daily basis.
It’s true that we help our clients create awareness and that is how we bring value to our work. Thanks for stopping by!