Spring Cleaning 101: Take Back Your Space!

Now that we’re all spending a lot more time at home, I’ve noticed that I’m acquiring things from online shopping at a kind of alarming rate. You know you’re doing it, too. If I’m not eating, I’m shopping, it feels like. And since nothing else is going on, what’s the harm in a little retail therapy? Well, there’s a couple of problems with it.

While it makes you feel good, or fulfilled for a short amount of time, “boredom shopping” is a good way to really screw up your checking account and clutter up your life. I know you love those shoes you saw on Facebook, but you have 22 pairs of shoes already. We as a society are in love with the instant gratification of buying online. You can have it in two days, why not live a little?

So, how do we combat the need to fill the void with stuff? I’m here to tell you that you can embrace a more minimalist lifestyle and be okay. In fact, it’s very freeing to divest yourself of unnecessary possessions. Let’s clean and de-clutter together!

The “Treat Yo’self” Trap

We have to level with ourselves, to start off with. We fix problems by buying things. We have been raised in a world where everything can be fixed by ordering the solution to our problems online. Even if it’s not a need, we jump on the chance to whip out our credit cards and acquire things and stuff to fill up the spaces inside ourselves. We are constantly seeking outside help to fix an inside problem.

I’m just as guilty as the next person. I probably have bought more things during this pandemic, than ever before, trying to equalize the fear and inability to control the problem by finding stuff to purchase online. It’s easier to ignore the fact that I’m powerless if I can distract myself momentarily with shiny stuff. People are just raccoons with credit cards, I swear. And I’m no different.

Start by being honest with yourself. What solution is this thing that you feel you “must have” providing? Is it really a need or a want? What are the long term goals you are looking to meet by getting this? If you’re just looking to treat yourself, be clear about it. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with shopping, ask yourself, “When will it be enough? When will I be satisfied?”

Does it Spark Joy?

If you haven’t heard about her, let me introduce you to Marie Kondo. She’s a Japanese woman who began the “spark joy” craze on Netflix. Her show encourages people to go through their possessions, and find out if they “spark joy”, with her show, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. What does that mean? I don’t know about you, but my toothbrush doesn’t exactly make me head over heels happy. But I need one.

If you asked Marie, she would say that my toothbrush does indeed “spark joy”. It fills a need I have, and I feel better because I have a healthy mouth due to it. It doesn’t mean that I jump up and down every time I need to buy a new thing, but that it brings more joy into my life because I have that thing. I am better because I own it, or better off at least.

Maybe you don’t need all the possessions that you own, but do they at least serve a purpose for you? Are you just keeping them out of sentimental value? Or did you make an ill-advised expensive purchase, only to realize that you are no better off than before? Finding out the real reason you amassed this pile of stuff is as important to de-cluttering as the actual clean up, because without addressing the problem, we’ll just rinse and repeat.

The Purge

If you’ve stayed with me this far, maybe you’ll come a little farther and start to plan to divest yourself of the things that don’t bring you happiness or serve an important purpose. I don’t mean that we should all be living as monks, free of all frivolous ownership, but I do want to live a life that is purposeful and meaningful. And I can’t do it if I can’t find the floor in my house.

Start off small. We all have a lot of stuff, and It’s really overwhelming to think that we have to go through and clean out our whole houses of all the things that don’t spark joy. I’m not even suggesting that you do such a thing. Presented with such a large task, it’s easier to ignore the issue and just surf the web for more stuff to fix the problem, right? We just need more storage, more space, more things. I’m telling you though, it’s better if you just start with one room, or failing that, one closet.

Tackling a small space, one space at a time is definitely easier than say, cleaning out the whole house. We’ll get to it all, just take your time. You don’t want to discard things you may need (if you get overzealous in the cleaning, like me), and you don’t want to make decisions you will regret later.

Keep, Sell, Donate, Trash!

Now that you’re on board with the small space you’re starting in, designate four spaces (piles) for the things that you’ve pulled out of the space. You know where this is going. We are either going to keep this item, sell it, donate it, or trash it. No one likes to think that we’re holding on to trash. And probably, in all of the stuff that’s in this space, is something that someone else would love to have. Who are you to stand in their way? Now is the time to get unemotional about your possessions.

If is has a purpose, and you’ll use it for that purpose, there’s no reason you can’t keep the item. If you love it, but you never use it, it’s time to move on. Are you keeping it because it was a gift, and you don’t use it? Someone else might, so it’s time to pass it on to them! Are you keeping it because it holds sentimental or monetary value? Sell if it’s worth selling. Take a picture of it and keep the picture, and put it up for sale. You still have the memory of the thing, a memento to keep, and you’re reclaiming your life from your stuff!

Put the things into the designated piles, and follow through. The cleaning job isn’t done until you donate, trash, and sell!

The Bottom Line

When you really get to the root of the problem, it’s that we are looking for things outside of ourselves to fix the problems we see inside ourselves. By working on ourselves, we can stop the needy amassing of stuff that is plaguing us.

We need to practice self care, not self indulgence. Seeing the difference is a big deal. And I hope that by ridding yourself of needless items that are taking up space in your life, you will feel the freedom that comes along with less. Because quite simply, more isn’t always better.