Decluttering the easy way!

Clearing out old and unused items is for sure a great way to declutter your space and your mind. But this can seem like a daunting task! One minute you're organising your T-shirt drawer and three hours later you have every item of clothing you have ever owned on the bedroom floor.

As a modern nation we love 'stuff'. And consumerism has taught us to attach memories, feelings, worthiness and self importance to this 'stuff'. Consider it in the next block of advertising you watch, all adverts play on your shortfallings to convince you that their latest product will fill the void. However by reducing the amount of 'stuff' in our lives we can begin to make space for the things that actually fill the void.

Maybe your kids don't need the latest games console to be happy. Maybe they need your time.

Maybe you don't need the latest camera phone to capture memories in HD. Maybe you need to be present to actually recall those memories.

Maybe you don't need that detox diet tea to lose weight and get healthy. Maybe you need to drink more water and get some damn sleep.

Harsh, but true.

So in the name of getting rid of 'stuff' to make room for experience. I'd like to share with you my 3 easiest ways to organise the chaos and declutter!

1. The blind box test

Ever been mid-clearout and thought

'But what if I need this?'

'One day this might come in handy'

This one is for you. All those 'maybe' items are going to go in a box. Sealed. And it's going to be placed out of sight. In a storage locker, a garage, a loft, even a friend's house. You're going to set yourself a reminder for one year in the future. If in the space of 12 months, you do not need to return to the box for any particular item, you are going to throw away the box. And you are not going to open it. You heard me right. No peeking. No checking. GONE!

2. Go shopping in your own house first

We all have that instinct to buy something new and shiny every now and again. That little mental list of things we 'don't need, but would like to have'. Maybe it's a new picture frame, a new pair of trainers or a new moisturiser.

But have you ever thought to go shopping in your own home first.

Gather together all the picture frames. All the trainers. All the moisturisers.

Not only can you cull anything damaged or unwanted for donation, but you may find some absolute gems long forgotten. We won't pretend this mimics the rush of a purchase, but it breathes fresh air into your own things and protects your poor bank card from abuse.

3. Is it beautiful or useful?

This is an easy one that I learnt from my Mama.

Simply ask yourself,

'Is this beautiful or useful?'

If the answer is neither, it's time to let that item go.

Letting go of our 'stuff' can trigger a lot of emotions. We attach so much sentiment and memories to physical items. There are so many ways to immortalise our memories these days; photographs, videos, holograms. Who knows. But because there are no stakes as to not remembering. When all we could rely on was our minds to capture moments we were forcibly present.

Less stuff, more space to be present.