The 10 Biggest Decluttering Mistakes to Avoid (how NOT to declutter!)

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the art of decluttering and shares eight common mistakes to avoid for a more mindful and effective process. Starting with extreme decluttering and ending with too many 'just in case' scenarios, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a clear purpose for decluttering, taking it slow, and focusing on what to keep rather than what to discard. Additionally, the video touches on the environmental impact of donating unusable items and the psychological aspects of letting go of possessions, ultimately encouraging viewers to declutter at their own pace and in a way that brings them value.

Takeaways

• 💇 Decluttering can be a liberating process, but it can also be overwhelming. It's essential to approach it mindfully and at your own pace.
• 🌡 Avoid extreme decluttering where everything in sight is considered for disposal. Focus on what you want to keep rather than what to get rid of.
• 👗 Don't declutter out of season items prematurely. Wait until the end of the season to assess what you didn't use and consider letting go of those items.
• 🎯 Have a clear reason for decluttering. Whether it's to find things easier, work more efficiently, or reduce feelings of being overwhelmed, understanding your 'why' is crucial.
• 👚 Avoid donating unusable items. Practice 'donating with dignity' and ensure items are in good condition before passing them on.
• 🛍️ Don't let guilt drive your decluttering process. It's better to reorganize than to impulsively get rid of things you may later regret parting with.
• 💸 Remember the sunk cost fallacy. Don't hold onto items just because they were expensive. Consider repurposing or reselling them instead.
• 🏠 Focus on what you want to keep rather than what you want to get rid of. This approach can make the process less stressful and more satisfying.
• 👕 For items in the 'maybe' pile, consider whether you can style them into your wardrobe or if they should be stored away for future consideration.
• 🤔 If you find yourself wanting to keep everything, it might be time to challenge yourself and reassess why you're holding onto certain items.
• ❌ Avoid 'just in case' scenarios as a reason to keep items. Recognize that you're adaptable and can often manage without these items if needed.

Q & A

Why does the speaker believe in decluttering?

The speaker believes in decluttering because they think a cluttered space can equate to a cluttered mind, making it difficult to find things and causing stress in everyday activities like getting dressed or having guests over.

What is the speaker's view on the 'less is more' philosophy?

The speaker used to subscribe to the 'less is more' philosophy but admits to taking it to the extreme, where 'least becomes most', leading to making several decluttering mistakes.

What is the first decluttering mistake mentioned in the video?

The first decluttering mistake mentioned is extreme decluttering, where one might declutter impulsively without a mindful approach, focusing too much on what needs to go rather than what to keep.

Why should one avoid decluttering before a season begins?

Decluttering before a season begins is not advised because it can lead to letting go of items that might still be useful in the current season, causing the need to repurchase them later.

What is important to consider before starting to declutter?

Before starting to declutter, it's important to understand the benefits you wish to gain from it, such as making it easier to find things, working more efficiently, or reducing feelings of being overwhelmed.

How does the speaker feel about donating items that are not in good condition?

The speaker advises against donating items that are ripped, damaged, smelly, or unusable, as it can create problems for others and may lead to such items ending up in landfills or sold in developing nations.

What is the speaker's suggestion for items that are not ready to be donated?

The speaker suggests considering alternatives like having a garage sale, selling items on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Poshmark, or participating in clothing swaps with friends.

Why should one avoid forcing themselves to let go of items?

Forcing oneself to let go of items can come from a place of punishment or guilt, which is not healthy. If one is not ready to let go, they should store the item and revisit it later, giving themselves time to decide.

What is the issue with guilt-driven decluttering?

Guilt-driven decluttering can lead to impulsive decision-making and potential regret later. Instead of getting rid of items, spending time reorganizing might yield similar benefits without the regret.

Why is focusing on the 'sunk cost' a mistake when decluttering?

Focusing on the 'sunk cost' can prevent one from letting go of items that no longer serve them. The money spent is gone, and keeping items out of a sense of wasted money does not recoup that cost.

How does the speaker recommend approaching the 'maybe' pile during decluttering?

The speaker recommends splitting the 'maybe' pile into two smaller piles: one for items to style or use, and another for items to store away for future consideration, reducing the pressure of immediate decisions.

What should one do if they find themselves wanting to keep everything during decluttering?

If one finds themselves wanting to keep everything, they should challenge themselves to be honest about their reasons for holding on to items and consider if they are simply delaying the inevitable.

Why is it a mistake to keep too many 'just in case' items?

Keeping too many 'just in case' items can lead to unnecessary clutter. Most people are adaptable and resourceful, and creativity can come from having fewer options.

What is the role of ExpressVPN in the video?

ExpressVPN is the sponsor of the video. They provide a VPN service that protects online privacy, allows for secure browsing and banking, and can be used to access geo-restricted content on platforms like Netflix.

Outlines

00:00

💇 Embracing Change and Decluttering

The speaker starts by discussing their new shorter hairstyle and then transitions into their passion for decluttering. They believe that a clean space can lead to a clear mind and help alleviate the stress of a disorganized environment. The speaker admits to making mistakes in the past while decluttering and aims to share eight common decluttering mistakes to avoid. They emphasize the importance of having an organizational system and understanding what items are truly necessary to keep. The video is sponsored by ExpressVPN, which is briefly mentioned but will be discussed later in the video.

05:00

🚫 Avoiding Common Decluttering Mistakes

The speaker outlines eight decluttering mistakes to avoid. The first is extreme decluttering, where one might get carried away and throw away too much. They suggest a slower, more mindful approach focused on what to keep. The second mistake is decluttering out of season, which can lead to regret when the season changes. The third mistake is not having a clear reason for decluttering, such as wanting to find things more easily or to feel less overwhelmed. The fourth mistake is defaulting to the donation bin without considering the condition of the items. The fifth and sixth mistakes relate to forcing oneself to let go and guilt-driven decluttering, respectively. The seventh mistake is the sunk cost fallacy, where one holds onto items because they were expensive. The eighth mistake is focusing too much on getting rid of items rather than what to keep. The speaker also discusses the importance of using a VPN, like ExpressVPN, to protect online privacy and access geo-restricted content.

10:02

🔄 Strategies for Effective Decluttering

The speaker continues with strategies for effective decluttering, such as dividing items into 'hell yes,' 'hell no,' and 'maybe' piles. The 'maybe' pile is further divided into 'style it or use it' and 'store it away' categories. This approach reduces the pressure of immediate decisions and allows for a more flexible and honest evaluation of possessions. The speaker also addresses the challenge of wanting to keep everything and suggests asking oneself why they are attached to certain items. They mention the 'just in case' scenarios as a common pitfall and encourage viewers to consider whether these items are truly necessary. The video concludes with a reminder that there is value in clearing out spaces but emphasizes doing so at one's own pace without pressure.

Keywords

💡Decluttering

Decluttering refers to the process of clearing away unnecessary items from one's living or working space to create a more organized and less chaotic environment. In the video's theme, decluttering is presented as a means to achieve a clutter-free and organized space, which is believed to contribute to a clutter-free mind. The script discusses various mistakes to avoid during the decluttering process, emphasizing the importance of a mindful and personalized approach.

💡Clutter-free

A clutter-free space is one that is free from unnecessary items, mess, and disorder. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe the end goal of decluttering, which is to create a space that is not only physically uncluttered but also conducive to a clear and focused mind. The video suggests that a clutter-free space can make everyday tasks like getting dressed or hosting guests less stressful.

💡Organizational system

An organizational system refers to a method or strategy that helps one manage and arrange their belongings in an orderly fashion. The video emphasizes the importance of having an organizational system to determine what items are truly needed or wanted, making it easier to discard what is not essential. This concept is central to the decluttering process described in the script.

💡Mindful perspective

A mindful perspective involves approaching tasks with intention, awareness, and a calm state of mind. In the video, the speaker encourages viewers to adopt a slower, more mindful approach to decluttering, focusing on what to keep rather than what to discard. This perspective is meant to help individuals declutter in a way that feels right for them and is sustainable over time.

💡Seasonal decluttering

Seasonal decluttering is the practice of evaluating and organizing items at the end of a particular season, rather than before it begins. The script advises against decluttering out of season, suggesting that it's smarter to declutter at the end of a season to assess what was not used and may be let go. This approach is tied to the idea of decluttering with intention and practicality.

💡Donation bin

A donation bin is a receptacle where people can place items they wish to donate to charity or for reuse. The video script cautions against indiscriminately donating items that are not in good condition, as this can create problems for others and potentially contribute to waste. Instead, the speaker advocates for donating with dignity and considering alternative methods of disposal or resale.

💡Guilt-driven decluttering

Guilt-driven decluttering occurs when one feels compelled to get rid of items due to feelings of guilt or shame associated with their possessions. The video warns against this approach, suggesting that it can lead to impulsive decisions and regret. Instead, the speaker recommends a more thoughtful and organized method of decluttering that aligns with one's personal goals and needs.

💡Sunk cost

Sunk cost refers to a cost that has already been incurred and cannot be recovered. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe the mistake of holding onto items simply because they were expensive. The speaker advises viewers to let go of the idea of recouping the money spent on items and to focus instead on their current value and utility.

💡Just in case scenarios

Just in case scenarios are situations where one keeps items 'just in case' they might need them in the future. The video discusses the pitfalls of keeping too many items for hypothetical future needs, suggesting that this can lead to unnecessary clutter. The speaker encourages viewers to question the validity of these scenarios and to declutter items that are not regularly used or needed.

💡Hell yes, hell no, maybe pile

The 'hell yes, hell no, maybe pile' is a method of categorizing items during the decluttering process. In the video, the speaker describes using three piles to sort items into those that are definitely kept (hell yes), those that are definitely discarded (hell no), and those that are uncertain (maybe). This method is presented as a way to make the decluttering process more manageable and less stressful.

Highlights

The speaker is a fan of decluttering and believes in a clutter-free and organized space.

Decluttering can lead to a cluttered mind and difficulty in finding necessary items.

An organizational system helps in knowing what to keep and what to discard.

The speaker admits to making decluttering mistakes and shares them to help others.

ExpressVPN is sponsoring the video, providing a secure VPN service.

Avoid extreme decluttering and take a slower, more mindful approach.

Declutter at the end of a season to assess what wasn't worn.

Have a clear reason for decluttering to gain benefits such as efficiency and ease.

Decluttering should not be a response to feeling overwhelmed but a positive experience.

Don't default to the donation bin; ensure items are in good and usable condition.

Consider alternative ways to dispose of items such as selling or swapping.

Avoid forcing yourself to let go of items; store and revisit when ready.

Guilt-driven decluttering can lead to impulsive decisions and regrets.

Don't focus on the sunk cost of items; let go of the idea of wasted money.

Focus on what you want to keep rather than what you want to get rid of.

Use the 'hell yes,' 'hell no,' and 'maybe' pile method for decluttering.

Challenge yourself to style or use items in the 'maybe' pile before letting go.

Avoid keeping items for 'just in case' scenarios unless absolutely necessary.

The video concludes with a reminder to declutter at your own pace and without pressure.

Transcripts

hey everyone welcome back so we went a

little shorter with my hair how do we

feel about it even shorter I don't know

I feel like as soon as you start

chopping your hair it can just like

it just doesn't end from there so you

guys know that I am a huge fan of

decluttering because I truly believe

that a cluttered space can equate to a

cluttered mind there's always this like

looming to do hanging over you you often

can't find what you need when you need

it and it can even make things like

getting dressed or having people come

over a huge pain in the eye so even

though I don't think you need to be a

minimalist to have a clutter-free and

organized space but I believe it's about

having an organizational system and

really knowing what you truly need or

want to keep and then it becomes a lot

easier to get rid of what's in the way

but since I used to subscribe to the

idea of the whole less is more thing but

really I just took it to the least being

the most along the way I ended up making

a whole lot of decluttering mistakes so

if you're due for a declutter or you

plan on doing one for a little bit of

like a new year refresh I want to share

with you eight decluttering mistakes to

avoid because there's nothing worse than

decluttering something and then really

realizing that you have to or want to

buy it back and now it's going to be

even more expensive because of inflation

and everything that's going on right now

and I want to thank expressvpn for

kindly sponsoring today's video but I'll

talk about them more a little later on

the first decluttering mistake to avoid

is Extreme decluttering I find a lot of

times when you do get the spark and

inspiration to declutter that's when I

think the blinders can go on and then

all of a sudden anything that ends up in

your field of vision is on the shopping

block for a declutter so I think it's

really great to have a spark of

motivation and a spark of energy when

you do decide you want to start

decluttering but I really do believe in

approaching decluttering from a slower

and more mindful perspective and

definitely focus more on what it is you

want to keep and not necessarily on what

needs to go there's really no pressure

and there's no minimalist police that

are going to go after you or audit you

so take it slow take it at your own pace

and do what feels right for you mistake

number two is decluttering before the

season begins

so it'll take decluttering your closet

it would be like decluttering your

summer clothes in the middle of winter I

used to declutter this way because it

would be a whole lot easier to say

goodbye to my summer stuff in the dead

of winter until the summer came and it

was 40 degrees outside and then I

thought well I could really use those

shorts right now so even though it might

be easier to let go of things that are

out of current season I think it's

smarter to do those declutters at the

end of the season because that's the

opportunity that you can take to audit

what you actually didn't wear so at the

end of winter I'm gonna go through all

of my sweaters for example and if there

were a few that I forgot that I had or

absolutely didn't reach for then maybe

at that time then I can consider letting

them go number three is not having a

good reason as to why you want to

declutter in the first place before any

decluttering even begins I think it's

important to understand the benefits

that you wish to gain from it do you

want to make it easier to find things do

you want to make it so you can work more

efficiently or even just make getting

dressed easier so that you can see your

whole wardrobe and you know exactly what

you have and where it is or it could be

that you're just tired of feeling

overwhelmed by feeling buried and stuff

all of those things are perfectly valid

wise and great motivators to help you

get started with your decluttering don't

do it because everybody else is doing it

or because it's trendy on social media

and YouTube find your why and find out

what it is you stand to gain from

decluttering your space or decluttering

a certain thing I find a lot of times

decluttering can really come from a

perspective of punishment or like I

shouldn't own this thing or this thing

was a waste of money and it can really

have a lot of like negative

associations attached to it sometimes

when really I think decluttering can be

a much more positive experience

especially when you think about what it

is you want to get out of it and

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Christina machas mistake number four is

defaulting to the donation bin so if the

item is ripped damaged smelly unusable

don't just throw into a donation bin and

make it somebody else's problem my

friend Ivanka from the tiny moose said

it best please try to donate with

dignity which means that if you do plan

on donating ensure that item isn't good

and usable condition and a lot of the

times the things that we donate to

charity shops don't even end up on the

sales floor they get so bombarded with

stuff all the time that according to the

CBC article only 25 of your things that

actually end up for sale in the charity

shops a lot of them end up in landfills

they get sold to developing nations and

become their problem so instead of

defaulting to donation try to keep those

things in mind and just think about

whether or not you can have things like

garage sale you can sell things on

places like Facebook Marketplace

Poshmark or even do clothing swaps with

friends because I really do believe when

we decide to bring something in we

should already kind of have a plan for

the day that we decide we no longer want

it or need it and I think this will keep

us motivated to take good care of our

things when we do have them and that way

they have a little bit of more resale

value by the time you're ready to let it

go and it doesn't just have to default

to the donation bin and become junk for

somebody else mistake number five is

forcing yourself to let it go this again

sort of comes from the idea of

decluttering as punishment for like

previous bad behavior or bad spending

but if you're just not ready to let it

go don't push it store that thing away

and revisit at another time I like to

give myself six months to even a year

mostly to see if I even remember that I

have the thing and by the time I'm ready

for my next declutter I'll decide then

if I want to let it go or not I do

believe that there can be a fine line

between letting go and holding on but if

you're not ready right now you're not

ready it's not a big deal mistake number

six is guilt driven decluttering this

ties back really into the whole notion

of extreme decluttering where I just

find I can sometimes just get so

overwhelmed by my stuff that I just want

to get rid of everything and get it out

of the way and really that is

manifesting as decluttering as a

response to overwhelm it can lead to

really impulsive decision making and

potentially decisions that you regret

later but if you tend to declutter

impulsively and then regret it or buy

back later then I think instead of

getting rid of stuff it might be a good

idea to just spend a few minutes

reorganizing instead and you might

actually get a similar benefit because

now this place is clean organized and

you know exactly what you have mistake

number seven is

sunk cost you know the whole keeping it

because it was expensive kind of thing

then I'm just here to remind you that

the money is long gone and you're not

getting it back by it just hanging

forgotten in the back of your closet if

you can't seem to let go of the idea

that you wasted money on it then maybe

this is an opportunity for you to style

it if it's a piece of clothing and

challenge yourself to making outfits

around it to using it or if it's a high

ticket item then you can consider

reselling it and recouping at least some

of those lost costs but when it comes to

a lot of our stuff a lot of them are not

really assets they are liabilities and

nobody cares how much you paid for it so

don't focus on getting all your money

back getting a good cost return for it I

think we really overvalue our

possessions once we have them and then

can get really stubborn or insulted when

we try to resell it so try not to let

that hold you back if you're looking to

create some space and get rid of the

thing price it to sell and save the

money or you can even use that money to

buy something that you actually really

want and that you plan on using in the

future the money's long gone baby

mistake number eight is focusing too

much on what you want to get rid of

instead of focusing on what you want to

keep I used to approach all of my

declutters from I gotta get rid of this

I gotta create space I can't believe I

bought all this crap shame on me time to

get rid of it and again I really think

it could be a better approach there's no

pressure to let go if you don't want to

I think it's really important to be

honest with ourselves and push ourselves

a little bit when we are decluttering

there is something to be learned from

that but I find that it's an easier

process when you look at it from a

perspective of what you want to keep

instead of what you think you should get

rid of when I'm decluttering I like to

divide my stuff into three piles so my

hell yes hell no and my maybe pile the

Maybe pile is usually the most nuanced

and the most difficult pile because it's

the gray area it's somewhere in the

middle I kind of want to keep it but I'm

not quite sure because if I'm honest

with myself I'm not really using it all

that much and so with the maybe pile I

like to split it up into two smaller

piles one is the style it or I'm gonna

use it pile and the second is the store

it away pile storage is pretty

self-explanatory it just means I'm not

ready to use it to style it to actually

incorporate it back into my everyday

life I can think about it later and then

the style it pile because a lot of my

declutters are still related to my

closet I like to challenge myself to

create outfits around it or I'll

incorporate it into a capsule wardrobe

for the season things like that to see

if I actually reach for it or not and

then at the end of the season I can do

the whole process all over again I find

this way it just creates a whole lot

less pressure of getting rid of the

thing right there and then and takes

away the perspective of focusing on what

I should get rid of and instead allows

me to be a little bit more flexible in

what it is I want to keep but what about

when you find yourself wanting to keep

everything see this is where

decluttering is not always so black and

white because decluttering should be a

little bit challenging I think it's a

good opportunity to push ourselves a

little bit and to even get a little bit

honest and real with ourselves in the

process you can ask yourself why am I

holding on to this why am I so attached

to it and that's where things like oh I

really only want to keep this because

it's a brand name or I really only want

to keep this because I spent a lot of

money on it and I'm not ready to sort of

face that fact and revealing those sort

of hard truths can be difficult where

our default might just be okay well then

fine I'll keep this but when you start

noticing that you're wanting to keep

everything and everything kind of has a

reason or a good excuse to hold on to

then I think there might be a signal to

just see if you can push yourself a

little bit and get a little bit honest

again if you're finding this is

happening through your declutter you can

always store it away and revisit in your

maybe pile later but sometimes when I do

this I feel like I'm just delaying the

inevitable like my anina Bing check

Blazer that thing's been in my maybe

pile for years now I still haven't worn

it I still feel a little bit off when I

do wear it it's not really hell yes for

me and the maybe thing I'm just sort of

delaying the fact that yeah I should

probably sell this see if you are just

sort of delaying the inevitable with

some pieces again I think it's okay to

give ourselves Grace and decide that hey

I'm not ready to let this go yet that's

really up to you to decide where and

when but sometimes there's certain

stories that we tell ourselves about

items and we'll probably actually really

be okay without it and mistake number 10

is too many just in case scenarios

within your declutters if you find

yourself defaulting to oh I need this

just in case this just in case that if

there's too many just in case scenarios

to justify keeping the item then I think

we have to take a step back and really

think about what would actually happen

just in case I find for me especially

when it comes to my closet when just in

case does come up I never reach for that

thing the truth is that most of us are

pretty adaptable and maybe there's even

going to be something else in your

closet that you prefer wearing when that

just in case scenario actually comes up

by Nature I think we are quite adaptable

and resourceful people and sometimes a

lot of creativity can come from the

constraint of not having that thing

anymore so if you're finding that

throughout your declutters everything is

coming up as a just in case think about

what you would actually do if it ever

happened so those were the 10

decluttering mistakes to avoid and ones

that you can think about next time you

do plan on doing a little bit of a clear

out again I think there is a lot of

value in clearing out our spaces but

there is never any pressure to get rid

of everything and always do it at your

own pace if you like this video and got

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guys bye

[Music]