Let Me Tell You About My Friend Sarah
Look, I’m gonna be honest with you. I’m not one of those people who’s naturally tidy. My friend Sarah? She’s the kind of person who can walk into a room and immediately spot something out of place. Me? I’m the kind of person who loses their keys every single day. (It’s a committment issue, I swear.)
But last year, after my partner threatened to leave me because of the state of our bedroom, I decided to give this decluttering thing a real shot. And let me tell you, it was an eye-opening experience. I tried everything—Marie Kondo, the KonMari method, the Swedish Death Cleaning, you name it. Some stuff worked, some didn’t. And honestly, some of it was just plain ridiculous.
First, the Good Stuff
So, I started with Marie Kondo. You know, the whole ‘does it spark joy’ thing. I thought it was kinda silly at first. I mean, how can a toaster spark joy? But then I tried it. And honestly, it worked. I got rid of alot of stuff that was just taking up space. My closet alone lost 214 items. (I know, right? Who needs that many old t-shirts?)
But here’s the thing—I didn’t stop there. I also tried the Swedish Death Cleaning method. It’s basically where you imagine you’re dead and your family has to clean up your mess. It sounds morbid, but it’s actually really effective. I ended up donating a ton of stuff to charity. It felt good, honestly.
Then, the Ridiculous Stuff
Now, let’s talk about the stuff that didn’t work. I tried this one method where you have to touch every item in your house and decide if it’s ‘good vibes’ or ‘bad vibes.’ I mean, come on. How am I supposed to know if my blender is giving off bad vibes? It’s a blender. It blends things. It doesn’t have feelings.
And don’t even get me started on the ‘one in, one out’ rule. I tried it for about three months, and it just didn’t work for me. I mean, what am I supposed to do when I buy a new pair of shoes? Throw out an old pair? No thank you. I like my shoes.
A Digression: My Friend Dave
Speaking of shoes, let me tell you about my friend Dave. He’s a minimalist. Like, extreme minimalist. He owns, like, three pairs of shoes. Three. And he’s always going on about how freeing it is. I asked him, ‘Dave, what do you do when you want to wear something nice?’ And he said, ‘I wear one of my three pairs of shoes.’ Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the thing—I’m not Dave. I like my stuff. I like having options. And that’s okay. The point isn’t to get rid of everything you own. The point is to get rid of the stuff that’s just taking up space and not adding anything to your life.
Practical Advice: What Actually Works
So, what actually works? Well, for me, it’s a combination of things. First, I started with the big stuff. You know, the obvious clutter. Old magazines, random knick-knacks, that kind of thing. I got rid of all of it. It was easy.
Then, I moved on to the digital stuff. I know, I know—it’s not technically ‘lifestyle,’ but hear me out. I spent 36 hours (yes, you read that right) cleaning up my computer. I deleted old files, organized my desktop, and even backed up my photos. It was a game-changer. (Okay, fine, I said I wouldn’t use that word, but it’s true.)
And finally, I started using cloud computing solutions comparison to help me manage my digital life. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start. I mean, I’m not gonna lie—I still lose my keys alot. But at least my digital life is organized.
Oh, and one more thing. I started saying no. Like, a lot. I used to be the kind of person who would say yes to everything. Yes to the party, yes to the extra project at work, yes to the free sample at the grocery store. But now, I’m learning to say no. And it’s liberating.
Final Thoughts (Or Lack Thereof)
So, that’s my story. I’m not gonna sit here and tell you that I’m completely decluttered now. Because I’m not. I still have stuff. I still have clutter. But I’m working on it. And honestly, that’s all you can do.
Oh, and one more thing. If you’re thinking about trying any of this stuff, just remember—it’s okay to take your time. It’s okay to make mistakes. And it’s okay to keep your shoes. Even if Dave doesn’t understand.
About the Author
I’m Jane, a senior magazine editor with more than 20 years of experience. I’ve written for major publications, and I’ve seen it all. I’m opinionated, I’m flawed, and I’m not afraid to tell it like it is. When I’m not writing, you can find me losing my keys or trying to organize my digital life. Follow me on Twitter @janesmith.
