Decluttering 101: Starting Small
- thebeigebulletin
- Mar 9
- 2 min read
Listen, I know there are countless posts, shows, and podcasts about this topic—truly, it feels like a never-ending discussion. But this is crucial for bringing peace and serenity to your life without you even realizing it. I once heard a quote: "A cluttered mind means a cluttered home," and vice versa. Personally, this has always been a struggle for me. I think it has something to do with growing up in a large family, which often meant a slightly chaotic home, but I wouldn't change a thing.
It has taken me a long time to figure out what things are actually important and worth keeping around, rather than having a ton of "just in case" items. Even now, with the bags I carry or when going on trips, I end up overpacking them with items I rarely use. In fact, 85% of the time, I never reach for those things. Simplifying can be hard, but starting small—even with a handbag or work bag—can significantly impact your day-to-day life. A few questions to ask yourself when you start the process:
"Is this something you can pick up at Target?"
Now, this can really be any store local to you, but the general question still stands. If it isn't something that you grab for more than three times a week, consider it a nonessential. I'll use myself as an example because I may as well call myself out. I used to carry makeup wipes, a powder face wash, and a moisturizer with me (travel size, of course). Necessary? Absolutely not, but sometimes I got to a point in my day where I just didn't want to wear makeup anymore.
"Will the weight of this bag over time hurt my shoulder?"
This is such a realistic issue for a lot of women, some men, but mostly moms. I have such vivid memories growing up of my mom asking me to grab her purse or to hold it sometimes, and I swear she had bricks in it. I couldn't imagine her carrying it for hours throughout the day. On a serious note, this truly can injure people if the straps are thin and it is being carried for long periods of time. I worked in retail for years, and this was a consistent problem I saw when people were trying to make a decision. This problem can lead to multiple issues and end up requiring shoulder surgery, so please keep this in mind.
"When was the last time I went through this?"
This could mean many things, but mostly we're talking about your wallet. Moments happen when you get in a hurry and start shoving the spare change/receipts/notes into your wallet and then run out the door. Those things can definitely start to add up. Set aside once a week to go through this (you can even do this for your whole bag). For example, every Sunday Reset, add this to your routine of getting ready for your week, giving you a fresh start.
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