I recently made a video [below] where I touched on some of the problems I see with “decluttering”, in particular the way it’s presented in the online space.
The positive response that video received has inspired me to share more about how I maintain a healthy relationship with the “stuff” in my life. So, in addition to a Curation series on my YouTube channel where I’ll be sharing with you tips and tricks and my philosophy surrounding how I CURATE the “STUFF” in my home & life, today’s blog post will focus on the ONE FILTER that has radically changed the way I BRING THINGS IN to my home and my life.
Prevent Decluttering Altogether
When it comes to decluttering, my personal philosophy is centered around being mindful and intentional about what comes and goes from your life and home. Because I don’t know about you but I do NOT have the time or energy to be bringing things into my home that I’m just going to have to figure out how to declutter later!
But there’s one question, one way of thinking, that has caused such a dramatic mental shift in the way that I look at INCOMING ITEMS it’s effectiveness at reducing future clutter cannot be overstated. And it is NOT related to budget!
Shopping Thoughts
When I come across something that makes me really excited when shopping, I have a mental process I go through that determines whether this THING is going to come home with me. We all do to some extent.
After I’ve gotten excited about whatever shiny new object has caught my attention, and appreciated how interesting or pretty or useful it is, and imagined how I might use it or how it might fit into my life…
The Ultimate "Clutter Filter"
After I’ve gotten excited about whatever shiny new object has caught my attention, and appreciated how interesting or pretty or useful it is, and imagined how I might use it or how it might fit into my life…
THEN, I stop and ask myself this ONE pivotal question:
IF I were to move – tomorrow, next week, a year from now, five years from now…
would I take this with me?
Let me restate that. Before buying anything, ask yourself:
IF I were moving tomorrow, would I still buy this item today?
The magic isn’t necessarily in the question itself, but it’s in what the question IMPLIES.
Meaning… if I were preparing to move, would I be willing to go through the trouble of getting the bubble wrap and tissue paper and boxes, then wrapping it, packing it up, labeling it, loading it on the truck or paying movers to do so, hauling it to the new home, unloading the box, dealing with the box while I unpack everything else, figuring out where to store it at least temporarily…
And, is it then reasonably likely that once I’ve complete the move I’ll find a place for it in my new home?
If yes – great! That shiny new object is going home with me!!
If not – well, it stays on the shelf or in the cart and I move along.
Example: Swan Collection
I recently shared one of my favorite collections with you in this video here. My beloved little porcelain swans bring me so much joy, despite the fact that they are going to be an absolute PAIN IN THE NECK[LOL] to wrap and pack properly when it’s time to move.
I am fully aware of that, and when I buy a new one, I remind myself that I’d better be willing to spend a lot of time caring for this item when storing it seasonally or protecting it for a move… Aka it better be WORTH IT!! I don’t buy just any old swan I see or just casually like. I have to absolutely LOVE a Swan to bring it into the fold!
Keeping this in mind really helps keep ALL my collections controlled and high quality without giving them an arbitrary numerical limit.
Effective Clutter Prevention
Now as effective as this filter is, it’s certainly not 100% fool proof.
Sometimes I still buy something that I change my mind about later. But I recognize that just because an item passes the test now, that doesn’t mean that I can NEVER change my mind about this item ever again.
That would be absurd, and it’s how a perfectionist would think… that idea that you must make the exactly correct decision right now, and if you don’t, you’re a failure.
[PS: If that thought process sounds like something you struggle with, you might enjoy my sister site JennaBaca.com where I share my perfectionism story and resources for recovering from Perfectionism and reclaiming your personal peace]It helps to remind myself that all any of us can ever do in life, in any circumstance, is make the best decision we can in the moment with the information we have at hand.
So when screening items for purchase with this question, my ultimate goal is just to be honest with myself in that moment of decision and listen to my gut. If the feeling in my gut is NOT a RESOUNDING YES, As in YES I’d be willing to go through the hassle, cost, and time to MOVE this item if I were decluttering and packing up my life in preparation for a move… then that item is not coming home with me. Period.
If this approach to clutter management resonates with you, be sure to grab my FREE CURATION GUIDE, packed with Strategies for living Sanely with Stuff.
Reduce Incoming Future Clutter
Now I’m not planning a move in the immediate future, but asking myself THIS ONE QUESTION ALONE has DRAMATICALLY stemmed the tide of things that ENTER MY HOME to BEGIN with. And as we all know, if you want to get a handle on not just the AMOUNT of stuff in your life but the QUALITY and JOY QUOTIENT of the stuff in your life, you MUST consider the ways that you filter and stem the INFLUX of stuff before it even enters your life.
This has proven to be a winning approach for me, so the next time you’re out, thrifting, perusing an estate sale, checking the shelves at Savers or scrolling through Etsy, ask yourself:
IF I were moving tomorrow, would I still buy this item today?
So that’s my number one way to reduce Future Clutter and stem the flow right out of the gate!!
Let me know your thoughts down below, I love reading your comments!
XOXO,
Jenna