De-Clutter The Stress-Free Way

(Image courtesy of puuikibeach)

We’ve all heard that you never really know how many unnecessary possessions you’ve been hoarding until you’re getting ready to move from one home to another. Though many of us pride ourselves on being able to ruthlessly cut down on the clutter that we all seem to accumulate after a while, we have to admit that there’s no better time to get rid of the stuff you don’t need than when you’re moving.

In order to determine what items you can really live without we propose a test - put the boxes down and only unpack items as you find them necessary. Now, hear us out - unpacking necessary items first will help you out by making you realize just how many items what items you use on a daily basis and which you don’t. Don’t believe us? You don’t have to take out our word for it. This article from renters.apartments.com highlights some of the finer points to this plan. Keep reading to learn more.

I think we can learn a lot from this. But what I’m choosing to learn here is that clearly, procrastination pays.

To road test my theory, I applied the procrastination approach to unpacking the boxes in my new apartment and you know what? It works.

By unpacking by priority, I’m uncovering three major truths: First, I have a lot more stuff than I need. Second, I moved a few boxes to this place that I never unpacked at the last place either. Third, I’m not nearly as awesome at ruthlessly downsizing my clutter as I thought.

Reaping the rewards of inaction pretty much stops here – after all, after a month of only unpacking by necessity, the place is still kind of a wreck and I should probably track down that cable bill I know I tossed in a box on moving day.

But the good news is, by knowing what I don’t need, I’m in a better position to ditch the clutter (*Bonus! Most of it’s still in ready-to-donate boxes!) and better organize my life. After all, that way-too-high shelf in the back of the closet? It isn't for just anything – it’s for air conditioner manuals and important documents I never seem to need but am required to keep.

Now, post-procrastination, I know where it actually makes sense to keep the cutting boards in my new kitchen and I've come to terms with the fact that I don’t need to keep giving valuable under-the-sink real estate to curling irons and straighteners my hair has been far too short for for roughly the last 3 years.

Personal growth through inaction, people; I recommend it.