Essential De-Cluttering Tips

This is a summation of the basic principles of de-cluttering. They are the essential things to know when letting go of clutter in your life. It's an excerpt from my audiobook, Clutter Busting: Letting Go of What's Holding You Back.

Transcript

Summary of Clutter Busting Principles Remember that nothing is sacred except you.

If it doesn't fit anymore,

Physically or psychologically,

Let it go.

Take the items you're going to review out of their space and move them to another room or outside so you can get a fresh perspective.

If you hesitate trying to decide whether something is worthwhile,

It's clutter.

If you haven't used it in a year,

It's clutter.

If you find yourself defending the object because of how much it cost you,

It's clutter.

If the item makes you feel out of sorts,

It's clutter.

Always remove from your home what you know to be clutter.

Otherwise,

It will continue to detract from your life.

No clutter is labeled clutter.

Clutter is invisible.

It was put in its location subconsciously.

That's why you have to ask if each thing is truly helpful to you or if it's clutter.

Sometimes the most cherished thing is clutter.

Count on it.

If it's not useful to you now,

Toss it.

People can be clutter.

Be honest in your relationships.

If knowing someone diminishes you,

She is clutter.

You can speak honestly with her and see if she can change.

If not,

You can just let her go.

Toss or give away gifts that you don't like.

Most photos are clutter.

You were trying to preserve a moment that felt good to you in the moment.

But now it's over.

You are collecting ghosts.

Ghosts are dull impressions of the original event.

Do you want to live among ghosts or do you want to live in the vibrant living world?

Only keep the photos that resonate with this moment.

Feel good about the process of tossing and avoid the guilt.

Advertisers taught you that things are more valuable than you.

They were wrong.

You are right.

Keep the things that feel alive to you.

Things have either a living or dead essence.

When you clutterbust your life and home,

You will very quickly become aware of the difference and you will drop the dead things into the trashcan.

Be ruthless.

Clutter will try to trick you.

Question everything.

First impressions are always correct.

If your first feeling is that the thing is clutter,

It is.

No dumpster diving.

Your activities can be clutter.

I guarantee that something that you are doing in your life now is clutter.

You may be thinking that your value is determined by the activities in your life.

That is untrue.

You are already valuable.

There is no need to prove anything.

Those days are over.

Ask,

What makes me happy?

Whatever is left over,

Toss.

Any piece of clutter can be the thing that stands between you and your happiness.

Nothing is too small to be disregarded.

Every piece of clutter keeps you from rolling down the freeway of your life with the windows open and your favorite songs playing with you singing along.

Toss the trophies,

The things that you own,

Only because they are,

Quote,

Valuable.

Anything you own to impress others is a waste of your time.

No one cares.

Toss anything that makes you feel that the past is more special than right now,

That gives you the feeling that life will never be as good as it once was.

I don't care how old you are or what you are doing in your life.

You are sitting on a gold mine.

You.

And the current state of your heart and life.

The past is as insignificant as old dishwater.

Only keep what reflects your life as significant in this moment.

Nothing should be under your bed.

You may come across an item that you know is clutter,

But that you find difficult to toss.

Just remember that in a short while,

You will either forget all about it or not be able to believe how hard you hung on to the thing.

Make your bedroom a peaceful sanctuary.

Toss anything that agitates or distracts you.

Have only one TV in the house.

Watching a lot of TV is lifestyle clutter.

Have the most limited cable package.

You can watch only one channel at a time.

Limit your CDs or MP3 albums to a fewer than a hundred.

Keep only the music that you will actually listen to now.

Toss anything that is broken,

That can't be fixed,

Or that you won't take to be fixed.

Watch your thoughts and become aware of the mental clutter.

Your awareness will naturally sift out this clutter.

Be kind to yourself in the process of tossing.

Go at your own pace.

Drink plenty of water throughout and make sure to have snacks by your side.

Take breaks in clutter busting if you are getting overwhelmed.

Take a walk outside.

You can't organize until you toss the clutter.

Put nothing in storage.

Storage is clutter alimony and a waste of your money.

Avoid the habit of hiding things that you don't want to look at.

Even if something is buried at the bottom of a box,

Underneath other clutter,

It still affects you.

Everything you own is attached to you in a subtle way.

It will drag you down.

Toss things that you think lend you an image.

You are fooling yourself.

You are not a style.

You alone are more than enough.

Walk through your house.

When you find your attention sinking like an anchor in a particular spot,

Stop.

Your clutter radar has gone off.

Investigate judiciously.

Only your feelings matter.

Avoid asking someone if you should keep something.

Trust whatever you decide.

If you suddenly think of something as clutter,

It is.

Toss it now.

Either give your clutter to charity,

Post it on an online free cycle site,

Or put it out on the curb for someone else to find.

Having a garage sale spells procrastination for most people,

And whatever doesn't sell usually ends up back in the house.

Be strong.

Let it go.

You are intuitive.

Trust your decisions.

Be patient.

There is no need to push yourself or try to clutter-bust your entire place in one sitting.

Approach one area at a time.

Clutter is sticky.

Look for things that have piled up or been layered together.

Chances are you can toss it all.

If you are in a good relationship or want to be,

Toss old relationship reminders,

Love letters and emails,

And special gifts from old lovers.

These keep you trapped in ghostly memories of the heart.

Trying to keep memory alive in things is like trapping a ghost in a box.

It will always be a ghost.

Have fun.

Reviews

The first time i listened, I found it quite jarring - there were some tough truths in there I needed to hear. Anyway, I found myself de cluttering. I've listened a few times now. Maybe a few of these mantras will stick.

I would prefer if you had said he or she instead of just she when talking about how people can be clutter.

Wow. that is amazing. I am just in the middle of a huge Declutter and huge spring cleaning and this has given me a very incredible and thoughtful fresh perspective. I am grateful.❤️

This was so good I took notes. Thank you for sharing.

Very thought-provoking! Thank you! I appreciate your perspectives.

So glad to be with you again, Brooks. Thought you were gone forever. Thanks for this. It's perfect for New Year's Day. As if you read my mind.
Sending love, appreciation and blessings. Namaste 🙏🏻💞

Thank you for the how-to-clear-the-extraneous talk and focus on the reminder of our priority to self. I will listen again!

Clear, specific, helpful, and affirming. Thank you.

Such great advice. I clean out twice a year, spring and fall. I am now in the process of getting my husband, who is a borderline hoarder, to do a decluttering. I will have him listen to this because I truly think your advice will help him more than anything I can do or say.

Thank you so much Brooks I'm in the thick of dealing with a house full of things and need to downsize in a major way. This 9 minutes was extremely valuable. I feel inspired. Thank you so much as usual you have a gift❣️

This resonates w me on so many levels. Thank you for sharing it

So many helpful tips! Will definitely need to listen to this again! 🙏

Amazing and wonderfully said each part of the conversation. Well organized thoughts. Thank you.

Helpful contemplation for releasing what no longer serves 🙏🏻

Will definitely be relistening to this one!!!! Thanks!

Great pointers and HAVE FUN is an essential reminder in having the right attitude- thank you!

I so needed this today. Thank you. Namaste 💕🙏🏼🌻

I have been decluttering for years. Things I thought I would never let go of now leave easily. Getting rid of clutter is like peeling an onion, it comes off layer by layer and you are left with more and more peace.

Excellent. This was the perfect go to prior to launching into a declutter. Thank you 🙏💕

Thank you 🙏 Brooks! I hope you are well. You are an amazing force of nature! I miss your lives, but some of the best lessons are leading by example. I remember you saying that the weekly events were depleting you. Live your best life! Thi recording popping up on my homepage is just the poke that I needed to get back at it, and be ruthless! Thank you again for sharing your wisdom and motivational talk with us.
( Music 🎶 from “Ghostbusters”…..who you gonna call? Clutterbusters!
Be safe, happy, healthy and peaceful.
🙏✨💛😊💫🕊

Wowie!! This is so interesting and so inspiring 🤩🤩🤩!
Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions and tips! I am going to do it! 💖