From hoarder to minimalist | Ten tips from my personal journey
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After spending far too long held back under the weight of my possessions, I gained freedom through a radical lifestyle transition.
In one yearβs time, I was able to go from being an excessive hoarder to embracing minimalism and its life-changing benefits β all with just ten simple yet effective tips that transformed my outlook completely!
Before discovering minimalism
After a major move, I was determined not to be just another βmoderate hoarder.β
Minimalism wasnβt even that popular at the time, so it took awhile for me to make my way from point A (hoarder) all the way over Point B (minimally).
Along this journey of decluttering and tidying up there were some detours β like keeping sentimental items or impulsively buying clutter.
Nowadays though, minimalism is part of who I am!
How I switched from hoarder to minimalist
As an avid organizer, I was enthralled with the idea of minimalism from my first encounter.
Marie Kondo opened up a whole new world to me in terms of discovering ways to make every space as efficient and aesthetically pleasing as possible β it truly felt like a revelation!
Her clothing-folding method especially had me hooked; suddenly, filling closets and drawers became about more than just finding room for all my items β rather, it meant creating order through carefully arranged pieces that could be appreciated at its best form.
For years, I was overwhelmed by the clutter in my closet, just piling clothes haphazardly.
That all changed after finding Marie Kondoβs book and discovering her vertical approach to organizing!
It had me captivated right awayβI knew this would be more than a simple organizational solution. After finally gathering up the courage needed to purchase βThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizingβ.
I could now apply these life altering techniques firsthandβ¦and it has truly been transformative since then!
A trip to the mall with a pal led me to an eye-catching banner featuring Marie Kondoβs book.
Despite my friend chuckling at this βimpulse buyβ, they just didnβt understand how much it would helpβsince their own home was always messier than mine!
After giving the pages a good read, I felt inspired and got busy straightening up my room first, before sweeping through other areas of our house in search of clutter too!
After getting rid of all the clutter in my life and focusing on what truly mattered to me, I was drawn into the world of minimalism.
As a result, I started watching lots of minimalist YouTube channels β although Iβm not 100% committed yet!
My new habits have helped me become more mindful about where I spend both my money and time.
What is a hoarder?
Hoarding can often be a way for humans to fill an emotional void; fear of the future, sentimentality and lack of mindfulness may lead us down this path.
When our possessions start controlling more than just our living space, hoarding has become an issue.
We should remember that though things are important to have in life they shouldnβt own us β itβs all about maintaining balance between presence and productivity with what we possess.
Is it possible to make the switch?
Converting from a hoarder to minimalist is achievable with some dedication and effort. I know, because thatβs exactly what happened in my own life!
The transition made me feel so much lighter β not just physically but emotionally too.
By gently paring down my possessions over time, Iβm now living the simpler lifestyle of only having less than half the stuff I used to have previously.
So donβt let anyone tell you it canβt be done; if one person can do it then everyone else has that same potential within them as well!
What if I live with my family?
Leading by example is the best way to encourage change β you can start a βdecluttering rebellionβ in your household!
Even if it meets resistance, be patient and respect their decision.
Of course, make sure each personβs stuff only takes up their own space out of courtesy; no one should have to endure someone elseβs mess spilling into common areas like the kitchen or living room.
Declutter to go from hoarder to minimalist journey?
Throughout my own journey of decluttering, Iβve made some mistakes and found success in others.
So take what resonates with you as we embark on our individual journeys together!
Change your mindset
Decluttering can be a great way to improve your mental and physical space, but unless you feel the desire for minimalism deep in your heart it wonβt come naturally.
Prior to Marie Kondoβs revolutionary methods of organizing, many people would not even consider cutting down on their possessions but now they realize its efficacy!
If someone else around you could use some help with de-cluttering or staying organized β take this advice.
If they donβt want declutter themselves from within, all the tidying up will only last so long before everything builds back up again.
Change is certainly difficult to sustain without that inner transformation taking place first β make sure yours (or those around you) have experienced both material and emotional reorganization for lasting success!
Start easy
Decluttering your home can be a challenging yet rewarding task, but with Marie Kondoβs tips in mind and the right mindset for progress itβs possible to change an entire space.
Begin by tackling non-sentimental items like expired products, magazines or coupons; these are usually easy wins that will encourage you as you move on from there.
Focus first on bathrooms and kitchens because they often contain highly disposable objects while also building momentum so other more difficult areas donβt feel impossible!
Declutter by categories
Living with multiple people can make it tough to stay organized and on-task when decluttering.
However, Marieβs method is a great way to achieve organization by focusing solely on your own belongings until the task of organizing them has been done.
Taking one step at a time will break up this overwhelming process over days or even weeks if need be!
Have a plan for all the clutter
After declaring war on the clutter in your home, donβt forget to finish what you started.
Create three distinct areas β one for donations/gifting; one for recycling and a third area designated as trash.
The only way to truly win this battle is by banishing all unnecessary items out of sight and into their right place!
Beware of the abominable just in case
Clutter can lead to an overwhelming sense of fear and insecurity when considering letting go.
We are all prone to storage, βjust in caseβ items that might bring us comfort down the line β even if itβs not necessary now.
Hoarders especially tend towards this thought process but should instead exercise discernment; only keeping expensive or sentimental pieces while having the courage to move on from anything else they donβt need right away.
It is okay for your possessions (and you!) to have some time and space before making a final decision about what stays versus goes!
But it was expensive
Expensive items can be tempting to keep, but holding onto them may only serve as a reminder of wasted money.
Instead, learn from the lesson and let go of these thingsβ regardless if you paid dearly for it or not!
For example, owning original DVDs was great when they first came out; however now with streaming services taking over that purchase just took up valuable space in my house while wasting what I originally invested in them.
Donβt allow yourself to get stuck on expensive objects: accept their time has passed and move on!
Donβt burn yourself too early
Decluttering is a journey, not a sprint!
Donβt set yourself up for failure by expecting to get it all done in one day unless your mess isnβt too overwhelming β nobody wants stress levels off the charts.
Make smart choices and break down the project into manageable chunks; room-by-room or category-for-category will help you make progress towards an orderly space without going crazy.
Donβt throw things that do not belong to you
When beginning the process of decluttering, it may be tempting to make a swift clean sweep and discard anything that is not yours β however this could lead to damaged trust between loved ones.
To ensure everyoneβs peace of mind, there are two solutions: organize their belongings into labeled baskets for each family member in his or her bedroom so they can sort through them privately.
Just think how much easier things will be once everything has been neatly tidied away!
For those seeking to take the plunge into minimalism, a helping hand can make all the difference.
Offer your support in decluttering their living space and remember that everyoneβs journey is unique β respect this by allowing them to do so at their own pace for truly lasting results.
Donβt expect sudden changes
Everyone has a different story when it comes to how they got accustomed to hoarding, but whatever the cause may be β remember that with some patience and perseverance you can gain control of your home again.
Be realistic in assessing just how much stuff is around; this journey isnβt going anywhere overnight!
Keep at it though- if we keep rethinking our approach towards possessions then eventually each space will become more organized and clutter free.
Donβt be hard on yourself
On your journey to minimize the clutter, it is important to reframe decluttering as an opportunity rather than a difficult task.
Re-educate yourself and challenge existing habits!
If you or someone else successfully completes this feat, donβt forget to celebrate with something that doesnβt add extra stuff β like going out for dinner or catching a movie.
Letβs work together towards becoming minimalists; reach out in the comments section below and share your unique story of transformation along on our way there!
Here are some other Minimalist Lifestyle posts you might find interesting.
A Minimalist is not a Cheapskate
6 Minimalist Tips to Save Money
What is the Minimalist Lifestyle?
10 Ways to Have Fun without spending Money
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