Do you put off decluttering? I get it. Buying new stuff is generally more fun than sorting through what we already have. But decluttering is the “secret sauce” that makes organizing easier and more rewarding. And there’s one important step you shouldn’t skip: looking through everything. You may be tempted to skip this part, but there are some very good reasons not to. Let me tell you why.
The Difference Between Decluttering and Organizing
Just to be clear, decluttering and organizing are not the exactly the same thing. I think of decluttering as “step 1” in an organizing project. I recommend decluttering first because doing so typically reduces the number of items that need to be organized in the first place.
Decluttering is simply the process of sorting through existing belongings and deciding what you want to keep and what you are willing to let go of.
Organizing, or “step 2,” brings order to the items you have decided to keep. Organizing addresses things like containers, storage locations, labeling, systems, and maintenance processes.
Decluttering lightens your load and keeps you surrounded by what you use, need, and love. Organizing arranges these possessions in a manner that is reliable, predicable, and appropriately accessible.
Why We Resist Decluttering
Many people resist decluttering for several common–and very understandable–reasons.
- Decluttering involves making a lot of decisions. This takes energy and focus, which can be draining and, for some people, very difficult.
- It may require us to look at things we would rather avoid. For example, items that belonged to a loved one we are missing or papers related to a divorce or job loss.
- We worry about making bad choices. What if we get rid of something and then discover that we need it or regret letting it go?
- Decluttering often involves physical work. Items may need to be brought down from the attic, pulled out of stacks of boxes, or retrieved from hard-to-reach storage areas. For many people, this is challenging or even impossible.
- We don’t want to be wasteful and “throw everything into a landfill.” Most people would prefer to put useful belongings into the hands of someone who can use them. We also want to recycle or repurpose what’s no longer usable in an environmentally responsible way. But if we don’t have experience with these options, we may not know how to proceed.
Why We Resist Looking Through Everything
It is important to sort through everything when you declutter. That means opening every box, looking at every paper in the pile, and dumping out the small items at the bottom of a bag. I have to admit, I often get pushback on this recommendation.
Frequently, people just want to get this part of the process over with as quickly as possible. Here are some responses I frequently hear when I suggest we review in detail:
“It will take too long to look at all of this.”
“I already know what’s in there and I know I don’t want it.”
“I just don’t feel like looking at all of that.”
“There’s nothing important in there.”
“If I haven’t needed it all this time, it can’t be very important.”
“That’s not even my stuff. Can’t I just pitch it?”
“I don’t want to see what’s in that box.”
“That stack of paper scares me.”
The emotions behind these comments are valid. We may be anxious, worried, tired, overwhelmed, stressed out, or resentful. When a client wants to avoid something, I listen. We stop and talk about it. If a box or area feels too tender to tackle, we can set it aside temporarily and come back to it later.
At the same time, I remind them that I am neither intimidated nor overwhelmed by what I see. I will be there with them throughout the process. Decluttering can be a heavy task, and it is easier when you have someone to walk through it with you—especially a professional who does this work all the time.
A well-trained professional organizer will never pressure you to get rid of things. These are your belongings, and you are the one who makes the decisions. We aren’t there to judge you or second-guess you; we’re there to help you achieve your goals.
We can also help you figure out what to do with unwanted belongings. Many professional organizers have connections with complementary businesses and organizations, such as junk haulers, resellers, auction houses, local charities, recycling facilities, and upcyclers. Knowing that your items will end up in the best possible place can provide significant peace of mind.
Benefits of Looking Through Everything when Decluttering
In summary, decluttering is a way to make more room for what matters most in your life by removing the things that distracts you from it.
Successful decluttering requires that you look at everything. The phrase “getting into the weeds” comes to mind. Yes, this process may feel tedious but it’s the best way to make thoughtful decisions and avoid regrets.
When I work with clients, my first step is to unload, unbox, and unpack things so that the clients can clearly see and review what they have. It is wise to fully empty a space (e.g., a closet, drawer, shelf, box) rather than trying to review items while they are still tucked away in storage.
I also pre-sort as I go, grouping like items together, because seeing items together makes it easier to make decisions. For instance, when you realize you actually have five whisks in your kitchen, it’s easier to get rid of a couple. Or, when you realize your child drew thirty-seven pictures of rainbows this year, you can fairly easily choose the best one and recycle the rest.
Unloading a bunch of items to a sorting surface may feel a bit like jumping off a cliff because it may feel like you’ll never get it put away. Again, this is where experience helps. I know how much we can realistically tackle in a given a period of time. If you are doing this alone, you can always start small, unloading just one drawer or one shelf. Whatever you choose, take it all out.
I believe there are some concrete benefits of taking this thorough approach.
- You avoid getting rid of something important by mistake. It is very common for items to get jumbled together in a box. The box may be labeled “Old Toys,” but may, in fact, contain an old life insurance policy or piece of jewelry. The only way to be know for sure is to look through it.
- You might discover something you lost. This happens all the time. Clients will find an item that had somehow ended up in the wrong place. I frequently hear clients say, “Oh, I’ve been looking for this!” We also regularly find money.
- You may decide to keep one or two things from a grouping and get rid of the rest. Maybe you no longer want (or have room for) your full collection of nutcrackers or scarves, but perhaps there are a couple that you truly love. Sorting through the minutiae gives you the chance to make thoughtful choices.
- You will have peace of mind at the end. You won’t have to worry that maybe you tossed something you shouldn’t have or accidentally donated an important item.
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Taking the time to thoroughly review your belongings is the best way to declutter without unnecessary regrets.
Have you ever been tempted to toss a box or container without looking through it first? Maybe you’ll think twice now.
I’ve learned that pre-sorting into categories is often an easier way to do decluttering. Once you see one group together easier to know what to let go of. Often you don’t know what you have because it has not been stored together.
It’s always so helpful to group like things together, right? Anything we can do to ease the process.
I’m with you 100% that decluttering is one of the first concrete steps in the organizing process. And as you said, by determining what you want to keep and letting go of unwanted, non-essential, no-longer-relevant items, organizing will be much easier. Maintaining the newly organized things will be easier, too, because you will have fewer things to care for.
It’s a win-win all around.
You mentioned pacing and decision fatigue. Those are important aspects of decluttering. Knowing how much energy someone has to focus and decide is essential. Taking breaks can help, or coming back to continue decluttering on a different day works, too.
Decluttering really does ease the entire process of getting and staying organized. Doing a thorough decluttering makes the process more successful as well.
Everyone has different goals and availabilities. It’s important to customize your approach so you can achieve your own goals in a sustainable way!