Less Stuff, More Peace - Part 2
In my previous post, Part 1 of “Less Stuff, More Peace,” we looked at ideas surrounding minimalism in possessions and home decor and creating a less cluttered life. This mindset promotes a life that is lived intentionally, purposefully, and spiritually. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people. (1 Corinthians 14:33 NLT) Decluttering our lives reduces visual noise, creating a calm and peaceful atmosphere. This is the concept of “house hushing” or “quieting the house.” For more on these ideas, see Part 1. In Part 2, we are looking at methods and suggestions for implementing this in your home and life.
On Family Life Radio, in Dr. Randy Carlson’s “The Four Steps to Decluttering your Life,” he states “Clutter is anything that sidetracks you, keeps you from being present, or prevents you from experiencing life the way God intended.” “[It] isn’t just about organizing your home — but about clearing the distractions that keep you from living with purpose.” His four steps include:
Decide What Needs to Go: Ask yourself, “What is cluttering up my life today?” Don’t become overwhelmed. Just find a place to start.
Discover what God Says About It: It isn’t just about what you have; it’s about what really matters. (See Philippians 4:8, Proverbs 13:20, and Proverbs 22:7)
Do One Thing Today: Don’t think you have to do everything at once. Take “small, intentional steps.”
Declutter Daily and Build a New Habit: Small changes can make a big difference.
Develop a manner of living purposefully. These simple habits help give your life and your thought processes more clarity. Living an organized life helps us manage our time, resources, and responsibilities better. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. (1 Corinthians 14:40 NIV)
In an article by Andrea Jordan, “7 Decluttering Tips: How to Release Your Attachment to Your Stuff,” I discovered some other beneficial suggestions. Start simply with something that will be easy to accomplish or that you find most bothersome or distracting. Setting a time limit for the task can help you keep from getting distracted by reminiscing over what you come across. Set definitive goals and challenge yourself to complete them. For instance, set a number of boxes that you would like to reduce your stored belongings by. Only keep things that are essential or beautiful. Keep what you need, but also what provides happiness and fulfillment. Sometimes enlisting the help of friends can make it more fun and decisions easier. Do take a moment to connect with your emotions. What emotions are triggered by an item? Looking more deeply into why you hold onto something, may help you let it go.
Here are some decluttering methods of note:
The Ski-Slope Method
In her book Home Therapy: Interior Design for Increasing Happiness, Boosting Confidence, and Creating Calm: An Interior Design Book, Anita Yokata elaborates on her “Ski-Slope” decluttering method. It involves methodically focusing on a single room or area at a time. Instead of becoming overwhelmed by trying to “ski” straight down the mountain, she recommends moving your focus from side to side and from top to bottom in the room, making the task less intimidating.
The Four Box Method
I find this method to be simple and effective. It merely involves having four boxes, each one marked for a different purpose…keep, throw away, donate, or sell. I would still focus on one area at a time, but just determine the best path for the item and plop it in the appropriate box.
The Swedish Decluttering Method
This method is typified by a daily mindset of calmly looking at one thing at a time and by completing tasks in small bites. It is also sometimes associated with older adults sorting their home as they age so that family members don’t have to do it when they are gone.
KonMari Method
You may recognize Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method by the phrase, “Does it spark joy?” This method is about choosing what to keep, rather than choosing what to discard. “The KonMari Method encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service – then let them go.”
One In - One Out Method
Some people like the One In/One Out method to keep their possessions (and also their spending) under control. Simply, for every item you bring into your home, you need to get rid of an item. This system is even more effective if you implement it by like kind. For instance, for every pair of shoes you bring into the home, you get rid of one pair. A book for a book, etc.
You can experiment with these methods to find one that works with your lifestyle, or find parts that work for you. Consider using them in combination, for example, pair the Four Box Method with Ski-Slope Method to work your way through a room. There are a few Apps that can assist you with your decluttering process. The Clutterfree App can create a personalized, step-by-step plan to declutter your home. Some other features enable you to track your progress, document donations, complete daily challenges, and more. This app offers a free trial, but has a small monthly subscription. The Toss App has a free basic plan, but can be upgraded for advanced features. This app is user friendly and helps you break down your decluttering into short and easy tasks to keep you motivated.
And finally, here are a few ways to unloose your discards. Items that you have earmarked for donation can be taken to thrift stores, churches, the Salvation Army, or Goodwill. There are a wide variety of ways to sell items that you feel could bring some income. A few of these ways include having a yard sale or listing on sites like Facebook Marketplace or eBay. For antiques or collectable type items, consider finding a local auction house. Listia is a site/app that allows you to sell your items and earn points to get free stuff. (But be sure it is something you’re not going to wind up needing to discard later!) Looking to recoup some money on lightly used clothing? There are a number of apps for that. You may want to try: ThredUp, Poshmark, Vinted, or Depop.
Free yourself from the demands of excess and enjoy a life of peace and clarity in your home. As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19 ESV)
