More Clarity, Less Clutter Through Essentialism

Do you ever feel the relentless pressure to do, and have, it all? Or feel overwhelmed by the prospect of de-cluttering and pairing down what you own? Do you find it hard to keep your momentum going once you start?

If you are committed to de-cluttering your belongings, streamlining your space, and letting go of the things you no longer need, these feeling are natural. To combat what I deem progress inhibitors, you may want to consider the way of the Essentialist.

Based on ideas of Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown and my own personal experiences as an organizer, the philosophy of “less, but better” truly can help. It allows us gain more clarity, control and joy throughout the process of streamlining our space, belongings, and life.

So, what is Essentialism? According to McKeown, it’s the “systematic discipline of exploring what is absolutely essential, eliminating everything else, and executing a clear plan towards success.”

Why choose essentialism?

By doing so, we can actively choose to live by design; rather than by default, and reclaim control over our choices. Sounds like a great approach. But as we know, it’s not always easy to implement good ideas. Realistic goals must be set, decisions must be made, and courage is required.

McKeown teaches that the essentialist uses a disciplined 3-step approach to evaluate the use of any given thing in your life. Using a closet bursting at the seams with clothes, accessories and more (feel free to substitute any other cluttered space you might have!), below is an example of how to tackle the de-cluttering of that closet using this approach.

Step 1: Explore and Evaluate

Start with your end goal in mind. Ask yourself: How do I want to feel when I open my closet? What items need to be easily accessible? How do I deal with things I no longer need or use? How much time and effort should/can I put into this process? What will be my biggest challenge in all of this?

Step 2: Eliminate

Actively sort clothes & accessories into keep, donate and undecided piles. For the undecided pile, pick up each item and ask, “Would I buy this item at full price if I didn’t already have it?” “Does this item bring me joy?” (Thanks Marie Kondo for popularizing this phrase!) And “Is this representative of me at this time in my life?”

Step 3: Execute

Systematize your actions to stay sorted, tidy and organized. Maybe it’s a one item in, one item out policy, or a monthly purge or seasonal edit – do whatever works for you. Keeping a reusable bag close by for unused items and making sure you know where and when to drop off/donate these things, helps. Removing obstacles (i.e.: not enough time, competing interests, lack of initiative, feeling overwhelmed) and celebrating small wins (i.e.: “I donated two bags to a women’s shelter”) are keys to staying motivated and committed to the process.

This 3-step Essentialist approach takes focus, commitment and stamina to be carried out successfully. Knowing what activities and efforts are needed to keep progressing is key. It ensures that there will be fewer roadblocks in the way.

“It’s like dislodging a boulder at the top of a hill – all it takes is a small shove and then momentum naturally builds,” says McKeown.

Keep At It!

Sometimes we get off to a great start, but then become stuck in indecision. It usually sounds something like this: “I may need this in the future,” “My grandmother gave this to me,” or “My kids might want this.” What to do then?

Try the 90 percent rule. When making decisions, think about the single most important criterion for that decision and give it a score between 0 – 100. If you rate it below 90, it automatically becomes a 0 and you reject it – no more should I or shouldn’t I with something that rates 65%! So, if wearability is your most important criterion, pick up the item, score it out of 100. If it scores above 90, keep it, if below 90, time to let it go.

Although our lives aren’t static like the clothes in our closet, we can use the same Essentialist approach of exploring & evaluating options, eliminating the unnecessary, and executing the plan when it comes to making life decisions. Only we know what is essential in our lives, and hopefully an essentialist approach can help us achieve more clarity and joy, with less stress and clutter. In order to live to our highest potential. Remember, less but better.

Whether you need to organize your own space, help a loved one move into a smaller home, or manage an estate clearing, our team of experienced professionals will guide you carefully and comfortably to your desired result. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

~ The Simply Home Team