Why I Became a Decluttering Obsessive
Look, I’ll admit it. I was a hoarder. Not the extreme, ‘you-should-see-it-on-TV’ kinda hoarder, but the ‘I-can’t-find-my-keys-because-there’s-so-much-crap-on-this-counter’ type. It got so bad that last Tuesday, I spent 36 hours looking for my favorite sweater. 36 hours! I know, I know, it’s embarrasing. But honestly, it was a wake-up call.
It all started about three months ago. I was over at my friend Lisa’s place, and she had this… calm. Her apartment was spotless, but not in that sterile, ‘no-one-lives-here’ way. It was cozy, inviting, and there was, like, stuff there. But it was organized. It made sense. Meanwhile, my place? It was a disaster.
So, I did what any self-respecting millennial would do. I went down the decluttering rabbit hole. I read books (Marie Kondo, who?), watched YouTube videos, joined Facebook groups. I became that person. The one who talks about ‘sparking joy’ unironically. Yeah, I know. But hear me out.
What Actually Works (And What’s a Bunch of BS)
First off, let’s talk about what doesn’t work. Those 30-day minimalist challenges? Garbage. I tried one, and by day three, I was sitting on my bed surrounded by piles of stuff, crying. No joke. It’s not that I didn’t want to declutter, it’s that I didn’t know where to start.
Then, I met Marcus. Let’s call him Marcus because, honestly, I don’t remember his real name. He was at this conference in Austin, and he told me about this thing called the ‘minimalist yaşam başlangıç rehberi’. It’s this guide that, honestly, changed everything. It’s not about getting rid of everything you own. It’s about figuring out what you actually need and want. It’s about creating a space that works for you.
So, I started small. I tackled one room at a time. I made a rule: if I hadn’t used it in a year, it had to go. And if I wasn’t sure, I put it in a box. Out of sight, out of mind. If I didn’t miss it after a month, it went to Goodwill. It was kinda liberating.
But here’s the thing about decluttering. It’s not just about your physical space. It’s about your mental space too. I started to realize that the stuff I was holding onto wasn’t just taking up space in my apartment. It was taking up space in my head. Every time I walked past that pile of old magazines, I felt guilty. Every time I tripped over those shoes I never wore, I felt annoyed. And every time I couldn’t find something, I felt frustrated. It was a never-ending cycle.
How I Learned to Let Go
I talked to my friend Dave about this. Dave’s a therapist, and he’s great. He told me something that stuck with me. He said, ‘You’re not just decluttering your space. You’re decluttering your life. And that’s scary.’ And he was right. It’s scary because it’s vulnerable. It’s scary because it’s a change. But it’s also kinda exciting.
So, I started to think about what I really wanted in my life. And I started to let go of the rest. I sold stuff, I donated stuff, I threw stuff away. And it felt good. It felt really good.
But it wasn’t easy. There were setbacks. There were days when I wanted to give up. There were days when I missed my old, messy life. But I kept going. Because I knew that this was something I needed to do. For myself.
A Tangent: The Great Sock Debacle of 2023
Now, I gotta tell you about the socks. I had a sock problem. A big one. I don’t know how it happened, but suddenly, I had 214 single socks. 214! I spent an entire weekend matching them up. It was like a real-life game of memory. And you know what? It was fun. It was weirdly satisfying. But it also made me realize how much time I was wasting on stuff. On socks, of all things.
So, I did something drastic. I got rid of all of them. Every single one. And you know what? I haven’t missed them. Not even once. I have, like, five pairs of socks now. And they’re all gray. It’s kinda boring, but it’s also kinda great.
The Point (If There Is One)
Look, I’m not saying you should go out and get rid of all your stuff. What I’m saying is that you should think about what you want in your life. And if there’s stuff that’s holding you back, maybe it’s time to let it go.
It’s not easy. It’s not quick. But it’s worth it. Trust me.
Anyway, that’s my story. It’s messy, it’s incomplete, and it’s still ongoing. But it’s mine. And I’m kinda proud of it.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a writer, a decluttering enthusiast, and a recovering hoarder. I live in a small apartment with my cat, Miso, and a surprisingly small amount of stuff. I write about life, love, and the messy stuff in between. You can find me on Twitter @sarahwritesstuff.
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