There are a lot of articles out there for minimalism decluttering. I have read my fair share. Those articles are great to get you in the mood to declutter and simplify your day to day. For me, one tip has been the most eye opening. That is what I would like to briefly chat about today.
We have all gone to clean the kitchen, living room, or even nightstand. You make it look pristine. You clean off all of the clutter. You can finally see the surfaces again! It no longer clouds your mind as something you still need to do.
Then the most dreaded thing happens. You turn your back. Before you know it, three things are sitting there that weren’t there before.
What can we do when we find ourselves overwhelmed by all the clutter?
When cleaning up the clutter around your home, ask yourself the question, “When will I use this next?”
What does this question help point out?
Let’s look at the potential answers to that question.
You are going to use it again soon.
If you find you will need to use it again soon, find a permanent place that is easily accessible, but somewhere it stays out of the way.
Example, instead of moving your keys all around your kitchen, to keep them out of the way, hang them on the hook right when you walk in the door.
You are not going to use it soon.
Something used on a less than regular basis may belong in a spot further out of your day to day space. Why take up that precious space if you know you don’t need it for a few weeks?
Example, the lighter for your candles sit out on the counter even though you know you only light candles when guests come over. Put it into a spot you will remember to keep it out of the way until that time comes.
You are never going to use it again.
Don’t need that item anymore? Don’t put off the inevitable. If you can’t see yourself using it again, you probably won’t. See about finding it a new home with someone who will use it more often. Sell it secondhand, donate it, give it to a friend who needs it. It also helps solidify in your mind when purchasing something new “am I only going to use it once?” If you are, maybe purchasing it isn’t the best option.
Benefits of asking yourself “When will I use it next?”
Limit the potential clutter.
When things are already where they should be, they have a habit of showing up a lot less often in the most popular areas of our house.
You save time.
If items always have a spot, you will always know where they are. No wasted time trying to find your keys when you know they are hanging on the keyrack.
Less stress.
Picking up clutter is one of the many stressors we all face, so lets do it less often. Any tips to help reduce stress is great in my book.
Conclusion
The realization of how helpful asking this question of “When will I use it next?” could be was a huge reason why I believe this mindset of minimalism is so enticing. It isn’t the cure-all to our clutter issues, but with practice, it can be an incredibly powerful tool.
