Zen Mind: How to Declutter

When, on the other hand, I walk out into a living room cluttered with toys and books and extra things all over the place, it is chaos and my mind is frenetic.

Here are my top decluttering tips:

Do it in small chunks. Set aside just 15 minutes to declutter just one shelf, and when that shelf or that 15 minutes is up, celebrate your victory. Then tackle another shelf for 15 minutes the next day. Conquering an entire closet or room can be overwhelming, and you might put it off forever. If that’s the case, just do it in baby steps.
Set aside a couple hours to do it. This may seem contradictory to the above tip … and it is. It’s simply a different strategy, and I say do whatever works for you. Sometimes, for me, it’s good to set aside part of a morning, or an entire Saturday morning, to declutter a closet or room. I do it all at once, and when I’m done, it feels awesome.
Take everything out of a shelf or drawer at once. Whichever of the two above strategies you choose, you should focus on one drawer or shelf at a time, and empty it completely. Then clean that shelf or drawer. Then, take the pile and sort it (see next tip), and put back just what you want to keep. Then tackle the next shelf or drawer.
Sort through your pile, one item at a time, and make quick decisions. Have a trash bag and a give-away box handy. When you pull everything out of a shelf or drawer, sort through the pile one at a time. Pick up an item, and make a decision: trash, give away, or keep. Don’t put it back in the pile. Do this with the entire pile, and soon, you’ll be done. If you keep sorting through the pile, and re-sorting, it’ll take forever. Put back only what you want to keep, and arrange it nicely.
Be merciless. You may be a pack rat, but the truth is, you won’t ever use most of the junk you’ve accumulated. If you haven’t used it in the last year, get rid of it. It’s as simple as that. If you’ve only used it once or twice in the last year, but know you won’t use it in the next year, get rid of it. Toss it if it’s unsalvageable, and give it away if someone else might be able to use it.
Papers? Be merciless, unless it’s important. Magazines, catalogues, junk mail, bills more than a year old, notes to yourself, notes from others, old work stuff … toss it! The only exception is with tax-related stuff, which should be kept for seven years, and other important documents like warranties, birth and death and marriage certificates, insurance, wills, and other important documents like that. But you’ll know those when you see ‘em. Otherwise, toss!!!!
If you are on the fence with a lot of things, create a “maybe” box. If you can’t bear to toss something because you might need it later, put it in the box, then close the box, label it, and put it in storage (garage, attic, closet), out of sight. Most likely, you’ll never open that box again. If that’s the case, pull it out after six months or a year, and toss it or give it away.
Create a system to stop clutter from accumulating. There’s a reason you have tall stacks of papers all over the place, and big piles of toys and books and clothes. It’s because you don’t have a regular system to keep things in their place, and get rid of stuff you don’t need. This is a topic for another day, but it’s something to think about as you declutter. You’ll never get to perfect, but if you think more intelligently about how your house got cluttered, perhaps you can find ways to stop it from happening again.
Celebrate when you’re done! This is actually a general rule in life: always celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small. Even if you just decluttered one drawer, that’s great. Treat yourself to something delicious. Open that drawer (or closet, or whatever), and admire its simplicity. Breathe deeply and know that you have done a good thing. Bask in your peacefulness.

Other posts about decluttering elsewhere:

FlyLady: How to Declutter
FlyLady: Declutter 15 minutes a day
Declutter Guide: Where do i start?
Create a relaxing and clutter-free home
Positivity guide: Declutter, declutter, declutter
Paauwerfully organized: Declutter your life
BellaOnline: Declutter/Simplify
How to Declutter Your Life
Organizing 101: Resolve to Declutter
Homeorganizing.com: Declutter forever

Comments (27)

Two Feathers Says:

January 29th, 2007, 9:56 am

This is great. All these good ideas! If you don’t mind, I will probably put a link to this post over at theprosperityproject.blogspot.com, it fits right in with our current project.

Leo Says:

January 29th, 2007, 13:11 pm

Thanks, two feathers. I appreciate the comment and the link.

I’ll also check out your project. What kinds of things are you doing that fit in with this?

Anonymous Says:

January 29th, 2007, 15:12 pm

Good job. This is on my list of things to do. Nice blog!

Paula Brint Says:

January 30th, 2007, 21:52 pm

thanks for the tips. my husband and i are trying to do something similar. now if i could only get him to let go of his comic book and baseball card collections! lol.

Two Feathers Says:

February 2nd, 2007, 13:17 pm

Hi Leo. I did put a link to this post over at the Prosperity Project, but this silly computer here at work won’t let me copy and paste the direct link.

Our next project will be exploring if the Ganesh Mantra to remove obstacles really works. I don’t know how that would fit into Zen Mind..

If we have anything in the future that coincides with anything you have going on, I will let you know. In the mean time, I have been enjoying your site.

Leo Says:

February 2nd, 2007, 15:13 pm

Thanks Two Feathers! I checked out your site and it’s pretty interesting. Definitely let me know if there’s anything that can fit in with Zen Habits … I’d love to feature it here on my site.

Benno Says:

February 14th, 2007, 17:31 pm

I am such a horder (is that spelt right?) that I declutter myself about once a year. I usually spend a whole day just going through every drawer and cupboard in my room and thoroughly clean everything in the process. I love doing it and feel awesome after it. I have recently started being more organised in my storage of stuff. I started by placing all my bills and letters in one place. Next I have bought a bookcase and put boxes and magazine holders onto it for quick depositing of various stuff. The one place I find I need the most work however is my computer desk. Its a mine field at the moment. Guess I will have to work out a system to keep it more organised. I look forward to some great suggestions of some things I can do.

Leo Says:

February 14th, 2007, 17:49 pm

Hi Benno … thanks for sharing your experiences. I always feel liberated after a decluttering session. And when I look on my newly simplified closet or shelf or room, it is … pure bliss!

As for your messy desk, I suggest you follow the GTD principles … gather everything together off your desk, and in your drawers, put it all in one inbox, and just process through everything from top to bottom, making fast decisions on each: to put on an action list, to do immediately (2 min actions or less), to file immediately, to trash, or to delegate to someone else.

If you follow this system, you will clear your desk. Only deal with one piece of paper at a time, and never put a piece of paper back on the pile. Deal with it now. And don’t start new piles!

Once your done, put every new piece of paper in your inbox, and deal with it the same way.

For more, see this post:

How to Get a Clear Desk.

Chris Says:

March 29th, 2007, 13:57 pm

Hi.

So, I’ve set up a system to keep my paperwork un-cluttered.
But, after that, I realized that in my home there were so many things… “things,” physical objects that needed to be likewise filed and stored away.
Anyone who’s a professional artist, or has a bunch of tools around, or a lot of collectibles, whatever, needs to set up something like this.

For me, I found my solution with IKEA’s FIRA. (I don’t normally endorse ANYTHING like this. But, allow me to explain…)

A system of organization needs to adapt and grow with you and your needs. I chose the FIRA because not only does it have a lot of different drawers of different sizes, but each unit is small, easily moved, and the exact same size.

This is perfect for stacking and rearranging.

I bought about 36 of the things. And, I’ll likely get more.

And, instead of running out to buy a new hammer because I can’t find it (and, I know it’s buried in a box somewhere), I go to the specific drawer that I know contains it.

Seriously, check these things out. And, get about 6 to start. You’ll quickly see how functional they are and toss every odd-shaped thing that occupies more space than a sheet of paper into it.

If you don’t like IKEA, go to a Container Store-type place.

I only recommend the FIRA because they are:
Cheap.
The same size.
Easy to use.

jaeleslie Says:

March 29th, 2007, 14:36 pm

The “system to stop clutter from accumulating”, I’d like to hear more about that. I am barely keeping up with incoming stuff right now, and making small headway on the stacks of old stuff. Also working on the One List that will rule them all. Your site has been really helpful, and I’ve identified the problem that I don’t have much of a system beyond the calendar to empty the inbuckets, and move projects further toward the out basket in whatever form. I’m working with the context-sensitive lists right now, and that is promising to help me beyond groceries and errands and booklists. Also trying to work at least as much on my projects as I am on my Implementation.

But, what he said about art supplies. I have handmade papers and notebook papers and other papers, paints and inks and pencils and glues and collage papers, many kinds and categories of tools, assemblage junk, more kinds of containers than you want to hear about, and Things That Might Become Something. But putting things aside for later is not a process that has been always working well for me. Three days to declutter! it is to laugh!

zenhabits Says:

March 29th, 2007, 18:53 pm

@Chris: thanks for the recommendation … I appreciate it. I’ll give it a look.

@jaeleslie: Thanks for the comment … I’m glad you’ve found the site useful! As for the problems you’re having, don’t let them discourage you. You’ve made some great steps already, it sounds like, just addressing the clutter and the incoming flow of information and stuff.

If you’re becoming overwhelmed, take a deep breath! You don’t need to attack everything at once. If you want to get it all over with at once, that’s great, but the truth is, there isn’t any rush — you can take as much time as you need to declutter. You might want to focus on one area at a time, and once you’re done with that, move to the next.

As for a system for keeping stuff uncluttered, that would make a great post — thanks for the suggestion. I’ll write more about it, but really quickly, a couple suggestions: 1) become aware of everything you bring into your house (or work place), 2) don’t buy or get new stuff unless you really love it and want to find a place in your home for it, 3) when you bring something new in, get rid of something else in your house, and 4) regularly declutter your house, say every month or every 3 months, whatever works for you.

If you have other questions, feel free to post them here in the comments or email me. Thanks jaeleslie! - leo

Kellie C. D. Says:

July 7th, 2007, 2:23 am

I am taking a summer class on destressing. This is a great site with some terrific ideas. Warning though– [one of the decluttering websites], while a great site, will overwhelm you with messages all day as if anyone has time to read it all. One of my places that I started decluttering was my inbox and I signed up for her a while back and nearly drowned. Visit her site, but her emails will kill you. I did not think I could drown in excessive cybermail but she can kill you with it!

I have a very large family and I am a full time college student with a very supportive husband but a small house. Once I started to declutter, I found myself breathing easier. You can’t make love in a cluttered bedroom very easily or do your hair on a master bathroom vanity that has turned into a place to keep your laptop! EEEEEK!

Johnny Mothman Says:

August 7th, 2007, 17:59 pm

Beautifully written and helpful. Love your site.
Kind regards from New Zealand

Mary Says:

September 11th, 2007, 13:12 pm

Re: wanting your husband to let go of his baseball card and comic book collection, I think that is wrong. We don’t have to throw out everything we own to become spare and minimalist. Those things are important to him and he shouldn’t be hassled, just get him to organize them and find a place in the home where he can enjoy his collections. I once had a comic book collection from 1944 through 1953, which included many now rare books, some of the old classic series, with special books to put them in. They were neatly tied in stacks. When I married and left home, instead of my excessively clean mother telling me to take them out of her house, she THREW THEM AWAY. I get sick to this day when I think of it, and I am 68 years old. Anyway, have a heart ladies, and don’t be too stringent about things that mean something to your family.

subcorpus Says:

September 27th, 2007, 13:27 pm

this is good …
am gonna try a few of these now …
lets see if i am able to declutter myself … hehe …
good article …
thanks for sharing … appreciated …

Utah Artist Says:

September 29th, 2007, 22:27 pm

My son just sent me the link to your site. “Thank God for little boys!”. I have been trying to declutter for years! I can identify with Jaeleslie with the art stuff. How to keep it neat and still have it out where you can find it. I will also definitly be looking into the IKEA thing. Thanks for a great site. I will be visiting often!

Gauri Says:

October 25th, 2007, 9:27 am

Hi Leo,
Can you please write on how to declutter your thoughts? Of lately I know my mind is going through a whole lot of thoughts which can wait, but they still occupy my thought process leaving me tired and not able to focus on the current stuff. If you could write it will be helpful. (for eg: I have exams and instead of studying i keep thinking about vacation in dec. or things in the past)
Thanks

Leo Says:

October 25th, 2007, 18:08 pm

Awesome suggestions, Gauri … I’ve added this to my list of story ideas. Of course, the list is quite long right now … :)

Matt Packer Says:

January 4th, 2008, 5:23 am

I only just found this blog from a link over on Problogger.net and I’m bookmarking this for sure..

Anyway, in response to your suggestions here I think you’re pretty spot on.. I’m a minimalist, but my fiance is a pack rat, and we often struggle with the ‘great throw out’ we try to do every 6 months.. There’s often arguments and a lot of the time I end up giving in..

6 months ago we bought our first home together and it was a fair bit smaller than where we were previously living so we’ve had problems from the get-go in terms of storage, which has turned into clutter and untidiness..

I’m hoping that I can get her reading this blog and begin her ‘zen’ transformation..

Rupal Says:

January 15th, 2008, 21:15 pm

Hi Leo,

I just discovered your blog site a couple of days ago and was very happy to find it. It actually started out with my searching for decluttering inspiration and somehow landed on zenhabits. Your blog is inspiring and you should be proud of yourself. Great work.

Roxanna Says:

January 21st, 2008, 20:27 pm

Hello,
Thank you for all the wonderful down to earth advices published in this web site. We are greatful to you all.
We are building our first house ever! here at the end of the world in Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) and we were in great need of advice to where and how to start.
We have been sailing on a 40 foot yacht for about 15 years and have to still learn to adapt to a house, to us an open luminous (close to the water!) space is precious.

Catherine7755 Says:

January 30th, 2008, 19:16 pm

Hello Leo~

I’m new to your site and have been reading your decluttering and organizing articles. I’m enjoying them and looking to see how much I can incorporate some of the systems into my life.

BUT… Can you please stop saying to put things in the trash or to throw it “away” ~ ’cause where is “away” anyway? I would hope that part of the simple and de-cluttered lifestyle would include de-cluttering our planet. Paper cuts down trees which means less peaceful natural green-space for all of us (where is it you want to go to really de-clutter your mind)?

So my mantra is : | Reduce | Reuse | RECYCLE

REDUCE: Bring less stuff into the house, right?

REUSE: Again less stuff and less harm to the planet making (& throwing away) more stuff, right?

RECYCLE: almost any “paperwork” (shred, if necessary) can be recycled, and many other things as well. Just like we make a “donation” of our other stuff~ by recycling paper instead of throwing it in the trash~ we’re donating goodness knows how many trees to the planet. And reducing our carbon footprint as well.

Thanks for listening, Thanks for your articles.
~Catherine

Nat Says:

March 3rd, 2008, 1:30 am

hey!
Thanks for the article…it is great, and it has inspired me over the weekend! I’ve already decluttered my whole room in a couple of hours! And, boy, I had quite a lot of stuff in there! Right now, I’m in college, and so, your advice DEFINITELY helps to keep me organized and living healthy. I just wanted to request more pictures of minimalist homes…I’m very visual, and looking at pictures really gives me an idea of what I need to go for. Thanks, and have a good one!

becoming minimalist Says:

July 1st, 2008, 21:40 pm

i also added a “sell” pile when sorting through closets/drawers. ebay makes things so simple these days to change clutter into cash. and believe me, that inspires me to tackle another project.

Consignment Pal Says:

July 12th, 2008, 16:19 pm

becoming minimalist’s post above referred to a “sell” pile and ebay.

For your “sell” or “donate” piles, you can find a local store, online seller, or non-profit business to help you using the Consignment Pal Business Directory at http://www.consignmentpal.com. Many even offer free pick up.

Linda

Consignment Pal Says:

July 12th, 2008, 16:30 pm

Leo,

Your decluttering advice could encourage many Consignment Pal (CP) Directory users. Please create a free profile as a “Third Party Service Provider.”

During the eBay Live Conference in Chicago a few weeks ago, CP announced the creation of the new Service Providers category.

Consignment Pal will drive even more readers to your ZenHabits blog for advice on decluttering and downsizing so Directory users will have something to sell for cash, consign, or donate.

Thanks,
Linda

Jo Says:

July 16th, 2008, 15:09 pm

I feel sometimes like I clean my kitchen and an hour later, it’s upside down again! I got so frustrated that I did something very unlike me… I bought something from an infomercial… lol! It’s called a Foldtuk container (www.foldtuk.com). I mean it does a lot of neat stuff, but what appealed to me the most is that it collapses really thin. It saved me a lot of room in my kitchen and has really made me feel more organized in general.