The Power of Half: Looking for a Quick Way to Declutter? Try This.
With “shelter in place” orders popping up around the country, many people are spending more time than usual at home. Much more time.
More time in our homes means more time spent noticing the stuff surrounding us in our living space. And more energy maintaining it.
We have no choice but to confront our possessions – to become aware of how much stuff really has accumulated in our home over the years.
So what is the current feel of your home? Light, peaceful and breathable? Or cluttered and chaotic?
It’s a question worth asking yourself. Science shows us that clutter in a home can increase cortisol levels (especially in women) and can even affect how well we sleep at night.
In a time where most people’s stress levels are elevated because of circumstances outside of our control, why not consider reducing your stress levels by taking control of the stuff in your home?
Tapping into the power of half is one way to experiment with less stuff in your home. Here’s how:
1. Pick an area you want to declutter.
What room of your house would you like to declutter the most? Is there one particular area that makes you feel restless or less peaceful when you enter it? Start there (if the area involves kid’s toys, see this post).
For me, since isolation began, the problem area has been the kitchen. While we already live a minimalist lifestyle and have been for over a year, the kitchen was never an area I significantly decluttered. But being home more these days, I’ve found myself spending more time there – too much time. Cleaning up after meals was taking longer than I wanted, and I felt like I could never truly get the kitchen reset. It was time to rethink our kitchen space and experiment with less.
2. Get boxes or plastic bins and pack up half of the stuff in the room
Once you’ve chosen your area of interest, commit to removing half of the area’s items. It might seem extreme, but think of it as an experiment. You’re not getting rid of things right now (donation centers are probably closed anyway). You are just making space, seeing how that space makes you feel, and observing how the area functions with less.
When deciding what to pack away, ask yourself: Do I use this daily? Does this still bring me joy to look at? Do I really need this?
Pack half of the things out of sight (so you’re not tempted to unpack them again) for 30 days. Of course, if you realize you packed up something you really need, feel free to retrieve it. Minimizing is about removing distractions so to have more time and energy to focus on what matters; it’s not about deprivation.
This week, I found a large plastic bin and began filling it with kitchen items. We own 10 coffee mugs, so I removed five from the cupboard. We had 12 spoons in the drawer, so now we have six. Four children’s plates, so now two. I stored the extra kitchen items away and am now observing how our kitchen feels and functions with less.
3. Make decisions based on your observations
During the month of experimenting with less, really observe how the decluttered area is working for you. Are you now spending much less time maintaining it? Is the room tidier than it’s even been before because you don’t feel overwhelmed by the idea of cleaning it? Do you feel like you can breathe easier when you enter the room? Are you losing things less often?
Then, make decisions based on your observations. Maybe you decide to add back in a few things. Or maybe you decide to reduce the number of items in the room by half again.
I’m on day four of observing how our kitchen works with less stuff. So far I’m loving it and am thinking we’ve finally hit the mark of “enough stuff” in our kitchen. But, I’ll continue to observe throughout the month before I officially decide.
If you’re feeling stressed by the state of your home these days, why not give experimenting with half a try?
I think you’ll find there really is power in less stuff. For us it’s more time, more joy, more calm, and more family togetherness.
What will it be for you?