How to Declutter for Minimalist Living: A Journey to Emotional and Physical Clarity

June 12, 2021 by Gideon Hest

Have you ever walked into a room, only to feel overwhelmed by stuff? It’s like the walls are closing in, and no matter how much you try to organize, it always seems to creep back in—those random papers, forgotten gadgets, clothes you don’t even wear. And if we’re being honest, it’s not just the physical things, is it? The clutter in our homes somehow mirrors the clutter in our minds.

I’ve noticed that the more cluttered my space becomes, the more scattered my thoughts feel. Maybe you’ve felt this, too. It’s like our surroundings are reflecting back to us the noise we’re carrying internally. And I guess that’s why so many people turn to minimalism—it’s not just about having a tidy house; it’s about creating mental clarity.

Why Decluttering Feels So Hard

Before we even start, let’s talk about why it’s so difficult to let go of things. On the surface, it seems easy—just get rid of the stuff, right? But when you dig a little deeper, there’s often more to it.

Here’s why it might be tough:

Emotional Attachment: We attach stories to things. That old jacket might remind you of a certain time in your life, or maybe it was a gift from someone. We hold onto the memory, not just the item.
“What If” Thinking: Ever find yourself thinking, What if I need this someday? Whether it’s a kitchen gadget or an old textbook, we hang on to things out of fear we might need them in some hypothetical future.
Identity: Sometimes our possessions are tied to who we think we should be. I used to hold on to stacks of books I hadn’t read, thinking they made me look intellectual. But in reality, they were just gathering dust.

So, when we declutter, we’re not just getting rid of stuff—we’re confronting these deeper feelings. It’s no wonder it can feel a little overwhelming at first.

Step One: Start Small and Set a Purpose

There’s this urge to tackle everything at once when you’re fed up with the clutter. But that’s usually how we end up feeling burnt out before we’ve even made a dent.

I’ve found that starting with just one small area—a drawer, a shelf—makes the process feel more manageable. And here’s the thing: it’s less about how much you declutter and more about why you’re doing it. Setting an intention before you begin helps keep you focused when you’re in the thick of it.

Ask yourself:

Why do I want to declutter? Is it to create more space, to feel less stressed, or to make room for something new in your life?
What’s my goal with minimalism? It doesn’t have to mean living with just the bare essentials. Maybe it’s about having only what adds value to your life—whether that’s physical things or emotional peace.

Step Two: The Physical Act of Letting Go

Once you’ve set your purpose, it’s time to actually let go of things. But where do you start?

A few simple strategies:

The 90/90 Rule: This is something I stumbled upon while trying to simplify my closet. If you haven’t used an item in the last 90 days, and you don’t plan to use it in the next 90, it’s probably safe to let it go.
One-In, One-Out: For every new item you bring into your space, get rid of one that no longer serves you. It’s a way to keep your home from slowly creeping back into chaos.
The “Does It Spark Joy?” Test: This one’s a classic, thanks to Marie Kondo, but it really works. If something doesn’t bring you happiness or serve a clear purpose, it’s time to say goodbye.

But I get it—it’s not always that simple. Sometimes, even when something doesn’t meet any of these rules, it still feels hard to let go. I had this coffee mug, chipped and stained, but I held onto it for years because I’d used it every day during a really significant time in my life. It wasn’t until I realized that the memories weren’t tied to the mug itself that I finally let it go. And, you know what? I don’t miss it.

Step Three: Give Yourself Time

Decluttering isn’t a race. I know when you’re overwhelmed by stuff, there’s this pressure to just get it all done—fast. But that can be a trap. Minimalism is about more than just having less; it’s about creating space intentionally.

It seems like when I rush through the process, I often end up regretting some of the things I’ve let go of—almost like I wasn’t emotionally ready to part with them. On the flip side, when I take my time, I make better decisions, and the process feels a lot more fulfilling.

Instead of feeling like you need to tackle everything in a weekend, why not give yourself permission to go slow? Try:

Decluttering for 10-15 minutes a day
Setting aside one afternoon a week to work on a single area
Taking “before and after” pictures to remind yourself of the progress you’ve made

By allowing yourself time, you’ll notice that the process of decluttering becomes less about the things and more about understanding yourself—why you’ve held on to what you have, and what truly matters in your life going forward.

Step Four: Managing the Sentimental Stuff

Let’s talk about the hardest part of decluttering—letting go of sentimental items. These are the things that carry emotional weight, the mementos from past relationships, old postcards, or family heirlooms that have been passed down for generations. It’s tough to know what to do with them, right?

I used to think that throwing away sentimental items was like throwing away the memories themselves. There was this old concert ticket I kept for years, even though it was tucked away in a drawer and forgotten most of the time. The concert had been amazing, but at some point, I realized that the memory wasn’t in the ticket—it was in me. I didn’t need that small piece of paper to remember how I felt that night.

That realization helped me, but I know it’s not the same for everyone. Here are a few ideas that might make it easier to part with sentimental clutter:

Photograph It: Sometimes just having a digital memory of an item is enough. You can take a photo of it, and then let the physical item go. That way, you can revisit the memory without holding onto the object itself.
Create a “Memory Box”: If you’re not ready to let go of everything, choose a small box or container for your most precious keepsakes. Limit yourself to what fits inside. It helps create a boundary, so you don’t end up keeping more than you truly need.
Reframe Its Purpose: Can the sentimental item serve a new, functional role? Maybe you have an old vase from a family member that’s been collecting dust in storage. Why not bring it out and actually use it? That way, it becomes a meaningful part of your daily life rather than something hidden away.

Step Five: Let Go of Guilt

Decluttering often brings up a lot of unexpected feelings, and one of the most common is guilt. Guilt about getting rid of something someone gave you. Guilt about how much money you spent on something you don’t even use. Guilt about not living up to your own expectations of what your space “should” look like.

It seems like guilt holds a lot of people back from fully embracing minimalism. But here’s the thing: you don’t owe your stuff anything. That sweater from your aunt? She probably doesn’t even remember she gave it to you. The kitchen gadget you bought on a whim? It’s okay that you don’t use it as much as you thought you would.

When I started letting go of the things I felt guilty about keeping, I noticed how much lighter I felt. It’s almost like I was giving myself permission to move on. And when you do that, you create space—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, too.

Step Six: Maintaining a Minimalist Lifestyle

Once you’ve done the heavy lifting of decluttering, the next step is figuring out how to maintain that sense of simplicity in your everyday life. It’s one thing to clear out the clutter, but keeping it from creeping back in is another challenge altogether. I’ve fallen into this trap more than once—thinking I had “finished” decluttering, only to find myself back in the same place a few months later.

What I’ve realized is that minimalism isn’t a one-time project. It’s an ongoing practice, something you have to be mindful of. But that doesn’t mean it has to be hard. Here are a few tips to help maintain the space you’ve created:

Regular Check-Ins: Set aside time every few months to evaluate your space. Is there anything you’ve accumulated that doesn’t belong? Anything you thought you needed but haven’t used? This helps prevent clutter from sneaking back in.
Mindful Purchases: Before buying something new, ask yourself, Do I really need this? Will it add value to my life, or is it just another thing to take care of? Being intentional about what you bring into your home makes a big difference.
Limit “Just in Case” Items: It’s easy to justify keeping things for “just in case,” but more often than not, those items end up sitting around unused. If you do need something down the line, you can always borrow it or find an alternative.

Minimalism Beyond the Physical

One thing that surprised me about embracing minimalism is how much it affected areas of my life beyond my physical space. At first, I thought it was just about getting rid of stuff. But as I cleared out the clutter from my home, I started to notice how it mirrored other parts of my life.

For instance, decluttering my schedule became just as important as decluttering my closet. How many commitments had I taken on out of obligation rather than joy? How many times had I said yes when I really wanted to say no? Minimalism, I’ve found, isn’t just about owning less; it’s about living more intentionally in all aspects of life—creating space for what really matters, whether that’s time, relationships, or experiences.

In a way, decluttering your home is just the beginning. It’s like peeling back the first layer of an onion, revealing new layers of simplicity and clarity underneath.