14 Questions to Help You Let Go of More Than Just Clutter
Clutter isn't only about the piles stacked in the corner or the hidden doom pile at the bottom of the cupboard. Often it's a sign that something else is out of alignment: how we spend our time, the areas where we feel stuck, or the gap between our values and how we’re living day-to-day.
In my newsletters this year I’ve shared a self-coaching question in each issue. Some are about decluttering directly and others address the habits and mindsets that lead to clutter, overwhelm, and mis-alignment with our values. I've pulled them all together here as a handy resource for anyone wanting to reflect and reassess.
They’re grouped by what situation they suit best:
When you're feeling overwhelmed or rushed
When you're deciding what to keep or let go
When you're stuck or putting something off
When you're feeling overwhelmed or rushed
If you're feeling frazzled, these questions can help you find where the pressure is really coming from.
Where in my week is there no time buffer, and what does that do to everything else? The feeling of being rushed doesn't always come from what we have to do, but from how we're doing it. Look for tweaks you could make to your schedule to build in a bit more space in-between and breathing room.
How might this help me down the track? A quick check-in for when you’re deciding on what task is the best use of your precious time; even for small choices or tasks. Helps you break out of default patterns.
What would my future self be thankful I chose to do today?
It's a simple way to bring a bit of perspective to choices that feel unimportant in the moment, but add up over time.How can I make this as enjoyable as possible? or How relaxed can I be while doing this? Try these next time you've got something unpleasant or uninteresting you need to do. If you have to do it why not make it as fun as possible?
What is sitting unfinished in my head that I haven't written down anywhere? The overwhelm of the mental load (and how to remember it all) is one of the biggest reasons we feel chaotic instead of organised. Once you've worked out what’s floating around in your brain, get it into whatever system you use to track your “to do’s”. (if you don’t have one I help people with that)
When you're deciding what to keep or let go
These are useful for the practical decluttering tasks; when you're standing in front of a pile, a drawer, or a whole room and trying to work out what to do with it all.
If I found this at a friend's place, would I think they needed it? This brings a bit of outside perspective and objectivity to a decision that can otherwise feel tangled up in guilt or sentimentality.
What one space in my home would I like clearer and more functional in the next three months? Once you've got an answer, follow it with: How much time am I willing to commit to that each week? This narrows down the focus so you can give yourself permission to ignore other areas for a while and get visible results in that one space.
What is one step I can take to make progress? Helpful for when you’re overwhelmed by the amount of decluttering you have to do. You'd be surprised what small, steady progress can add up to.
What would I do with the time, space, or energy I will get back if this was no longer a problem? Sometimes clutter or disorganisation has been around so long, we can't remember what life was like without it. This one can be tricky, because even if you don't love the chaos, it can become your go-to reason for putting other things off, often things you might feel nervous about being responsible for. Try building a detailed picture of what it would look like if clutter wasn't a problem anymore.
When you're stuck or putting something off
For the projects and decisions that keep sliding down your list of priorities.
If I do this thing, will it make a difference? Some of us tend to mentally churn over the shoulds, coulds and musts. The tasks and ideas swirl around our minds. Before you put any more time, effort or mental energy into any of them, ask this question first.
To continue that theme, by "difference", I mean real, observable improvement in your daily life, your goals, or what's important to you. And a follow up question could be, will the outcome be worth the time, money or effort it takes? Only you can decide, but I encourage you to reflect on this.
Sometimes quitting can be kindness, and a way to care for yourself. Experiment with guilt free quitting by asking: What thing could I decide that I'm not going to do? and then choose to let yourself off the hook for something that:
You've been putting off
You don't enjoy
You've been feeling bad about
Won't have any serious consequences if it’s not done
Is trying to get this perfect stopping me from getting it done? For that lingering task or project that never seems to quite be complete. Aim for well done, or even just good enough, and move forward.
Where to from here?
What question stood out the most to you? Consider how you might apply it to a current challenge.
If one of these questions stood out to you, reflect on it for a few days instead of answering straight away, sometimes our mind needs some time to get used to a new way of looking at something before being ready to give it a try.
If you’re into journaling, choose to write and contemplate on just one of these at a time and see what you discover.
Approach these questions with curiosity. Conduct a mini-experiment with one and see what happens if you try a new approach or way of looking at something. What worked and what didn’t and what did you learn along the way?
Depending on what you’re working through you may like to return and revisit these as prompts, to work out your priorities, to help you get unstuck, and make progress on things that will make a difference to you.
Key takeaways:
Clutter often reflects something else going on, how you're spending your time, what you're avoiding, or mis-aligned values.
Before starting a task, ask what would make it easier or more enjoyable, not just how to get through it.
A lack of buffer time in your week affects more than just that day, it affects everything around it.
When deciding what to keep, get some mental and emotional distance.
Progress on a space can comes from small, consistent steps.
Before investing more time or energy into something, ask if it will make a real difference.
You're allowed to decide not to do something, especially if it's something with no real consequence to dropping it.
Perfectionism is often what's stopping something from getting finished.
Want to try a self-coaching question? Reflect, experiment and stay curious.
Looking for more help, ideas or encouragement?
Free Downloads:
5 Things Creating Clutter – Resource to help you deal with common clutter causes
Clutter and Mental Health Infographic - Easy-to-read with key research insights, myth-busting facts, and tips to get started.
Related Blog Articles:
What’s Guiding Your Decluttering: Anxiety, Aspiration or Authenticity?
The psychology of stuff. Are you trying to use possessions to meet your deepest needs?
Creating Calm Spaces eBook – Comprehensive guide with organising systems and strategies ($14.95)
Home Systems Workbook – Simple activities to organise routines and reduce chaos ($9.95)
Connect:
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