We’ve all seen the lists of questions to ask yourself when decluttering.
Heck, I’ve written some (awesome) lists of decluttering questions myself.
But here’s the thing. At some point, you’ll switch gears… and instead of deciding what to discard, you’ll be choosing what to keep, right?
It’s two sides of the same coin, but the change in perspective can really help you fine-tune and curate the items in your home.
If these questions seem vague, it’s because they can be applied to anything and everything in your home. No separate lists for kitchen versus closet versus craft room.
You wouldn’t ask “Is it still in style?” about a rolling pin, and you wouldn’t ask, “Have I used it in the last month?” about a one-time-use consumable craft item. “Does it fit?” doesn’t apply to books…
This is simple.
Question 1: Is it something you need?
And if it is, do you like it? Yes? Great! Keep it!
If you don’t like it, can you afford to replace it with a better version?
If not, appreciate it for the job it’s doing right now, and keep it.
Question 2: Is it something that makes you happy to look at, to touch, to interact with?
These items are a joy to have in the house, regardless of what their job or position is. And if they truly make you happy, you’ll also be happy to care for them (dusting/cleaning them, putting them back into their homes after they’ve been used/worn/held, and so on).
Keep it!
Question 2b: Is it something you’re excited to use?
This is another facet of the last question – things that make you feel excited also bring happiness to your life!
Craft materials that get you all in a tizzy with the possibilities, kitchen tools that make you swoon with delight, a dress that fits you just perfectly and makes you feel fantastic, and kids’ books you absolutely love to read aloud… these are all worth keeping around!
Keep it!
Question 3: In a group of similar items, is this your favorite one?
If you have 3 can openers, and they all work well, surely there’s one you reach for more than the others. If you have 4 boxes of scrapbooking paper, and you’re excited about the possibilities it holds, you probably still have a favorite collection you reach for when you’re getting ready to work on your book. If you have multiple black shirts, there’s probably one that fits and flatters you the best, or one that’s the most comfortable and beloved.
Is this your favorite one? Keep it!
So when you’re fine-tuning your things, what will you keep?
Sometimes asking a completely different question can give you a whole new perspective on things. Try it out, and let me know how it goes!
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6 Comments
I signed up for the 30 day challenge a few days ago and I might have gotten a little overeager with the Declutter and delete your first couple of emails. I have day 2 and day 3 of the challenge in mg inbox but the link to download the book and day 1 of the challenge are missing. I just signed up again so I could get the first two. Or can you send me those first two emails again? Thanks.
http://runwright.net
The last question is the one that will do it for me. Do I really need 50 ceareal boxes lying around… Yep we don’t need more than one of anything.
Wow I will have to remember to look at this list next time I tidy up, great questions! Guest cohost stopping by from the Motivation Monday link up, thanks for linking up!
Question #3 really hit home! I have 4 different black shirts and I will always try to wear that “1” because I love the way I look in it. Forget the fact it isn’t one you’d wear if its hot out I still do. So its goodbye to the rest of them. Thanks for the new view point.
I love those questions. It’s all about the perspective, right? I am also signing up for your 30 day program.
I’m glad the questions are helpful to you! And I’m looking forward to seeing your progress in the challenge. 🙂 Don’t forget to join the fb group so I can cheer you on!