Here and there, I declutter stuff I don’t use, don’t like, and don’t want.

And every time I do, I start to feel calmer in my surroundings.

I can’t say I’ll ever reach the status of a minimalist. In fact, I’m not sure I want to.

I like having things that spark joy.

There are things that I truly enjoy having a collection of, like crystals, oracle decks, and movies.

Spoiler: I own over 400 DVDs hehe.

Plus, I love decor pieces, especially around holidays like Halloween and Christmas.

So, Why Decluttering?

It’s hard to deny that decluttering and minimizing my things helps ease my anxiety.

There is a lot of stress that comes with clutter. Clutter clogs the mind.

It makes things more chaotic, especially when you can’t find something buried within all the mess. 

Having less crap helps me feel more organized. I can find things more easily, and I’m not as overwhelmed all the time.

After I declutter and organize a space, I usually feel so much calmer.

My anxiety goes down, and I’m much more productive.

Related post:

• 5 Game-Changing Ways to Stop Stressing So Much

How to Declutter:

When you begin your minimalism journey, you might feel overwhelmed.

But once that unnecessary crap is out of your life, you’ll wonder why you even fell victim to consumerism in the first place.

There are several ways to declutter.

If you have no idea where to start (and the thought of decluttering causes you stress), watch some declutter videos on YouTube!

They’re inspiring, motivating, and calming.

Check out Beauty and the Beastons, Love Meg, or Jessica Braun for some inspiration.

Another way is to read some books on minimalism. This book helped shift my mindset a lot.

Plus, if you’re having a hard time breaking attachments from your material items, it might be good to talk to a therapist.

Below, you’ll read 80 things to declutter get rid of right now to start your minimalism journey.

Decluttering Ideas: 80 Things to Declutter in Your Home

1. Unused makeup. If it’s gently used, you can sanitize it and sell it.

2. Old pamphlets from places you’ve already been or you will never go to

3. Extra school supplies. Donate it to kids in need

4. Gift cards with a $0 balance

5. Old magazines you’ve been keeping just because the pictures are pretty

6. Movies you never watch. Donate them or sell them

7. Stretched out ponytails

8. Old batteries. Take them to be recycled.

9. Plastic bags. Take them back to the store to be recycled

10. Outgrown toys. Donate or sell them.

11. Broken toys you wish weren’t broken

12. Puzzles with missing pieces

13. Towels with frays. Donate them to an animal shelter

14. Coffee mugs you never drink out of

15. Clothes with stains that you pretend don’t exist

16. Broken phone chargers

17. Broken headphones

18. Old cleaning supplies

19. Expired coupons

20. Menus to restaurants you never order from

21. Junk mail

22. Dried up or goopy nail polish

23. Photos with doubles or bad quality

24. Ketchup packets from fast food places

25. Broken Christmas lights

26. Old light bulbs

27. Cookbooks you never use

28. Incomplete board games

29. Expired perfume

30. Old calendars

31. Used ink cartridges

32. Product samples you will never use

33. Old paint cans

34. Wooden paint stirrers

35. Unsafe pet toys

36. Broken hangers

37. Socks with holes in them

38. Emails that go back months and months

39. Expired medicine

40. Canned food you won’t eat. Donate to a food pantry.

41. Wrapping paper scraps you’ve been holding on to for years

42. Old birthday and anniversary cards

43. CDs you’ll never listen to again. Donate or sell them

44. Belts that no longer fit

45. Spices that aren’t fresh anymore

46. Shoes that are worn down

47. Tupperware with missing lids

48. Markers that dried out

49. Old receipts

50. Old power cords to mysterious appliances

51. DIY projects you’re never going to finish

52. Plastic cutlery

53. Broken jewelry

54. Old cell phones. You can cash them in.

55. Memorabilia with no attachment to it

56. Notebooks from high school

57. Dead house plants. Rest in peace.

58. Old chapstick

59. Wall posters you’re never going to display

60. Socks with no match

61. College textbooks you’ll never read again. Sell them on Amazon.

62. All the hotel soaps you took home with you

63. Old baby items

64. Suitcases you haven’t used in years

65. Unused contact lens cases

66. Your old glasses from 10 years ago

67. Broken sunglasses

68. Weird vacuum cleaner attachments

69. Incomplete deck of cards

70. Crayons that have been worn down to nothing

71. The excessive amount of magnets on your fridge

72. Filled Wordsearch puzzle books

73. Filled coloring books

74. Old business cards

75. Phone books. You can find every number online nowadays

76. Makeup bags you get for free

77. Random knick-knacks that just collect dust

78. Keychains

79. Free promotional items you’ll never use

80. Scratched up kitchen pots and pans

Don’t Wait to Start…

Don’t wait to start your more minimalistic journey until next week.

You read this post for a reason. This is your sign.

Start right now.

Every little bit helps, and every little bit will help you on your journey to feeling calmer.

Have you started a minimalism journey? What items have you gotten rid of?

More on decluttering

• 4 Rookie Mistakes You’re Making as a Beginner Minimalist
• 8 Simple Things to Declutter for a Calmer Mind
• 8 Questions to Ask Yourself When You are Decluttering Your Home

Have You Talked to Someone About It?

If you’re having a hard time letting go of the past, you might have a painful time letting go of things.

It might be helpful to talk to a therapist.

Online Therapy is a complete online therapy toolbox.

Your therapy toolbox includes:

• • Live video, voice, or text chat session with your therapist
  • 8 easy-to-follow sections, including 25 worksheets
  • Activity plan, journal, and tests

• Yoga and meditation videos

What I love about Online Therapy is that there are several life-changing options and therapists available, and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home.

This means you never need to worry before getting help.

Get 20% off your first month with my exclusive link.

TRY ONLINE THERAPY NOW

The post Decluttering Ideas: 80 Things to Declutter in Your Home appeared first on Okay Now Breathe.

When I was younger, we would even take pictures of mine and my sister’s room when it was actually clean.

I remember on a couple of occasions my mom would say, “Wow. You can actually see the floor.”

But as I got older, I realized that a mess contributes to more problems than it benefits.

I’ve also learned that cleaning up my house helps ease my anxiety.

4 Reasons Why Cleaning My House Helps Ease My Anxiety

1. GREAT DISTRACTION

Whenever I’m having intense feelings of anxiety, I learned that I need to distract myself from my thoughts.

Otherwise, my thoughts will take control of my body, and my anxiety will only grow and grow.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve turned more and more to cleaning up my house to help ease my anxiety.

That’s something I never thought I’d say.

But the repetitive motion of tidying up really helps calm my nerves.

My thoughts are easily distracted, because I’m constantly reorganizing and decluttering.

I constantly have to figure out where something goes, or if I should throw something away or donate it.

If you add mindfulness to your cleaning, you can relieve even more anxiety.

Related post:

• 5 Ways to Distract Yourself From Your Adult Separation Anxiety

2. GIVES YOU SOME EXERCISE

My body is usually so sore after a full day’s worth of cleaning.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I go up and down the stairs when I’m cleaning up my house.

I carry so many items from room to room.

I’m constantly emptying out my garbage and filling my recycling bin and donation bags.

On top of that, the floors need to be swept. The carpet needs to be vacuumed. All the countertops, sinks, and showers need to be scrubbed down.

It never seems to end.

All this moving around means that you’re actually burning calories when you’re cleaning up. 

Burning all these calories releases endorphins, and endorphins are your feel-good hormone that relieves stress.

Stress and anxiety go hand in hand.

Related post:

• 5 Things to Do When Exercise Makes Anxiety Worse

3. HELPS YOU SPEND LESS

How many times have you run to the store to buy something only to find out you already had it? Yeah, me too.

If you’re more organized and have less clutter around you, you’ll be able to the things you’re looking for.

This also means you won’t have to buy something you already have.

And that means you won’t have to spend any more money for no reason.

I think the best rooms to keep more constantly organized are your kitchen and bathroom. 

The most money goes in and out of these two rooms, and if you’re more organized, you’ll know exactly what and how much you have of something.

Related post:

• 32 Ways to Save Money This Week Without Sacrificing Your Happiness

4. PROVIDES A PEACE OF MIND

I’m a very messy person by nature, but I can’t argue that I do feel better in a more organized and clean environment.

I notice a big difference when my surroundings are organized versus when they are a mess.

When things are orderly, it’s much easier to have peace of mind.

I always know I’ll find my keys by my purse. All my shoes are in the closet. The pens are right on my desk when I need them.

If I’m running late, I know I won’t have to spend 12 years trying to find something.

Plus, clutter creates so much unnecessary stimuli.

I don’t think I’ll ever become a minimalist, but I truly feel calmer when there isn’t unnecessary clutter.

I hope I continue to organize my home the rest of my life.

Related post:

• 8 Simple Things to Declutter for a Calmer Mind

Cleaning Helps My Anxiety

The repetitive motion of cleaning and tidying up really helps calm my nerves.

Do you think cleaning up your house helps your anxiety?

Let me know below in the comments!

More posts on anxiety:

• 10 Weird Ways to Help Fight Anxiety
• 10 Powerful Healing Crystals for Anxiety Attacks
• The Ultimate Anxiety Playlist to Calm You Down
• 5 Things to Do When Exercise Makes Anxiety Worse
• 5 Ways You Can Help Your Partner Through Anxiety

Did you know there’s online therapy?

Online Therapy is a complete online therapy toolbox.

Your therapy toolbox includes:

• • Live video, voice, or text chat session with your therapist
  • 8 easy-to-follow sections, including 25 worksheets
  • Activity plan, journal, and tests
  • Yoga and meditation videos

What I love about Online Therapy is that there are several life-changing options and therapists available, and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home.

This means you never need to worry before getting help.

Get 20% off your first month with my exclusive link.

TRY ONLINE THERAPY NOW

The post 4 Reasons Why Cleaning My House Helps Ease My Anxiety appeared first on Okay Now Breathe.

It makes things more chaotic, especially when you can’t find something buried within all the mess. 

Your mind can never be fully at peace because of it.

After I declutter and organize a space, I usually feel so much calmer.

My anxiety goes down, and I’m much more productive.

Here are 8 simple things you can declutter, so you too can have a calmer mind.

8 Simple Things to Declutter for a Calmer Mind

1. EMAILS

I suck.

I have a really bad habit of letting my emails pile up and up before I remember to delete them.

But having so many in my inbox is overwhelming and so unnecessary.

Right now, I’m truly making a valiant effort to delete my emails once or twice a day.

That way I can stay on top of things and never miss an important notice.

A helpful tip is to unsubscribe to email subscriptions you don’t ever open or even need.

You can also save a bunch of money by no longer being subscribed to retail store’s mailing list.

Those sneaky, sneaky people.

2. CLOTHES

A few times a year, I’ll go through all my clothes and declutter everything I don’t ever wear.

If I hold it up, and I know I don’t love it, then there’s probably no point in keeping it.

If I haven’t worn it in forever, I know it’s time to toss it.

I’ll throw out whatever is too old or stained, but I’ll donate the majority.

If you donate to places like Goodwill, you can also put that on your tax records. It’s a win-win!

Related post:

• 8 Questions to Ask Yourself When You’re Decluttering Your Home

3. SHOES

Just like with my clothes, the same goes for shoes.

Do I really need 25,000 different heels? Especially when I only wear them a couple of times a year?

No.

Throw out whatever is too dirty, too smelly, too why-do-I-even-have-this.

Donate any shoes that are in good condition.

You can even make money by selling them on places like Depop and Poshmark.

4. MAKEUP

If you’re a makeup wearer, chances are you have more than you need. 

I am also guilty of this, even though I just recently started getting more into makeup this past couple of years.

Look through your collection, and get rid of everything that is expired, or you know you just never wear.

There’s no point in keeping it, because all it’s going to do is overwhelm you.

You can pass along makeup you don’t use to a family member or friend, because they might have better use for it than you do.

If that’s not an option, you can even make some moolah by selling it on Glambot.

5. PET TOYS

Just like there are toys that unsafe for children, there are also unsafe toys for your pets.

And keeping certain pet toys around can pose a huge safety hazard, which is never a good thing.

Take a look at all your pet’s toys. Look at the condition of them all.

Are they too frayed, have pointy parts, missing pieces, or just too old? It’s time to throw them out.

In the future, closely monitor the condition of their toys.

The shape the toys are in can change rather quickly, and it’s best that you be on top of the situation at all times.

Related post:

• Why Our Pets Help Fight Depression

6. MOVIES

It happens. You see a movie in theaters. You love it. You buy it. You watch it again, and you hated it. 

Sometimes life is cruel and unusual that way.

But the point is: you shouldn’t keep crap around just because you bought it.

I’m sure there’s someone out there who loves a movie that you hate. 

Go through your movies and get rid of all the ones that serve no purpose to you.

If you’re unsure about one, watch it again and see what your final verdict is.

Donate the ones you would never watch again to your local thrift store. 

If that’s not your jam, you can sell them at your garage sale or at places like Half Priced Books.

7. PANTRY 

I recently rearranged my pantry, and I’m so glad I did.

Everything has a designated spot, and it’s much easier to feel more organized this way.

I recommend going through everything you have in the pantry.

Throw out of all your expired food, and donate all the nonperishable items that you have no idea why you bought in the first place.

Plus, doing this will make it so much easier to find the ingredients that you need!

You’ll even save money by not buying duplicates you didn’t know you had!

Related post:

• How to Create a Frugal, Plant-Based Pantry

8. MEDICINE

The last thing you should be taking is expired medicine.

Go through your medicine cabinet and look at all the dates. Throw out all the ones that are expired or about to expire.

I recommend replacing the old with new, because you don’t want to be out of medicine and have to go to the store when you really need it.

No one should be driving to pick up some ibuprofen when they have a 101.9 fever.

It’s Time to Declutter

Having too much clutter can really make you feel overwhelmed and stressed.

Take some time on your day off to declutter these 8 easy items

How often do you declutter? What other items do you declutter?

Related posts:

• 4 Rookie Mistakes You’re Making as a Beginner Minimalist
• 80 Things to Get Rid of Right Now to Start Your Minimalism Journey
• 75 Ideas for a No-Spend Weekend That Don’t Totally Suck
• 32 Ways to Save Money This Week Without Sacrificing Your Happiness

The post 8 Simple Things to Declutter for a Calmer Mind appeared first on Okay Now Breathe.

Because you’re freaking awesome, and you need to take care of yourself.

You only have one body, one mind, and one spirit. You must nurture your whole being.

Protect yourself and embrace yourself from head to toe.

I know we all have those days that just flat out suck.

Here are 25 self-care ideas for depression

25 Relaxing Self-Care Ideas for Depression

1. Practice affirmations: Once you become used to them, they can become very effective.

2. Detox bath: Soak in an epsom salt bath and feel stress release from you.

3. Ask for a massage: Not much is more relaxing than a good massage.

4. Watch a Disney movie: Or listen to Disney music. Or just cry how much you love Disney.

5. Do a puzzle: Spend time doing a jigsaw puzzle, word search, crossword, or Sudoku.

6. Dance it out: Don’t pay too much attention to your moves. Just feel the music.

7. Lay in the grass: Look up at the sky. Soak in all of nature’s goodness.

8. Play a video game: Pick up a controller and take yourself to another world.

9. Spend some time alone: If you’re an introvert, you especially need alone time to recharge your batteries.

10. Drink enough water: Add lemon or berries to make detox water.

11. Oil pull: Push coconut oil between your teeth to remove toxins from your body. Weird but really effective.

12. Window shop online: Browse your favorite stores online, put items in your cart, but wait 24 hours to buy. Don’t rely on emotional spending.

13. Give yourself a facial: You’ll feel like you’re at the spa. Don’t forget the unnecessary cucumbers.

14. Snuggle your pet: Animals really help lessen depression and anxiety.

15. Write a letter: Write yourself all the things you are grateful for.

16. Turn off social media: Leave your phone alone and stay clear of the internet.

17. Get in sweatpants: Or just relax all day in your pajamas

18. Light a candle: Watch the flame flicker and breathe in the aroma

19. Drink tea: Chamomile tea is my go-to.

20. Buy yourself some flowers: They’re hella pretty, and they smell hella good.

21. Organize: Declutter your space and create mental clarity

22. Create a vision board: Cut out pictures of things you want for your future and display them on a poster board.

23. Color: Children coloring books are 100% acceptable.

24. Listen to an audio: Excel at Life has the best audios I’ve ever heard.

25. Sleep: If all else fails, go to sleep.

Self-Care for Depression

Mental health is just as important as physical health. 

You deserve to relax, rejuvenate yourself, and practice self-care/

What ways do you practice self-care for depression?

Related posts:

• 10 Ways to Treat Yourself for Absolutely No Money at All
• 6 Self-Care Tips for Introverts to Help You Recharge
• 10 Self-Care Essentials for Managing Your Anxiety
• 35 Daily Self-Love Affirmations to Release Your Inner Badass
• 30 Things I Truly, Madly, Deeply Love About Myself

Did you know that there is online therapy?

Online Therapy is a complete online therapy toolbox.

Your therapy toolbox includes:

• Live video, voice, or text chat session with your therapist
• 8 easy-to-follow sections, including 25 worksheets
• Activity plan, journal, and tests
• Yoga and meditation videos

What I love about Online Therapy is that there are several life-changing options and therapists available, and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home.

This means you never need to worry before getting help.

Get 20% off your first month with my exclusive link.

TRY ONLINE THERAPY NOW

The post 25 Relaxing Self-Care Ideas for a Bad Day appeared first on Okay Now Breathe.

And I’m guessing you’re probably a lot like me. (Well, maybe you actually hate your job, but you still get the boredoms.)

Either way, I’m sure you heard the saying before, “Work smarter, not harder”. That’s so true though.

Often times we don’t work smart, and we end up wasting time.

We each have the same amount of time in the day.

Some of us just choose to spend our time more wisely.

If you’re having a hard time getting things accomplished, try these 6 time management hacks to be more productive.

6 TIME MANAGEMENT HACKS TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE

1. FIND WHEN YOU’RE MOST PRODUCTIVE

If you’re lucky to have a flexible schedule, identify your most productive hours. 

Since I work from home, I get to design my own work schedule. I usually work both morning and night.

The morning is when I handle the business aspect. I schedule and answer emails. I schedule my posts for Pinterest on Tailwind (which is an absolute lifesaver I might add). 

I also take the time to make some money through Swagbucks, Inbox Dollars, and PaidViewpoint.

At night is when I’m usually the most productive. The night is where my creative juices are flowing the most and I get the most of my writing done.

You can also figure out where you’re most productive, like your office or your library.

This probably doesn’t include on your laptop in front of your TV (even though I’m super guilty of this).

2. DO ONE TASK AT A TIME

I’m notorious for not following through with this piece of advice. +I often have my phone out, YouTube running, and a million and one browsers open.

But this causes my brain to be overwhelmed by how many things I’m trying to accomplish at once.

In the end, I get only about 60-75% of the things I need to get done accomplished.

Instead, it’s a great idea to block your schedule apart.

The idea is that you set a timer for a specific task and designate a certain amount of time to that task.

For example, if you’re a blogger, give yourself 5 minutes to brainstorm a topic you want to blog about. Another 15 minutes to research the topic. Then give yourself 45 minutes to an hour to write the post. Then another half hour to create a graphic, and so on and so forth.

3. BATCH RELATED TASKS TOGETHER

Different tasks require different types of thinking, so it totally makes sense to group the similar tasks together and do them consecutively.

For instance, in the example I talked about earlier, I grouped all my blog post related tasks together. It’s the sequence I use, and it makes for a much more productive work day.

Other task groups include blog promotion (scheduling for Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook), emails (answering them and sending them), and writing eBooks (outline, research, and write).

Other tasks I group together are surveys (Swagbucks, Inbox Dollars, and Earning Station)

When you feel a good productive energy, continue with that flow to the next task instead of unnecessarily switching to something that requires your brain to redirect itself. 

4. COMPLETE MOST IMPORTANT TASKS FIRST

Once you’ve completed the most important task, the day has already been a success.

Everything else will basically feel like busy work.

You’ll be surprised at how relieved you feel once you get that big ole weight off your shoulder. You’ll feel proud of yourself and super productive.

If you have chronic procrastinating-itis, it should be one of your top goals to try to break the habit.

5. TAKE BREAKS

If you sit at a desk all day, make sure to get up and walk around at least once every hour.

During breaks is the time when you can check your phone, go to the bathroom, and get something to eat.

It also might be a good idea to stretch a little bit to loosen up your muscles.

Make sure you schedule these into your day, so you don’t end up taking a thousand breaks throughout your day.

6. DECLUTTER YOUR SPACE

There is a lot of stress that comes with clutter. Clutter clogs the mind.

It makes things more chaotic, especially when you can’t find something buried within all the mess. Your mind can never be fully at peace because of it.

If your space (like your desk), has unnecessary items cluttering it, I highly suggest reorganizing and getting rid of a bunch of stuff you’re not using.

You can ask yourself these 8 questions if you’re having a hard time getting rid of something.

After I declutter and organize a space, I feel so much calmer.

I have room to breathe, and my brain isn’t fogged up by all the unnecessary noise and clutter.

In turn, I’m so much more productive.

What are your favorite time management hacks?

Related posts:

• How to be Productive When You Have Depression
• How to Create a Profitable Mental Health Blog on Bluehost
• 8 Best Survey Sites to Earn an Extra $100 a Month

Did you know that there is online therapy?

Online Therapy is a complete online therapy toolbox.

Your therapy toolbox includes:

• Live video, voice, or text chat session with your therapist
• 8 easy-to-follow sections, including 25 worksheets
• Activity plan, journal, and tests
• Yoga and meditation videos

What I love about Online Therapy is that there are several life-changing options and therapists available, and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home.

This means you never need to worry before getting help.

Get 20% off your first month with my exclusive link.

TRY ONLINE THERAPY NOW

The post 6 Time Management Hacks to be More Productive appeared first on Okay Now Breathe.

I feel less stressed, it takes less time to clean, and I save more money. I’m also more productive because I have less crap to worry about.

The only problem with minimalism is most people have no clue where to begin. Here are 4 rookie mistakes you’re making as a beginner minimalist:

4 Rookie Mistakes You’re Making as a Beginner Minimalist

1. NOT DONATING ITEMS IMMEDIATELY

You went through all your things. You’ve compiled your keep, donate, and sell piles. You put your donate and sell piles into separate bags. You make promises to take the bags out before you put them in your closet. Then you close the door behind you.

Days turn into weeks as the bags remain in your closet. The next thing you know, you start to take stuff out of the bags that you were going to get rid of. And guess what? They make their way back into your house.

Sound familiar? Yeah, same here.

The goal should be to take the items out the very same day you decide to get rid of them. Otherwise, the piles inside the bags will make their way back into your possessions.

You made the decision to get rid of them. So be a tough little cookie and get rid of them like you planned.

2. GOING WINDOW SHOPPING

It’s very easy to go window shopping when you’re bored. However, window shopping often leads to needless clutter and ruining your budget.

Whether it’s online or in store, window shopping can easily cause you to bring unnecessary items into your home. You don’t need 5 pairs of the same black jeans. You don’t need another lipstick in the same shade of nude.

Unless you’ve been planning to buy the item, and it’s been on your list, you shouldn’t buy stuff simply because you’re bored. If you happen to find something that you like, wait a couple days before you buy it. Chances are, it was an impulse decision, and you’ll realize you don’t even want it as bad as you thought you did.

3. WATCHING HAUL VIDEOS

Totally guilty of this. YouTube is filled with haul videos of all types, especially makeup and clothing videos. It’s easy to marathon some videos and make a list of all the things you didn’t know you needed to buy.

This leads you to belief that consumerism equates to happiness. But this is a terrible thought to have, and this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Other things that can prompt unnecessary spending

• TV Shopping Networks: The Home Shopping Network and QVC will try to pursue you to buy all sorts of unnecessary items.
• Email Newsletters: Unsubscribe from all the email subscriptions from your favorite stores. Just because something is 15% off doesn’t mean it’s a good deal.
• Gossip Magazines: A lot of magazines focus on what’s in fashion, but fashion changes so much. And you really don’t need all those clothes that are just going to be out of style in a couple months.

If you love watching YouTube as much as I do, I recommend checking out declutter or minimalism videos. I highly suggest watching Jessica Braun’s declutter series. They always calm my anxiety down, and I’ve watched all of them countless times.

4. DECLUTTERING EVERYTHING ONCE

Minimalism is a process. It’s a lifestyle.

Most rookies make the mistake of trying to get rid of everything at once. Get rid of all your stuff and then you’ll be set for life. Newsflash: no.

It’s inevitable that new items are going to be brought into your home one way or another, whether it be you buy it or receive it as a gift. This means you’re going to have to declutter multiple times a year.

There are a couple strategies I recommend using. The KonMari method (The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up) is a great one to start with where you work on categories. For example, work on all the clothes in your entire household. Put them in a pile. Hold up each item and ask yourself, “Does this spark me joy?” It’s time-consuming, but it’s incredibly thorough.

I personally prefer to declutter one room at a time. I make three piles: Donate, Sell, and Keep. You could also make a Maybe pile. I work through the entire room by focusing on sections. After I finish one room, I pick another room the next day and so on.

Instead of rushing through everything and becoming overwhelmed, working in steps and being thorough is the best way to achieve lasting results.

Related posts:

• 80 Things to Get Rid of Right Now to Start Your Minimalism Journey
• 8 Questions to Ask Yourself When You’re Decluttering Your Home
• 4 Reasons Why Cleaning My House Helps Ease My Anxiety
• 8 Simple Things to Declutter for a Calmer Mind

Have you ever made any of these minimalism mistakes?

Did you know that there is online therapy?

Online Therapy is a complete online therapy toolbox.

Your therapy toolbox includes:

• Live video, voice, or text chat session with your therapist
• 8 easy-to-follow sections, including 25 worksheets
• Activity plan, journal, and tests
• Yoga and meditation videos

What I love about Online Therapy is that there are several life-changing options and therapists available, and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home.

This means you never need to worry before getting help.

Get 20% off your first month with my exclusive link.

TRY ONLINE THERAPY NOW

The post 4 Rookie Mistakes You’re Making as a Beginner Minimalist appeared first on Okay Now Breathe.

We tend to buy more than we need. A lot of the time, it’s because we didn’t even realize we had the same item to begin with. It was just hidden away in all our other crap.

Simplifying your life doesn’t have to be as scary as you think, and it really doesn’t have to be hard! All you have to do is to change your mindset once, and the changes in your life will naturally follow.

These 8 questions to ask yourself when you’re decluttering your home will help you dive deeper into your minimalism journey.

8 Questions to Ask Yourself When You’re Decluttering Your Home

1. WHY AM I HOLDING ON TO IT?

Are you holding on to the item because it was a gift? Because you might need it sometime in the future? Because it was super freaking expensive?

No matter the case, the money has already been spent. You can’t get that money back, no matter how hard you try to “get your money’s worth.”

Think of it this way…You can pass it to somebody else who will actually use it and love it. Your money was spent giving someone else joy. That’s a lot better than if the item was hidden away in storage or collecting dust.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME I USED IT?

If you haven’t used it in the last year, it’s probably time you got rid of it. You can bet it’s just not that important to you.

Plus, a lot of time we keep things like art supplies, tools, and gadgets because they seem useful. However, it’s important to consider how often you actually use each item.

If you haven’t even touched the item in the last year, despite your good intentions, it might be time to declutter it.

3. WOULD I BUY THIS AGAIN?

If you knew what you now know about the item, would you still buy it? If the answer is no, then get rid of it!

Does your foundation break you out? Get rid of it. Do your jeans make your butt look bad? Donate them!

There’s no point in keeping something that is shit. Remember, the money has already been spent. Keeping it in your house won’t change that.

4. DOES THIS BRING ME JOY?

Hold up every item individually. Ask yourself, “Does this bring me joy?” If it’s not adding to your life, why keep it?

There’s something very liberating about this question. For me, it helps get rid of bland or dated clothes that are crowding my closet. Plus, it’s a great way to make space for things that make you feel like the best version of yourself!

5. DO I HAVE A SIMILAR ITEM THAT SERVES THE SAME PURPOSE?

The amount of art supplies I had was so excessive before I started my minimalism journey. If I’m being totally honest, I could probably downsize it even more.

The key point here is if you have multiples of the same item, they’re just taking up added space. Be real with yourself. How many notebooks or red lipsticks do you actually need?

6. AM I WAITING TO FIX IT?

You know those projects you always say you’re going to finish? You’re going to glue the parts together. You’re going to sew the hole in your shirt right up. Yeah right.

If something has been broken for a while now, chances are you’re never going to fix it. If it’s something you really, truly want, make a plan to fix it within the next week. If it’s not fixed by then, toss it.

7. IF I HAD TO BUY IT AT FULL PRICE, WOULD I?

This question might be a hard one to answer, because who actually likes paying full price for anything?

The point is…if it’s not worth paying full price for, why are you still keeping it? All that says is the item is not that great to you. It’s not worth it to you.

Next time your out shopping, ask yourself if you would pay full price for the item you’re about to buy. If not, maybe you should reconsider before you purchase.

8. DO I HAVE SPACE FOR IT?

No matter how much you love an item, if you don’t have room for it, it’ll still feel like clutter. It’ll still make you feel overwhelmed and stressed.

So, you have two options. Get rid of it. Or get rid of several other items to make room for it.

Additional Tip

If you’re first starting off, I recommend reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. It’s based on the KonMari method for organizing, storing, and simplifying. It takes a step-by-step approach. The idea is you only have to do the work once. After that, everything else will just fall into place.

Related posts:

• 80 Things to Get Rid of Right Now to Start Your Minimalism Journey
• 4 Reasons Why Cleaning My House Helps Ease My Anxiety
• 8 Ways to Give Back to Charity at No Extra Cost to You
• 8 Simple Things to Declutter for a Calmer Mind

What questions do you ask yourself when you’re getting rid of clutter? Give us some ideas in the comments below!

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The post 8 Questions to Ask Yourself When You’re Decluttering Your Home appeared first on Okay Now Breathe.