Destuffing

Destuffing

For me, one of the best ways to feel happier with my belongings, and with what I already own, is by decluttering. In Dutch, you say to ‘unstuff.’

The feeling of “a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear” for me usually comes from the overwhelm of not being able to see the forest for the trees.

Decluttering, for me, is both a physical and a spiritual activity. It’s about making space and creating energy for the new, feeling joy for what there is, and gratitude for what’s been. Luckily, it’s something that needs to be done regularly ;) Because even though I don’t shop, stuff just seems to find its way to me and my closet.

The more I declutter, the more I feel I come closer to my core. #floaty #sorrynotsorry

I can’t buy who I am, or who I want to be; I can only be it. But of course, that still means the cleaning actually has to be done.

Over time, I’ve developed my own strategy for decluttering. It starts about a week (or even a month) before my chosen decluttering date. I recommend setting aside at least 1.5 to 2 full days for the project. Because halfway through, the overwhelm can hit hard.

I follow the Marie Kondo technique: putting everything from one category (for example, clothes) in one giant pile and then deciding what stays. Marie Kondo has a Netflix show that I start watching about a week before I begin. Seeing all that tidying and the satisfying results gives me itchy fingers to start my own, and the fact that I then “have” to wait just makes me more motivated.

My tips:

• Take everything you own from the category and put it all in one pile. Feeling overwhelmed is part of the process, and the result is fabulous.
  
  
• Make a Pinterest mood board beforehand for your style and vibe. It’s so much easier to make decisions when you have a clear vision.
  
  
• Ask somebody for help; everything is more fun when you do it together.
  

Happy destuffing & enjoy the process!