This year will be my year of organization.
I feel like I say that every year, but somehow it never gets finished and we end up with so much clutter every-fucking-where (too early in the post to swear??). I don’t know if I have ADHD, but the clutter literally messes with my head; I can’t think, it makes me so anxious, and that leads me to completely ignore the problem.
So we’re starting this year by decluttering as sustainably as possible. As we tackle the clutter that has built up in our home, we’re confronted with the question of what to do with items we no longer need or want. Decluttering becomes not just a task for improving our homes, and our living space, but also a chance to address our environmental impact. Sustainable decluttering presents a method that aligns our desire for a tidy, minimalist space with eco-friendly practices. It’s about making thoughtful decisions on how to reduce our possessions without adding unnecessarily to landfills.
In our journey towards a more sustainable lifestyle, we are definitely becoming more minimalistic in some ways…not all of them though. But we recognize that every item we choose to keep or remove from our homes can contribute to a larger global impact. Sustainable decluttering has been helping us find ways to repurpose, donate, or recycle our belongings thoughtfully. By doing so, we’re not just clearing space in our home (and making it possible to workout again), but are also protecting our planet.
Table of Contents
The Principles of Sustainable Decluttering
The Boyfriend is probably really tired of my NEED to follow sustainable decluttering practices. But I just can’t throw out perfectly good things that can help someone or we can possibly use in the future instead of getting rid of the item now. I know, he borders on “throw everything out” and I border on “keep everything for my future projects.” Somehow we’ve been meeting in the middle and we’ve narrowed our focus on reducing clutter thoughtfully, being mindful consumers to prevent future excess, and eco-friendly disposal methods that benefit our environment.
Understanding Clutter
Clutter isn’t just a mess; it’s a collection of items that we’ve accumulated over time and no longer serve our needs. In some cases I’ve received hand-me-downs as my friends and family have moved cross-country, or when loved ones have died and we’ve cleaned out their homes. Hand-me-downs beat buying new items, but then we end up with A LOT of items that we don’t have time to deal with right now, so we want to declutter the mess. To reduce this clutter sustainably, we first categorize items and decide what we no longer want and then sort into items that can be upcycled, donated, or recycled. By doing so, we not only free up space (to workout again) but also reduce waste. Our motto this year is simple: if it doesn’t add value to our lives, it’s time for it to find a new lease on life elsewhere.
Mindful Consumption
Adopting mindful consumption practices means we’re changing our buying habits to prevent future clutter and reduce our impact on the planet. This involves choosing items that are both necessary and sustainable. When we do make purchases, we favor quality over quantity, and look for goods that have a minimal environmental impact.
I like to research prior to any/all purchases (especially big ones) to make sure we’re buying for longevity (the Reddit Buy It For Life community has been super helpful for some of our purchases). Strategies such as embracing second-hand items in good condition and supporting companies with eco-friendly practices are part of our commitment here. Sites like Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist have helped us save extra cash, and give a second life to items instead of throwing them out, reducing the demand for new products to be created.
Eco-Friendly Disposal Methods
Disposal of items you want to get rid of is just as important as acquisition through sustainably shopping. We strive for eco-friendly disposal methods like recycling and upcycling. When items can no longer be used, we turn to recycling to ensure materials are reprocessed and reused instead of throwing them away. And for items that are still functional, we consider upcycling to give them a new lease of life, or donating them (to a thrift store or other ways to give back to the community) to extend their usefulness to others. It’s all about ensuring that nothing goes to waste unnecessarily.
As you declutter your home, consider having a garage sale to earn some extra cash, or donating to people you know in your community.
Steps to Declutter Responsibly
Before we dive into the specifics of declutter more responsibly, it’s crucial to understand its core elements. We’ve put a sorting system in place (no matter how dysfunctional it is) and have started with evaluating what we have, sorting items thoughtfully, and disposing of them with care to ensure a sustainable and fulfilling space that respects the environment, and is good for both your mental and physical health.
Assessment of Items
To begin, look around at items you no longer want or need. These are the easy ones, you already know these are items you don’t want and these can be moved straight into categorization. It’s those items that you MIGHT need, or maybe will use in the future; those items that haven’t been touched in awhile, but you might fit into one day, or you can envision multiple ways you can make it into a project. These items you must assess with a critical eye.
Ask yourself: What do we really use? What brings us joy? By identifying items that no longer serve a purpose or resonate with our current lifestyle, we take the first critical step as part of sustainable decluttering.
Decluttering Categories
Once we’ve sorted through our belongings, we categorize them. It’s helpful to separate items into clear groups. We normally sort our items into a KEEP, DONATE, or TRASH pile in the beginning. And our KEEP pile includes a LOT of “maybe” items that need to be organized into a way my brain compute, such as storage containers. This way once they are organized, and lurking in my brain, they will hopefully be used in an eco-friendly way within the next six-months to a year.
Other categories to help you declutter might be sorting into clothes, electronics, furniture, and household items. This can simplify the process and provides you additional clarity on what to repurpose, donate, or sell.
Donate to Dispose of Items Responsibly
When the time comes to part with our belongings, choose sustainable methods. In our effort to live more consciously, it’s not just about throwing things away. We gift, donate, sell, or repurpose everything we can. And for everything we can’t sell or donate, we recycle what we can. Items that are still in good shape are best suited to donate or sell in order to give them second life. Some items can even be repurposed into something new and useful.
Just a word on repurposing…I’m the biggest offender of this. I ALWAYS have so many ideas for everything from old t-shirts to used soda cans (damn it, Pinterest). If you don’t have the time or energy to make that project a reality in the next six-months or so, declutter it; there is no reason to keep an item for several years for a potential project. It all keeps adding up, ruining your sense of calm and order.
Maintaining a Decluttered Space
The final step in decluttering your home is creating habits that help maintain a decluttered and organized space. When everything has a home you know exactly where to find it when you need it; it’s one of our eco-friendly goals of the new year! Creating these habits means being mindful of future purchases and resisting the clutter creep. We’ve adopted a minimalist mentality, ensuring we only buy necessities that we have SPACE for. And if we need to bring something else in, we try to think about stuff we no longer need to donate as we add something new.
Reducing Environmental Impact
When we talk about sustainable decluttering, we’re focusing on creating a positive impact on the environment, (or reducing our overall impact of our actions….tom-A-to, tom-AH-to). It’s about ensuring our planet benefits when we minimize waste by avoiding landfills. By choosing to recycle, upcycle, donate, or sell unwanted items, we contribute positively to environmental conservation.
Avoiding the Landfill
To help protect our environment, we don’t want our things to end up in a landfill. These waste management areas contribute to pollution and are harmful to the planet; they can become literal trash-mountains. Before throwing something away, we should ask ourselves if it can be repaired, repurposed, or if someone else could use it. This brings us back to the zero-waste principles of Reuse, Repair, Repurpose, Recycle.
Sustainable Donation and Selling Options
Donating items to local charities is a sustainable option as it extends the life of our belongings and supports a good cause. Selling unwanted items, through platforms like online marketplaces, also prevents them from ending up in landfills and can find them a new home. It’s a win-win for us and the environment.
- Clothing: Donate to local shelters or sell online.
- Furniture: Offer to community centers or list on local sale groups.
- Electronics: Consider selling or donating to schools or non-profits in need.
Recycle, Repurpose, or Upcycle your Clutter
Recycling is a powerful way to mitigate our environmental impact. Many of the items you no longer need — such as paper, glass, metals, and certain plastics — can be recycled. Upcycling takes this a step further, transforming unwanted items into new products with a different use or higher quality.
- Metals: Can often be recycled multiple times without losing quality.
- Glass: Infinitely recyclable for new bottles or other glass products.
- Plastics: Check for recycling codes at your local recycling center to determine the appropriate recycling method.
- Electronics: Take to specialized recycling facilities, or in some cases you can send back to the manufacturer.
Ginny + an Airplane just destroyed my personal Apple Laptop. We tried to fix it, but the teeniest bit of water got all over the motherboard. But Apple offered us free recycling with our purchase of a new one, so hopefully they can use some of the pieces in the laptop (just probably not the motherboard)..and I’ll be WAAAAY more careful in the future.
Sustainable Ways to Declutter
Before we dive into innovative ways to declutter, let us remember that the process doesn’t have to be a chore. Decluttering isn’t supposed to be stressful, it’s supposed to be freeing, both mentally and physically. With a dash of creativity, the convenience of digital platforms, and the strength of community engagement, we can transform decluttering into a rewarding and eco-friendly activity.
Reuse and Upcycle with Creativity
Upcycling is all about giving old items new life. We can take an outdated furniture and revitalize it with a bit of paint and new hardware, creating a statement furniture piece. Or we can transform worn-out jeans into a chic denim tote or patchwork quilt, finding new life in what we might otherwise throw away.
Even if you don’t have the time for these potential projects, someone else might. I know it’s just a broken, useless dresser to you..but someone can use it or pretty it up and sell it in their refurbished shop. You know the saying: one man’s trash is another man’s treasure..all it takes is creativity and time.
Digital Marketplaces
Online marketplaces like eBay and Facebook Marketplace have revolutionized the way we give items a second chance. It’s incredibly satisfying to find someone who can use what we no longer need. Specialty platforms like Vinted or Depop are perfect for fashion enthusiasts looking to rehome their once-loved styles. We’re just a post and a click away from sustainable selling.
Community Engagement
Our communities are a goldmine of resources for sustainable decluttering. Joining local Buy Nothing groups fosters a sense of sharing and caring within our neighborhoods. We can gift items that are still in good shape to someone nearby who needs them more. It’s all about building connections and supporting each other while minimizing waste.
Emotional Aspects of Becoming Clutter-Free
When we begin the journey toward a less cluttered, more minimalist lifestyle, we’re embarking on a path filled not only with physical changes but emotional transformations as well. It’s an opportunity for us to confront emotions like guilt and sentiment, embrace the psychological relief that comes with decluttering, and enjoy the lifestyle benefits inherent to minimalism.
Dealing with Guilt and Sentiment
Guilt can be a challenging emotion when it comes to letting go of our possessions, especially those with sentimental value. We might feel a sense of loss or disloyalty when parting with items that hold memories. However, reframing our perspective to focus on the joy those items have brought us and can bring others is crucial. It’s helpful to remember:
- Memories: They are within us, not solely in the physical items.
- Gratitude: Acknowledging the item’s role in our lives allows us to let go with grace.
I’ve always been big on making memories and not super big into having “things,” but a couple years ago I did realize it is incredibly freaking easy to hold on to items JUST because someone gifted them to me. I had to learn a valuable lesson: if they are just sitting in a drawer or closet somewhere, they aren’t able to serve their purpose either.
The Psychological Relief of Decluttering
A tidy home often translates to a clear mind. And I want that shit SOOOO badly LOL. Reducing anxiety and stress is perhaps one of the main emotional benefits of decluttering. Here’s what decluttering might do for us:
- Focus and Clarity: Less clutter can lead to better concentration and a heightened ability to process information.
- Reduced Anxiety: A decluttered space can help soothe anxious feelings, allowing us to feel more in control and less overwhelmed.
Lifestyle Benefits of Minimalism
Embracing minimalism doesn’t just mean having fewer things; it signifies a shift toward valuing experiences over possessions. This mindset can spark joy and foster a sense of freedom. Here are some aspects of our lives that might improve:
- Time and Freedom: We often spend less time cleaning and organizing, which gifts us more moments to enjoy life. Cuddles on the couch, date night, more mental space to be engaged in your family’s lives.
- Personal Growth: A minimalist approach often encourages us to invest in relationships and activities that truly bring us happiness.
Using Sustainable Decluttering to Live More Sustainably
Sustainable decluttering offers a method to align the desire for a tidy, minimalist space with eco-friendly practices. By making thoughtful decisions on reducing possessions without adding unnecessarily to landfills, we, as individuals, can help the planet. This approach involves categorizing items and deciding what to keep, donate, or recycle, while also adopting mindful consumption practices to prevent future clutter and reduce our overall environmental impact. Additionally, eco-friendly disposal methods, such as recycling and upcycling, help ensure that items are repurposed or disposed of responsibly. By creating habits to maintain a decluttered space and reducing environmental impact, individuals can contribute positively to environmental conservation. Embracing minimalism also brings lifestyle benefits, such as reduced anxiety and stress, and a heightened ability to focus, leading to more time for meaningful experiences and personal growth.
I promise, this will be the year I achieve organization and I know where everything is, all the time. It might take me all year, but hey…that’s why they made it 365 days, right?? What is this your year of? Health? Wealth? Organization? Happiness? Love? I’d love to know. Shoot me an email, or send me a message on Instagram. It’s called productive procrastination, and the Boyfriend thanks you for it.
