I haven't been a fan of physical clutter even before embracing the minimalist lifestyle. It has never been something I can cope with at any level because I easily get stressed and overwhelmed in a cluttered environment. I find it difficult to be productive in such an environment, and it just makes me sick.
Until now, while writing this post, I didn't even realize that my introverted lifestyle started just because of my struggles with clutter, whether indoor or outdoor. It's easy to set things right in your space once it's getting cluttered, but when the space belongs to someone else, there is very little you can do.
I always turned down holiday invites from our family members and friends as a kid, but my siblings happily went for holidays. A lot of people didn't like me for that and even called me names like Mummy's pet, thinking I always wanted to be around my mom; little did they know that I had a genuine reason for always staying back in a place I had control over.
Growing up, my mom ensured everyone had a chore at home, and mine was cleaning the house. It was and is still my favorite chore because it allows me to deal with physical clutter easily. I get rid of things after asking Mom, and she never questions me since she knows that once I say an object should be disposed of, it definitely serves no purpose in the house.
Decluttering was fun at home, and the joy that comes with it is immeasurable, but how do I tell someone I went to visit temporarily that they need to throw out stuff just because having their space cluttered makes me uncomfortable?
It's been over two decades, and I am still very keen on my decluttering habit. It would be fair to say that it has even improved a lot since I learned about minimalism.
In response to the kiss prompt, my strategies for reducing clutter, both physical and non-physical are quite simple but require discipline with a touch of commitment.
My number one strategy is never to purchase something that's of no real importance to me, and the good thing about this strategy is that not purchasing irrelevancies would save you not just money but also the time and effort you would invest in doing a thorough decluttering.
I understand you still need to dispose of old stuff that is of no use, but that wouldn't take your time like always trying to trim down your wardrobe, household items, and others just because you have acquired so many wants, not needs.
About a month ago, when I was shopping for my new apartment, we had to prepare a list because it's important that I and my woman are on the same page with our purchases. We were able to question each other's suggestions the best way we could, and it really helped us cancel so many things on the list because we might end up giving these things out when we don't use them.
When going out to buy something, whether foodstuff, household items, or anything, I work strictly with my list to avoid doing purchases that would end up as clutter. With this strategy, I don't have to worry much about clutter because it's a rare case within my space, especially now that it's just me and my woman.
Like I mentioned earlier, regularly tidying up the house helps me identify and get rid of clutter easily. Despite the fact that my apartment is in a good state, I still make sure to do my thing every morning since I spend a lot of time at home daily.
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It's somehow a form of exercise, and I can confidently say it helps me set up my space for the day because certainly, with the slightest of clutter gone, I can concentrate and be productive on my task within the house for that day.
With the regular tidying, everything in the house, from the kitchen to the bedroom, stays organized.
Recycling is one sweet way to reduce clutter, and when an item can't be recycled by me, I just give it out to someone who still needs it. I have done a lot of recycling projects I shared on the Hive Blockchain, and it gives me so much joy when my recycled piece meets the need of another person.
I remember making a pencil organizer for a little girl from plastic I wanted to dispose of. She had one made from cardboard, which her little brother destroyed, so I thought since the plastic can't be torn apart like paper, it would serve as a better pencil organizer.
I made a beautiful one, and she loved it. Aside from that recycling that requires processing, there are those that don't need processing. I just use the item for something else instead of just creating more waste with them.
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Recycled plastics for storage in the kitchen
To reduce non-physical clutter, I have come up with a habit of tidying up from my mind to even my devices daily. Cutting down on that clutter daily helps prevent build-ups that I might find overwhelming in the long run.
I have grown to the point where I can let go of nonphysical things as long as they are of no importance to me. Speak of negative feelings, emotional baggage, and others; I ditch them immediately when I discover them.
Getting rid of clutters makes life a lot easier for me daily and it definitely feels great. Maximum productivity, less stress, clear mind are just few out of the things I benefit from taking decluttering seriously.
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