The 10 Biggest Decluttering Lies

Let’s address and dismantle the 10 biggest decluttering lies that might be holding you back, so you can move forward with confidence and clarity.
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[@lalablotz7348]

I unexpectedly retired 2 years ago due to health issues. All of a sudden I was home all the time. Our home has always been tidy with a place for everything and everything in its place but as I looked around I realized we had to many things in to many places. I started slow firstly getting rid of everything that I had used for my job. I just didn’t need it anymore. Next I tackled my clothes. Again I didn’t need about 3/4’s of it anymore. After that I did one cabinet, drawer etc at a time. Sometimes I would open a drawer to get something and just declutter it on the spot. I got rid of furniture, decor, gadgets and unidentifiable crap, you name it it went. I finally got to where there was nothing left to declutter. My husband would come home and just look around wordlessly admiring the space. Now my rule is if I don’t have an immediate use, place or purpose I am not allowed to buy it. This means no end of season or after holiday clearance sale shopping. I have found that many things change before I will be able to use it and end up not wanting it anymore so the money saved was an illusion and it was actually money wasted. Sorry for the long comment but I have nothing to declutter so I’m bored 😂

[@chantejohnson6424]

Excellent job! Maybe you can help others to declutter. It becomes much easier if someone is there for moral support, even if you have to do it virtually. 😊

[@xpsxps1339]

Oh my, lucky you, lol! On the other hand, that was plenty of days you didn't count you will have on your hand, right:-)? Anyway, I honestly envy you, because I am still in the process. I am very environmentally responsible, so it takes time/energy, and money(!) to get rid of things in the way that is least harmful to Mother Nature.

[@arleenhammersla3105]

LOVE THIS POST. The same exact thing happened to me when I retired. YAY!

[@pinkroses135]

I love that ❤👏🏻

[@sapphireblue1013]

This is a wonderful report. Don't apologize! It's encouraging and helpful. ❤

[@WordByTheRiver]

Organizing: I buy totes to organize my stuff Decluttering: I get rid of my stuff AND the totes!

[@JK-vc7ie]

Hell yes

[@OctoberSkiesBenediction]

Same!

[@LittleMopeHead]

This is it

[@jesterday2222]

hahaha so true 😄

[@simply.clutterfree]

I've decluttered over 8500 items and I can't think of anything I've regretted. But I've also been decluttering regularly since 2021 - slow and steady like a turtle is my pace I guess 🐢😂

[@simply.clutterfree]

I'm in the basement closets now 😂

[@escabasket153]

That’s amazing. It’s funny, I feel so overwhelmed trying to declutter, but if I do just little by little, it’s easier. But like you, everything I’ve declutterred I have never regretted.

[@simply.clutterfree]

@@escabasket153 I'm a working mom so I've learned to not wait for the "perfect time" to do a massive decluttering project. If I have 15-30 minutes here or there, I'll tackle some decluttering 😊

[@plantsbythemoon9049]

@@simply.clutterfree slow and steady wins the race! 😄

[@simply.clutterfree]

@@plantsbythemoon9049 yes... eventually! 😂 I will say I have been peeling the clutter back bit by bit and enjoying the refreshed space every time 😊

[@elainephleps4705]

Ive been decluttering for about 6 mths, iam disabled and struggle with moving things around, but slowly seeing things improve gives me hope!!

[@simini1837]

I have to write this down as a reminder: 1. Decluttering has no end point 2. Decluttering needs to go slow 3. Decluttering decisions need to be easy 4. You need to be a minimalist to declutter 5. You should keep everything you use 6. You should never regret letting go of something 7. The more you throw out the better 8. Decluttering is expensive 9. A clean space equals a decluttered space 10. Decluttering is an entirely physical activity Thank you so much for all the great inspiration over the years Joshua. You have really changed my mindset, my happiness and my bank account!

[@411Drums]

Thank you for this summary!!

[@Dana-mb1hd]

JOSHUA- you posted this just as I was looking around my house thinking “ my house is cluttered”. Thank you for this. Your videos are truly life-changing.♥️

[@user-xj3bd3qx4h]

Almost 7 years ago my husband died. He had been a shocking hoarder. I started with half a rubbish bin a week. Someone said, That isn't much. I pointed out it was 26 bins a year. Although it took about 2 years to declutter my house. Just in time for COVID lockdown. So then it was the garage. Thanks to lockdown it only took 2 months. Whenever anyone says, I might need it someday think about the cost of rubbish removal. Although a son took most to the tip, when he shifted interstate for work I had to pay someone for the final removal of rubbish. $3000,.😮 I have estimated there was 100 cubic metres of rubbish. The special needs son and I have an easy to clean home 🏡. The backyard is now a vegetable garden instead of looking like a tip. These days I can quickly find things. Instead of having to buy stuff because it can't be found. The sunroom can be used to dry washing. Instead of being full of stuff.

[@user-xj3bd3qx4h]

Soon I am going to an interstate property that also needs to be decluttered. Hoarding COSTS MONEY 💰 🤑

[@kristinvisser1628]

What an awesome job you've done. How inspirational! 😊

[@xpsxps1339]

That sounds like tons of work you have done, but it seems it was worthy of your effort, energy, and money. Congrats! Enjoy the results, you deserved it!!

[@daughterofmyabba]

Wow, you are a very strong person and have done an amazing job 👏

[@carriemainquist757]

Loved the messages here. Don't mistake cleanliness with decluttering.

[@xpsxps1339]

The more frequently we declutter the easier it gets. It's not necessarily about the amount we get rid of in one session but rather the frequency of the process. We build decision-making confidence and also experience not missing the decluttered stuff and enjoy tidier homes. Both are highly encouraging to continue the process to the point when we are happy with our places. No matter if minimalistic, or not.

[@heatherspencer8931]

I really appreciate this video. Thank you ❤. It really feels like decluttering has no end point but I have taken this journey in stages as I have worked on my ocd and I have come a long way over the years. I take long breaks in between sessions and as I grow i can value myself and my space more. So decluttering has felt slow but each period of decluttering my life lasts for about 4 months id say and during those months i really lean heavily on the experts like you to help me grow and get into the proper mindset. Decluttering definitely isn't easy for me as i was a hoarder. 12 years ago I had a path through several rooms of my house and it was embarrassing and everything was important. I now have space but it's still hard. I love being able to get rid of stuff i use because I have something else that does the job just as well and I learned that from you. It's created space in my drawers and closets and made cleaning just easier. I regret letting things go. It's the nature of ocd but it's okay to regret. It's just stuff. I have more time with my daughter. I don't trip over stuff. I have less to clean during a lupus flare so I'll let the regret come in like a gentle wave and wash over me and then let it go. Those emotions can be decluttered just like the items that are already gone

[@exploringplaceshistoryanda7004]

Love this video! I started my decluttering journey this year. I am retiring in less than 5 years and better to deal with it now than later. One thing I do if it is to be thrown away is I wait and put it in the trash on garbage day. No second guessing and it’s gone forever!

[@GoingGreenMom]

Decluttering is like weight loss. When you are in weight loss mode you are doing more in terms of focusing on lower calories and movement than would be sustainable long term. The weight goes away, and then you maintain. Decluttering is kind of the same way. At least for me, I go in waves of lots of decluttering, and then it slows down to maintenance mode. My mind has to shed the stuff a layer at a time or I start getting anxious. Once the new set point is established, I can declutter another wave through the house.

[@readJames48]

I DONT REGRET DECLUTTERING our 2 car garage (now we fit BOTH cars in it!) here in Ventana Lakes Joshua!....115 degree heat🥵

[@cathylombard964]

I don’t view myself as a minimalist. I am a reductionist. I just keep moving things out.

[@darlenebergantzel1534]

Josh, love your videos, but for me, decluttering doesn’t have an end because I continue to declutter on a weekly basis to ensure I don’t return to the state I was in 5 years ago. Decluttering is built into my weekly household tasks.

[@lleocttx2326]

You’re right! Declutterring DOESN‘T end because of the rhythm of our modern lives. Daily, things come into our houses, mail and boxes, falling leaves, wrappers, laundry to wash and fold, trash and books, books…I do sweeps every day to prevent clutter building up. Sweeping out the Augean Stables ends, but clutter patrols and prevention, never.

[@trumax33]

He said "Decluttering, in it's initial phase, does have an end point." What comes after that is periodic assessment....basically the maintenance.

[@ElHa701]

The best way to declutter is not to buy these things at all! The amount of useless things in many houses is incredible - just buy less. Additionally, the trend of replacing things with minimalist items is both polluting, expensive and unnecessary. Declutter responsibly by recycling, giving away, donating and selling and try to reduce the number of objects that will be sent to landfills.

[@thehomemakersblog23]

Thank you for saying that you don't have to be a minimalist to declutter. I would say my family aren't minimalists but we don't own lots of excess. However, whenever I declutter, I always struggle with thinking I have to only keep the bare minimum. Deep down I know this isn't true, but it's nice to have that thought validated.

[@shelleyt3048]

Although we didn’t see it as a decluttering solution, we moved 6 times in 15 years and each time we got rid of some of the things we had been holding onto. Some of the moves were quick and decisions to downsize some stuff were made quickly. Other moves gave us time to give the downsizing process more thought. Our last move a couple of years ago will be the last one for a long time so we made a concerted effort to question everything we brought with us for this long distance move. We are happy with the efforts we made. We have much less “stuff” and feel much more peaceful in our space. We do still look for things we no longer need/want/use and will continue to do that as we notice those extra things.

[@justadudeintheworldman.120]

Nothing like moving to make you minimize. When you have to pack everything there is always the “why do I have so much stuff” question.

[@lizziemcdougall2767]

Thanks for the great list. My journey to minimalism has involved confronting all of these misconceptions. The central truth of decluttering for me is more space, more calm, and more order. Thanks again!

[@evalindell2757]

I am a minimalist but I don’t like the minimaslism in arkitecture nor indoor dekocoration. For me that is a choise of having spaces I love with things I love and value but not having any clutter in my drawers, a very small curated wardrobe and only what I need/use in the kitchen. I am a book lever so I have lots and lots of books that I use for the astetics in the house. All of them are books I read and loved but still I give away books all the time. You said something about beeing ready. But it can be that you don’t want to just have the bare minimum of something. If it gives you real joy then I might just be another approach to how you want your house to look like!

[@pamelapeterson2987]

#1 and #2....I did just one major declutter and it happened very quickly....we were moving to a small home and about 75% of our stuff had to go in order for the new home to feel calm and spacious. Even if I was not downsizing, if I had to do it again, I would definitely do it the same way. I think people can get stuck in the decluttering phase and then they are not enjoying the most important phase, which is enjoying your minimized life.

[@user-le7ty9vu7k]

Even the staff in building noticed I'm happy since following your advice. GAY African American male living with HIV and now 68 years old! Thanks 👍

[@LittleMopeHead]

You take PRIDE in that. Great!

[@xpsxps1339]

Fantastic! Take care!

[@micey522]

What does ur preference, race, med status have to do with decluttering....nothing🙄

[@kennethbailey9853]

Absolutely the best teaching style to my ears and my chosen topic !🙂😊

[@faithboothman9496]

I have found that the more decluttering I do the easier it gets. I have even found myself thinking, what else could i declutter in areas i already decluttered. Many times i have found something to give away. There are very few things I have regretted saying goodbye to but the ones I have regretted I remind myself it was just stuff.

[@joanwatkins3022]

My clutter is PILES…. I average about 5 pieces of mail per day, usually charities I like requesting money, article ripped from magazines, …just piles of paper…..it’s overwhelming and no one has ever addressed this. I don’t know what to toss!!!!

[@simply.clutterfree]

I deal with my mail immediately at the door. Most of it is recycled or shredded.

[@escabasket153]

What worked for me was buying a shredder and immediately shredding things I don’t need.

[@simply.clutterfree]

@@escabasket153 owning a shredder makes a big difference ❤️

[@giennefarcais6834]

seems to me that you know which charities you like and can donate to any of them online, so those could be discarded right away; articles can be scanned if you need to keep them. Not sure what you have but there are really useful guides online that tell you what papers you Must keep for tax purposes and for how long; I have found 95% of the rest is shreddable, as it's all available online these days.

[@WordByTheRiver]

most of my mail *never* makes it *inside* my house. I stop at my garbage bin (the one I roll out to the curb to be collected every week). All of my junk mail goes *directly* into the garbage! In addition, all of my bills are on "auto pay" (paid online). Go paperless!

[@goodenoughgirl8102]

Just ripped through my closet again. Lol. It’s been awhile so I guess it was about time to review it. I think I’m at the stage of “maintenance.” It’s true tho. It’s not “never ending” on a large scale. I still get rid of things, but after awhile you level off and you have less and less to get rid of. “Maintenance” goes on forever but it is a bit diff than the initial “decluttering.” Yet it’s ongoing in a way tho Bcuz it just takes time to get down to all those layers of “me.” To be able to see more clearly what I’ve been blind to in the past. But no worries. It always feels good to molt off any dead stuff or extra baggage that just doesn’t need to be there anymore. More or less like the art of ending all the lies we tell ourselves. Sometimes those lies don’t go away so quickly. Lol. (Apparently my latest one was--just finally admit you can’t stand rayon and polyester…esp in the summer…so get rid of it and don’t buy any more of it lol). Adapt and change with the seasons of life.

[@TGYtco]

Love this video!! Thanks for the clarity!

[@escabasket153]

Thanks for your advice. You’ve helped me immensely throughout the years.

[@mariagiakalis4615]

What about the....."Just in case I need it" lie Joshua...? This is what I used to hear in family. Great video thank you ❤

[@MendeMaria-ej8bf]

Thank you for your inspirational thoughts. ❤

[@kateroro6024]

Praying for you to have some very loved filled days in your future

[@forestnystrom7936]

Thank you Joshua, very good advice.😀

[@joyceholland662]

Hi, Joshua, thanks for the 10 decluttering myths!! Where is the picture taken at end of your video with person standing on hill with lots of hills surrounding?

[@bobbid65]

I asked myself the same question.

[@SofiAlexV]

Thank you Joshua ❤

[@lindascull6327]

Excellent ❤Thanks!

[@andrewellis7656]

Yea Joshua - so darn right.

[@rc2257]

Regarding Lie #1 that there is no endpoint to decluttering: Is an endpoint really necessary? I don’t think so. Suppose you declutter a room, or a category (like clothing). Clearly there’s way more to do, but this is all you can do for now. No problem. What you’ve just done brings quality of life benefits immediately. In that room or category of stuff, it’ll be easier to find what you’re looking for, and you won’t waste as much emotional energy trying to decide between using 4 different items that serve essentially the same purpose. So, though an endpoint-if one exists-is far away, you’ve accomplished something important and you start enjoying the benefits of it right now, and into the future. When you later are ready to try some more decluttering, it’ll be easier, because your first experience yielded immediate benefits despite being a very finite process. Decluttering success doesn’t require endpoints. And little successes will bring psychological momentum to do more later. 😎

[@sheila_rabant]

My only regret is selling a ceramic fish tea light candle holder. Sold for $1 at our garage sale- a friend bought it. Now it would have matched perfectly in my husband's bathroom. If/when the power goes out, there are no windows for light to see. Haven't been able to find something similar within our price range.

[@GoingGreenMom]

Highly recommend keeping a solar light in a different window. Most of them have a motion sensor mode so they will come on when you walk in, turn off after you leave the room.

[@sheila_rabant]

@@GoingGreenMom oh that sounds neat.

[@GratefulDeb270]

Thank you! ❤

[@lisatheriault3237]

LOVED THIS!!!!! 💜

[@Smallworld2024]

Ty ❤

[@gjop-xm2xe]

my problem is I keep thinking ill sale stuff off , because I used a lot of my inheritance before Covid and 2009 now I’m broke 😮😢

[@kmcq692]

I am thwarted by my protracted sense of anthropomorphism. AND my constant dismay at the Third Law of Thermodynamics.

[@audreycasassa1683]

Another helpful video👍

[@akbentertainment26]

I this is vedio are truly life changing❤😊

[@doreeno3792]

Help: do i get rid of my wedding dress? Its 38 years ago. I know my 2 daughters cant wear it as is, probably wouldn't want it. What dob i do? Donate...make a craftvout of it?

[@simply.clutterfree]

Ask your daughters if they'd want it or a variation. Some newlyweds are re-purposing their mother's dress as a reception or wedding shower dress. If they aren't interested, donate or craft something ❤😊

[@escabasket153]

I’d definitely donate it if no one in your family wants it and if you don’t want it around anymore. People are always looking for thrift store wedding dresses to save money.

[@valerierogers9609]

No question about it that it needs to go. Donate is the easiest.

[@plantsbythemoon9049]

I bought my wedding dress for $50 from a second hand store. It was such a blessing considering our $1500 budget. I loved the dress and later donated it back to the store. I have zero regrets and was very blessed by a lovely lady that I will never meet.

[@simply.clutterfree]

@@plantsbythemoon9049 That's awesome! 👰

[@user-qz2cx6rd3m]

👍🏼

[@pritikhan28]

❤❤❤

[@olivia9066]

👍👍👍

[@daviddehmlow6188]

Give yourself permission to start fresh everyday...a Christian principal in this minimalist practice. A burden or bad memory, symbolized by particular items...free yourself by getting rid of it.

[@chowwong09]

❤👌🏼👍🏼

[@inGodweTrust122]

Is he trying to take my guns away? I'ma tell you right now, that ain't goin happen doc.

[@sunshine3914]

Don’t actually trust your god, now do ya?