I have spent a lot of time decluttering on my journey to minimalism. During my first big purge I got rid of a dumpster full of trash and a truck load full of donated items. I thought I was done but as time passed, I realized I still had too much stuff, so I did a second purge and then a third. One lesson I have learned through all of this is to be very choosy about what I bring into my home. Once you have your home in order and have gotten rid of the clutter the last thing you want to do is to accumulate more.

I only buy something if it is necessary and when I bring in something new, I have a rule that something else must go. The one in, one out rule.

I love the feeling of not having anything I don’t need or love. The less I own the happier I am. It is freeing not being weighed down by stuff.

The most challenging part of decluttering is deciding what to get rid of and what to keep. If you are on the path to minimalism or you just want to declutter your space here are some questions to ask yourself to help you decide.

Do I Use This?

The point of owning anything is for it to serve a purpose and be of use. If you are not using it why keep it?

When Was the Last Time I Used It?

If you haven’t used it in a year or forgot you even had it, you might consider letting it go. There will be exceptions of course, seasonal clothing, camping gear, sporting equipment, kitchen gadgets, linens, tools, books and other items that may not be used every day but still serve a purpose.

Do I Love It?

All of us have things that bring us joy, things we love. It’s ok to keep those items but carefully consider each one. Maybe this was something you loved 2 years ago but when you look at it today you might not feel the same way. Our tastes and needs change over time if something is no longer meaningful let it go.

Am I Keeping it For Sentimental Reasons?

We all have items that my not serve a purpose but are meaningful because they represent something sentimental. These can be items that we collected during an important period of our life or things that were passed down from relatives. Getting attached to these items is normal but when purging it may be time to let some of them go. If you have something that is never used, consider passing it on to a friend or family member or donating it. Remember our possessions are just things. If you want to have something to remember, take a picture of the item before you get rid of it.

Are These Duplicates?

When going through your belongings you may come across duplicate or very similar items. Let these go. How many can openers and coffee mugs do you really need?

Do You Have Maybe Items?

Do you have things you have kept because you might decide to use it someday or it is broken and you kept it with the intention of repairing it but never did? Most of the time we never get around to using or repairing these things. Let them go.

Just because we have the space doesn’t mean we need to fill it with stuff, get comfortable with empty spaces. Once you have cleared your home you may realize how little you really need.

The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things. -Elise Boulding, 1920.