On this week’s episode along with checking + looking into the future with a segment we're calling 'Style Fortune Tellers', we dive in and start a 3 part conversation about how to declutter literally anything.

The process really isn't all that difficult. Read any book about simplicity/minimalism/organization and they'll pretty much tell you the same thing: clearing the clutter is a 3 step process:

1. Choose a space and empty everything out of it

2. Sort everything into 2 piles: keep, get rid of it

3. Put everything you're keeping back and live happily ever after

Easy right? I wish! The process to declutter is simple, but actually making it happen is anything but simple. There are roadblocks with motivation, scheduling, sentimentality, yelling children, + just wanting to have a glass of wine and watch Fixer Upper that derail great decluttering intentions every step along the way.

For the next 3 weeks, we're going to look at obstacles that get in the way of each step of the decluttering process and tips on how to overcome them. This week - picking a spot and getting started with the emptying out process.

- Obstacle 1:  I'm too busy to start!  I know that clearing the clutter will make my life better, but how am I supposed to find the time to do it!

- Tip 1 to overcome this - Get some accountability.  I know for me (Katie) that telling my One Delightful Shop Facebook community that I was going to start decluttering made it so I had to start.  After I told everyone I was going to start simplifying my stuff, people started asking me about it, and that was the motivation I needed to get started.

- Tip 2 to overcome this - Treat yo' self.  What is a reward you could give yourself for getting the simplifying process started?  A tub (see joke in podcast)?  Dinner out?  Some organizational item you've wanted for that space?

- Obstacle 2:  Where should I start?  This can be a hard one.  Should I do the whole house at once? One room at a time?  Inquiring minds want to know.

- Pro tip:  DON'T EAT THE FROG ALL AT ONCE - sorry Mark Twain.  We made the mistake of picking the most cluttered room in our house - the kitchen - and emptied it all out, only to find that a job we thought would take a morning, ended up taking a few days ... yikes.  Start small - maybe just with a drawer, or one part of a closet, or maybe time box - just do 15 minutes at a time then stop.  

Here's our challenge to you: Pick a time and pick a spot that you're going to declutter first. Then, tell a group of people that you're going to do it so that you'll be held accountable to actually starting. Last - set a reward - how can you treat yo' self once you get done?

YOU CAN DO THIS! Next week - it's Harry Potter time as we whip out our sorting hats. Well, not really. But we are going to talk about what to do next once you've emptied out a space that you're decluttering.

Links:

In our conversation about decluttering we mentioned:

- The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Kon Marie

- Better than Before - by Gretchen Rubin

- The Four Tendencies book

- The Four Tendencies quiz

What do you recommend?

- Katie - food storage from Target, these awesome baskets from Amazon

- Philip: the TV Show Portlandia (on Netflix)

For delightful clothing and accessories, head to one delightful shop.

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Photo for cover image by Kellyn Boyden

Visit our podcast site to download your free simple closet challenge that will help you on your decluttering journey!