What Your Decluttering Personality Says About You!
John’s decluttering journey didn’t just change his home; it changed his life when he found his decluttering personality traits. What your decluttering personality says about you will show you what John learned and then you may feel less anxious and more in control like John.
You will learn how to finally turn what once seemed like an impossible task into a series of manageable steps.
Ever wondered why you can’t seem to keep your home tidy no matter how hard you try?
We’ve all been there—feeling flummoxed by the clutter that just won’t disappear. The truth is, your approach to decluttering goes hand-in-hand with your personality.
Whether you’re a sentimental saver or an impulsive thrower, your ‘decluttering personality’ plays a huge role in how you manage (or mismanage) your space.
Intrigued? Good! In this post, we’ll explore what your decluttering habits reveal about you and offer insights to help you tackle the mess in a way that fits your unique style. Understanding your personality and decluttering patterns can make all the difference in transforming your space into the tidy house you have dreamed of living in.
Your Decluttering Personality
Understanding your decluttering personality is like unlocking a key to your own mind. It helps you understand why certain items hold more value for you and why you find it tough to let go of things.
Knowing your clutter personality type and decluttering style can make the entire process of organizing your space smoother and more enjoyable.
The Sentimental Keeper
Are you the kind of sentimental soul who treasures every ticket stub, birthday card, all your childhood objects, and all the things in the lives of your children? Sentimental keepers have a deep emotional connection to their belongings. They find it hard to part with items because each one tells a story or holds a cherished memory.
This emotional attachment can make decluttering feel like a heart-wrenching process.
Tips for managing sentimental items:
- Create a memory box: Keep one box, a designated box for your most sentimental items.
- Take photos: Capture images of items before letting them go to preserve the memory without the physical clutter.
- Set limits: A mom I know has identical boxes for each of her children’s things and keeps only the amount of things that fit in this container. She now has a manageable representation of her precious memories of parenthood. You will always remember the joys of their first step!
The procrastinator personality
Are you a busy procrastinator, the type of person who says, “I’ll get to that later”? Procrastinators tend to delay decisions, leading to clutter piling up over time. It’s not that you don’t want a tidy space; it’s just that other tasks always seem more urgent or appealing.
Many other excuses sound logical and are masks for procrastinating. Have you heard yourself say you can’t declutter because you don’t have time or money to discard things, or you don’t know where to start, and no one will help you?
Decluttering can be an emotional process and we know this and this is one reason why we don’t start.
Strategies to start small and build momentum:
- Set a timer: Allocate just 10-15 minutes each day to decluttering. You’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish.
- Use a checklist: Break tasks into manageable steps and check them off as you go. This can provide a sense of accomplishment and motivation.
- Start with easy wins: Tackle a small area first, like a drawer or a shelf, to build confidence and momentum. The junk drawer is a great place to start because we are usually unattached emotionally to this type of clutter.
The bargain hunter personality
Are you the type of person who can’t resist a good sale? Bargain hunters often hold onto items because they got them at a great price or believe they might ‘need them someday’.
While this frugal mindset can save money, it can also lead to a home filled with unnecessary items. And how much money do you save if you never use your bargain items?
Tips to declutter as a bargain hunter:
- Assess usefulness: If you haven’t used the item in the last year, consider letting it go.
- Limit storage space: Designate specific storage areas for your bargain finds. Once they’re full, it’s time to reassess.
- Keep an inventory: Having a list of what you own can prevent you from buying duplicates and help you see what you need.
- Before Buying: Think your purchase through before you click the ‘buy’ button.
The efficient minimalist personality
Are you someone who enjoys the process of decluttering? Efficient minimalists thrive on maintaining an organized space and often seek out ways to improve. They find joy in simplicity and believe that less is more. I can relate to this decluttering personality type!
Many people have a false perception about what minimalism is. Minimalism can be about surrounding yourself in comfort, with things you love. It is for me!
Advanced decluttering techniques for efficient minimalists:
- One-in, one-out rule: For the new things you bring into your home, let go of an existing one.
- Deep decluttering sessions: Schedule regular, thorough decluttering sessions to ensure nothing is overlooked.
- Functional storage solutions: Invest in quality storage solutions that maximize space and keep items easily accessible.
- Tech stuff: Get rid of all the old tech stuff and old devices! These things will never come back in style.
Understanding your decluttering personality can offer valuable insights into your habits and preferences. Armed with this knowledge, you can approach decluttering in a way that resonates with you, making the process more enjoyable and effective.
How Your Decluttering Personality Affects Your Life
Your decluttering personality doesn’t just influence how tidy your home is; it can also have a profound impact on different aspects of your life. From mental health to relationships, the way you handle clutter can either add to your stress or help you find peace and harmony.
Mental Health and Clutter
Did you know that the state of your living space can directly influence your mental well-being? It sure can, high stress levels send a signal to our bodies and too much of the stress hormone cortisol is produced.
Depending on your decluttering personality, clutter can play a huge role in how you feel day-to-day.
- Stress and Anxiety: For many, a messy room with too much stuff in it can lead to increased stress and anxiety levels. If you live in a disorderly environment, for instance, the emotional weight of parting with items might create a sense of overwhelm. You might find yourself feeling trapped under the physical and emotional clutter.
- The feeling of Control: On the other hand, efficient minimalists often find joy in keeping things organized. Decluttering gives them a sense of control and satisfaction, which can significantly boost their mood and reduce stress.
- Boosting Mental Clarity: A clean and organized environment can help clear your mind, improving focus and productivity. Procrastinators might struggle with this, as delayed decluttering tasks can pile up, making it harder to think clearly and stay organized.
Keeping your living spaces tidy isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about living in a healthy mental environment that supports your well-being.
Relationships and Shared Spaces
Living with others can be a joy—or a challenge—especially when your decluttering personalities clash. How you manage shared spaces can deeply affect your relationships with housemates and family members.
Practical Tips!
- Different Styles, Same Space: Imagine living with someone who’s a bargain hunter while you’re an efficient minimalist. The bargain hunter loves finding deals and keeping items “just in case,” while you prefer a clutter-free space. This mismatch of these biggest differences can lead to tension and frustration.
- Finding Common Ground: Open communication is key. Discuss your preferences and find a compromise. Maybe set aside specific areas where each person can handle clutter in their own way. For example, designate certain rooms as common spaces where both agree to keep things neat while allowing more personal spaces to reflect individual styles.
- Regular Check-ins: Have weekly or monthly meetings to discuss the state of shared spaces. This helps address issues before they become major conflicts.
- Respect Personal Spaces: Agree that each person’s private areas are off-limits for decluttering critiques.
- Collaborative Cleaning: Schedule joint decluttering sessions for shared areas to ensure everyone is on the same page.
By understanding and respecting each other’s decluttering personalities, you can create a peaceful living environment that fits everyone’s needs. Also as people, we are always growing and changing so never give up hope about your biggest differences mellowing in time.
Obstacles
The more I mature I am constantly amazed at the many insignificant things I used to flip out about.
Your decluttering personality offers insights that go beyond just organizing your home. Decluttering physical stuff is the tip of the iceberg because the things that will pop up while decluttering are present in your everyday living. Decluttering will go a lot smoother if and when these obstacles are addressed.
Procrastination, decision-making, and time management to name a few are things that come up when you are decluttering as they do when you are not decluttering. Any reason you claim has caused you to not reach your decluttering goals are all opportunities to look at and will serve you well when managed differently.
Do not let obstacles keep you from your dreams!
Success Stories and Personal Experiences
Gaining control over clutter can be a life-changing journey. Here are some inspiring success stories and personal experiences to motivate and guide you in your decluttering adventure.
Case Study: From Sentimental Keeper to Organized
Meet Sarah, a self-declared Sentimental Keeper. Sarah’s home was a treasure trove of memories—old birthday cards, her child’s baby clothes, and every small, sentimental object you could imagine. The sheer volume of these items made her space feel crowded and overwhelming.
Sarah knew she needed to find a balance between honoring her memories and creating a more organized living space. Here’s how she did it:
- Setting Clear Goals: Sarah started by deciding what she wanted her space to feel like. She envisioned a home that was cozy but also functional, with enough room to breathe and relax.
- Creating Memory Boxes: Instead of trying to keep everything, Sarah selected the most meaningful items and placed them in beautifully decorated memory boxes. This allowed her to honor her past without filling her entire home with it.
- Digital Keepsakes: For items that she couldn’t bear to part with but didn’t have space for, Sarah took digital photos. This way, she kept the memory alive without the physical clutter.
- Regular Reviews: Every few months, Sarah revisited her memory boxes to reassess if each item still held the same emotional value. Often, she found that she could let go of more and more as time went on.
For Sarah, this journey wasn’t just about cleaning up; it was about finding peace and creating a home that fostered her well-being. Her space became a sanctuary, filled only with items that truly brought her joy and comfort.
Case Study: Overwhelmed Avoider Finds Balance
Then there’s John, a classic Procrastinator. For years, John would look at the growing piles of papers, bank statements, books, and miscellaneous piles of items in his home and feel a wave of anxiety. He always planned to tackle the mess “tomorrow,” but tomorrow never came.
John’s transformation began with a decision to break the cycle. Here’s the step-by-step process he followed:
- Starting Small: John set a goal to declutter just one small area a day. He began with a single drawer, which felt manageable.
- Using a Timer: He used a 15-minute timer to make decluttering sessions feel less daunting. Knowing there was an end in sight helped him push through initial resistance.
- Focusing on Immediate Wins: John celebrated every small victory. Clearing out one drawer or one shelf of unused items gave him a sense of accomplishment and built the momentum to tackle bigger areas.
- Establishing Routines: John created a weekly routine where he dedicated an hour every Sunday to decluttering and organizing. This routine soon became a habit, making it easier to maintain a clutter-free space.
- Seeking Support: John also joined an online community of fellow declutter-ers. Sharing his progress and seeing others’ successes kept him motivated and inspired. Our group Declutterbuzz offers a private, safe, and nonjudgemental space to go for motivation and help with your decluttering questions.
Both Sarah’s and John’s stories show that embracing your decluttering personality can lead to profound, positive changes. Whether you’re emotionally attached to your items or struggle with procrastination, understanding your unique challenges is the first step to overcoming them.
Habits
Whatever decluttering personality type you are know that if you replace one not-so-good habit with a better habit you will find decluttering to be a lot easier. Many habits simply prevent the build-up of clutter. Wouldn’t it be awesome if you never had to attempt another large decluttering job? You can do this!
With a consistent new habit of decluttering based on your schedule, you will get to a clutter-free life that truly reflects who you are. Whether you’re a sentimental keeper, a procrastinator, a bargain hunter, or an efficient minimalist, scheduling short decluttering sessions regularly is a simple approach to decluttering end that can transform your space and your well-being.
By tailoring your decluttering strategies to fit your personality, you can make the process more manageable and effective. Embrace your style, take that first step, and watch as your home becomes the place you always wanted it to be!
Happy Decluttering!
Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutter-er and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. “Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.
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