The Retirement Newsletter: Ten things I have learned about decluttering — a summary

Issue Number: 169 (22) — how’s it going?

Photo by Author — I think I may have overdone decluttering the dining room

Welcome

Welcome to issue 169 (22).

This week, I am wrapping up a series of four newsletters on decluttering with a summary of what I have learned about the process.

My previous newsletters on decluttering are:

• Decluttering in retirement

• Nine types of decluttering

• Sixty-plus tips to help you declutter — part 1 of 2

• Sixty-plus tips to help you declutter — part 2 of 2

(This week’s photo is of a sculpture in Runnymede in the UK. The piece is called The Jurors, and you can find more information here — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jurors.)

Ten things I have learned about decluttering

Here are ten things I have learned about decluttering in no particular order.

1. Decluttering is hard

Decluttering is hard. I am finding the process of decluttering difficult. It is mentally and physically challenging.

Decluttering is physically challenging, particularly if you access crawl spaces (lofts, etc.) in your house or shift large items. The process is also mentally challenging as you make numerous decisions about what stays and what goes.

There is also the added mental toll of memories. For example, I have been clearing cupboards and coming across childhood toys. They have no commercial value, but to me, they are priceless as they have a lot of associated memories. Do they stay, or do they go?

2. Decluttering takes time

I have been decluttering for over 4 1/2 months, yet I still have a long way to go. I've concluded that decluttering never stops. It is an ongoing process. However, that is not an excuse not to start.

I have found that if I do a major declutter of a room (or even just a drawer), I get a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. Plus, that room or drawer is now easier to keep clutter-free, as any new clutter is easy to spot.

3. Do, don’t read

I am a shocker for reading and not doing, and this is what I did before I started decluttering.

Part of my reading was a delaying tactic to put off starting, but part of it was looking for the magic solution to get the decluttering done.

From what I read, there was more to decluttering than I first thought. I was focused on physical decluttering and hadn’t considered electronic, financial, social and emotional decluttering. I am now tackling all forms of decluttering.

However, my reading did inform the process.

4. Make a plan

One of the key things I learned from what I read was to make a plan, have lists, and decide how to tackle the problem. Having a plan helped me.

I found that having house guests booked in helped the process. If I had guests visiting on a set date, it gave me something to aim for in decluttering key rooms.

5. Gamification

Although nothing I read used the term ’gamification’, I did turn decluttering into a game.

From the plan, I created milestones and rewards for hitting those goals. I also used timers to set decluttering periods. I had a rule about how many things I had to throw out each day. In my case, it was five. And it could be five of anything, even five bits of paper.

6. Have goals

I am a goal-oriented person. I had goals in my plans. Have I met all of them? No. Will I meet them all? Hopefully — it’s just a question of when.

7. Find an approach that works for you

Finding an approach that works for you is key.

When reading about decluttering, I was looking for a magic solution. The bad news is there isn’t one.

What worked for me was having a plan, breaking the task into small chunks, and gamification. Goals were key in this process.

Eight and nine on this list are the tough ones.

8. Be brutal

You need to be brutal. Decluttering is not for the soft-hearted.

When decluttering, you will have to decide what to keep and what to discard, and these can be tough decisions.

I have no easy answer to this one. When several personal items are connected to the same memory, I keep the one with the strongest connection and let the others go.

It is tough.

9. Be honest

Be honest with yourself. Are you progressing at the pace you want? Have you set obtainable goals? Will you wear those clothes again, or can they go to the charity shop? Will you ever be able to squeeze into those favourites again? If not, they can go.

One rule you can apply is if you haven’t worn something in the last year, needed it, used it, or looked at it, it can go.

10. Don’t give up

When you start decluttering, the task seems daunting. Huge! But keep at it, and slowly, you will get there.

I still have a long way to go with decluttering, but I am getting there. As I free up space in the house, I have more room, and I can see the benefits, which all helps my decluttering.

Good luck with your decluttering. Please let me know how it’s going in the comments below.

This week in the Retirement Hustle

This week in The Retirement Side Hustle, I look at writing video scripts — Writing a video script - the beginning.

In the video, I focus on an essential aspect of video creation for retirement side hustles: scripting, and I outline three types of scripting approaches:

• winging it

• prompts

• fully scripting

The Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter is subscription-based. However, each video comes with a free minute or so that allows you to confirm the content, and if you take out a free subscription, you get full access to one edition.

Travel — Nostalgia Corner

More stories from my time in Cambodia — this week, exploring Siem Reap:

• Cambodia — Pub Street, Siem Reap, Cambodia — Exploring Siem Reap at night. I visited Pub Street and was offered things in a Tuk-tuk that I didn’t want.

• Cambodia — Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia — This is not a real night market, and there were more offers for things I didn’t want.

• Cambodia — Art Centre Night Market, Siem Reap, Cambodia — Still not a real night market

• Cambodia — CafLatino, Pub Street, Siem Reap, Cambodia — I ate out on Pub Street. The beer was in an unusual can….

Next week, I will wrap up my tour of the Siem Reap area with a visit to a floating village, an interesting roadside snack, and a museum that left a lasting impression on me.

Next week

Next week, in issue 170 (23), I ask — Can you go on holiday (vacation) when you are retired?

Thanks

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If you want to say 'thanks' to the newsletter, why not buy me a cup of tea?

Until next time,

Nick

PS: If you would like to contribute a story, give advice, or provide anything else to the newsletter, please get in touch.