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You are here: Home / At Home / Decluttering Your Home / The Journey from Clutter to Decluttered: 4 Important Questions to Ask Along the Way

August 9, 2017 by Angela

The Journey from Clutter to Decluttered: 4 Important Questions to Ask Along the Way

If you are in the middle of tackling the clutter in your home, it can seem like the end is way beyond your reach.

If you’re up to your elbows in “stuff” – take heart.

If you’re taking action, you’re making progress.

I was really thrilled to share my story over at Thrifty Frugal Mom. In telling my story, I realized that I’ve made a lot of progress. I don’t take enough time recognizing my progress and celebrating it. It’s too easy to just go on to the next “project.” We will never be done decluttering, but we’ve moved to maintenance mode with the clutter in our living areas.

So this is me, encouraging you to celebrate in the small or large progress you are making on YOUR decluttering journey.

Hop over to the guest post and read the four important questions to ask yourself as you’re decluttering. The 10 Step Decluttering Checklist is available to members of the Setting My Intention VIP Resource Library – sign up HERE.

From Clutter to Decluttered: 4 Important Questions to Ask Along the Way


Hey Thrifty Frugal Mamas! I’m Angela from Setting My Intention and I’m excited to share four key questions to ask yourself while decluttering your home. These are questions that I’ve asked myself repeatedly (too many times to count) since I’ve been decluttering my home with focus for the past two years.

You might be thinking, “you’ve been decluttering your home for TWO years! Are you a hoarder or something?” Nope. I’m not a hoarder. We’re a pretty normal family of five with three growing sons with rapidly changing interests and hobbies.

My Clutter Story

We’re not huge consumers who buy lots of new things. We tend more to the side of accepting items given to us by well meaning friends and family because “that could come in handy someday.” If you’re frugal, you know what I’m talking about. People are going to throw away some “perfectly good (fill in the blank)” and you take it because you don’t want to see it end up in the landfill.

For us, this became a problem when my youngest son was born. There is a six year gap between our middle son and our youngest – we thought we were done with babies – so we had given everything baby related away. Then we were blessed with our youngest son.

We accepted all the baby things that my sister was done with: swings, exersaucers, bouncy chairs, clothes, toys, books – you name it we accepted it. My thought was – if we don’t use it, we’ll pass it along to someone who could.

The only problem was…I didn’t have a system in place of regularly decluttering our home. So things that were outgrown were stuffed in closets or put in the basement and the pile just kept growing…and growing…and growing. Add on to this, school papers, mail, presents, and the normal stuff that kids and adults bring in the house on a daily basis.

This stuff usually grows slowly and it’s easy to ignore. It can sometimes be referred to as “clutter creep.”

My Decluttering Story

For many years I just ignored the overflowing closets, the growing piles, and the out of hand basement. After all, there were meals to be made, clothes to be washed, children to play with, and jobs to go to. I conveniently turned a blind eye to all “the stuff.”

I finally started dealing with the clutter when my youngest went to a full day pre-K program when he was four years old. I suddenly had several hours on the two weekdays that I had off. I had grand ideas of volunteering my time or writing more – but I found myself spending a lot of time picking up, cleaning, and working through the mountain of laundry.

Things had to change.

Read the rest HERE.

From Clutter to Decluttered: 4 Important questions to ask yourself along the way

This post will be shared at these link ups.

What’s your Clutter and Declutter Story? I’d love to hear in the comments.

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About Angela

Wife. Mom to three boys. Writer. Reader. Aspiring Minimalist. Lover of chocolate and fitness. She loves blogging about the ways she is finding success in simplifying life one step at a time. Her mantra is "Progress, not Perfection."

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Comments

  1. Melinda Mitchell says

    August 10, 2017 at 8:35 pm

    Congrats on your 2 year Decluttering anniversary, Angela!!

    • Angela says

      August 13, 2017 at 10:16 pm

      Thanks Melinda!

  2. Abby @ WinsteadWandering says

    August 14, 2017 at 9:45 am

    I love the second question! I’m so guilty of becoming blind to clutter. It’s just so much easier than doing something about it. 🙁

    • Angela says

      August 16, 2017 at 8:24 pm

      I don’t think anyone does it intentionally, but we all have clutter blindness to things in our own homes. You’re not alone Abby!

  3. Emine says

    August 14, 2017 at 12:11 pm

    Congrats.
    I’m visiting your site from the link ups (Inspire me Monday) blog.
    Hope to get to know you better.

    Have a wonderful week,

    Emine
    Netherlands

    • Angela says

      August 16, 2017 at 8:25 pm

      Thank you Emine. Looking forward to getting to know you too!

  4. Petite Words says

    August 15, 2017 at 6:05 am

    What a brilliant idea! This month I’ve felt driven to do the same, declutter and use things up before buying more! Especially with cosmetics and toiletries. Thanks for sharing this…. #DreamTeam

    • Angela says

      August 16, 2017 at 8:26 pm

      That is a great idea! Using things up before buying more is a great way to help with clutter problems

  5. Nancy Andres says

    August 15, 2017 at 8:25 am

    Already pinned to “household tips” on Pinterest. Visiting from Motivational Monday and think this post is right on. Hope you enjoy reading my post, 3 Green Summer Veggie Superstars. Perhaps it will motivate you to include more greens in your meal planning.

  6. Donna Reidland says

    August 16, 2017 at 8:23 am

    It’s encouraging to know your decluttering has been a journey. For me it’s been in “as I get motivated” waves. It’s time for the next one! LOL

    • Angela says

      August 16, 2017 at 8:28 pm

      Hi Donna! I definitely have waves of more motivation, but yes, I’ve been pretty intent on making sense of what I value and don’t. Happy decluttering!

  7. Mrs Jibril says

    August 16, 2017 at 8:43 am

    It’s a great idea to declutter regularly and get rid of all the things you no longer use. I usually give it out #dreamteam

    • Angela says

      August 16, 2017 at 8:28 pm

      Good for you Mrs. Jibril! Giving it away is the best way to get it out of the house quick!

  8. Antionette M Blake says

    August 18, 2017 at 3:48 pm

    I declutter in spurts and this weekend the spurt will be here in my office which is a mess! #ProductReviewParty

  9. Theresa says

    August 20, 2017 at 3:14 pm

    Can relate so much. We have been working on projects like decluttering and organizing. Feels so much better, although we have a few rooms to tackle still. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Sharing.

  10. emma me and b make tea says

    August 21, 2017 at 6:23 am

    hehe congrats on your declutter anni! it’s our garage that is the state right now! #KCACOLS

  11. Annette, 3 Little Buttons says

    August 21, 2017 at 4:57 pm

    We don’t have loads of stuff either, but somehow we do end up with a bit of clutter every so often. I actually find having clutter around makes me feel so unproductive. #Dreamteam

  12. Elise Cohen Ho says

    August 23, 2017 at 12:39 pm

    We have been decluttering every nook and crannie in the house. It feels great.

  13. Lou says

    August 24, 2017 at 3:21 pm

    I de-clutter when I start feeling overwhelmed with stuff. But first, I need to learn how to control my spending habits.

    #ProductReviewParty

    • Angela says

      September 18, 2017 at 11:51 am

      Ooh, I agree Lou that controlling what comes in is so important to the decluttering process.

  14. Peachy and her Mommy says

    August 30, 2017 at 9:36 am

    It’s easy to make clutter when you have a little one and it’s really hard to tackle clutter when that little one is home. We’re not sure if we’re done with babies so we’re not ready to get rid of all that baby stuff just yet. My little Peachy isn’t 2 yet and she keeps me too busy to stay organized. Every time we make a dent in the mountain of clutter, it just grows again. One day I’ll get it under control, but not today. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time

    • Angela says

      September 18, 2017 at 11:52 am

      I agree that when you have little kids there is only so much energy that you have – and it’s wisely spent feeding and loving on your baby! I only seriously started decluttering after my youngest started preschool.

  15. Kate Eccles says

    August 30, 2017 at 10:13 am

    We have so much clutter, I can’t wait to dedicate some time to go through and get rid. My wardrobe is first on the list! #KCACOLS

    • Angela says

      September 18, 2017 at 11:53 am

      Decluttering my wardrobe was so liberating! Too tight? Gone! Too loose? Gone! Has a hole? Gone! Let me know how your purge goes!

Hi Friend! I’m Angela

Welcome to my blog where I write about simplifying life in small, manageable steps and creating healthy habits. You'll find inspiration, practical tips and community here for the decluttering you're doing in your own life. (whether that's physical, mental, or emotional clutter) Thanks so much for stopping by! Read More…

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