Try 50 Ways to Leave Your Clutter – But Don’t Stop There

“There must be 50 ways to leave your clutter.” Isn’t that how the song goes?

Well, maybe not. But it’s true anyway. There are at least 50 ways to declutter (you can start with these 10, and here are 10 more).

Minimalism is about more than decluttering.

Maybe the real question isn’t how to declutter, but why. Unlike 25 or more years ago, when I first started getting interested in minimalism, people today know what you mean when you talk about “decluttering.” Everyone’s doing it. It’s trendy, and there are a lot of reasons for that.

Many people agree that decluttering brings peace and clarity, that living with less saves money and maybe the planet, and that streamlined spaces and electronics are just so cool-looking.

But decluttering is only the first step toward a minimalist life.

I know a lot of you come here for inspiration and ideas about decluttering, and this blog has plenty on the subject. But decluttering just to get rid of stuff is pointless, especially if you’re just going to go back out and buy new stuff. I know, because I’ve been there, decluttering over and over because I just kept consuming.

Are you ready?

Let’s say you’ve moved beyond that. You’re starting to challenge the materialistic messages of our culture:

“Less is more” isn’t just a catchy phrase to you, but a true description of a better way of life.

Minimalism makes it possible for us to free ourselves from the lies of materialism and finally do more than pay lip service to the idea that the things that make us happy are not things. Getting rid of stuff you don’t need has made room for something more important.

As you become minimalist, you take control of your life and give it direction. What that means is up to you to decide. Now that you’re not chasing the latest and greatest stuff, you have the opportunity to decide what’s really worth your time, talents, and energy.

What will you do with the new possibilities that are before you?

What about those 50 ways?

I’m not poet, but here’s my contribution (with apologies to Paul Simon). I hope you get a laugh, anyway:

There must be 50 ways to leave your clutter.

Just put it in a sack, Jack,
Load it on a van, Stan,
Don’t need all those toys, Roy,
Oh listen to me.

Give it to Goodwill, Bill,
Sell it on eBay, May,
Recycle what you can, Fran,
And get yourself free.

Put it in a box, Knox,
Take it to the car, Lamar,
Simplify your space, Grace,
Come on and listen to me.

Just keep what you need, Reid,
No need to debate the deed!
Don’t let yourself wait, Kate,
You’ll set yourself free.

© Karen Trefzger

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About the Author: Karen Trefzger is a writer, singer, teacher, wife, mother, and grandmother who has been choosing a simpler life for over 20 years. She is the author of several books about minimalism, and blogs at Maximum Gratitude Minimal Stuff.