There’s a huge myth about decluttering and minimalism.
Don’t panic, it’s not about scarcity, it’s all about abundance
‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.’
William Morris
If it’s not useful to you, and it’s not beautiful, what have you got it for?
That’s the question.
The problem is I’m torn. I love the reassuring heavy simplicity of brutalist architecture and very minimal surroundings.
I also like the bee-friendly chaos of an English cottage garden, heritage patchworks and ‘busyness’ so I sort of veer between the two. I get cluttered, then rebel and get rid of it all.
My up and coming ‘Midlife Isn’t A Crisis’ book has a section on decluttering and don’t worry I’m not going to be all Marie Kondo and tell you to get rid of your books because that to me is sacrilege.
The whole point of decluttering is to make space for the things that you love and referring back to that William Morris quote, it’s making space for the things that are useful and/or beautiful.
I don’t know if you’ve ever watched these TV shows where they go into hoarder’s houses and clear out. They have beautiful things hidden beneath the clutter, in drawers and put away in cupboards.
The whole point of decluttering, not just physically but mentally, is to get the things that matter out in the open so that you can see those beautiful things.
Years ago, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t put things away to keep for best.
I’d been gifted some beautiful expensive crystal glasses and they were in a cupboard, all the time. I used cheap glasses to drink from, it was ridiculous.
I was brought up in an era where grandparents had a dining room they rarely went in. It was only for Sundays. They never got the best China out, apart from on Christmas Day. It was such a waste.
I decided that if one of my glasses got broken, then it got broken. Surprise, I did break one. I was upset for about five minutes and then I was fine. I’d had enjoyment from that item. I’d used it.
There is nothing better than drinking out of lovely crystal. You’ll know yourself, drinking out of a mug or china cup, you’ll have your favourites. That’s what it’s all about.
Get rid of all the rubbish that’s lying about, all the clutter and enjoy your nice things. Things you love, that you bought for a reason or you’ve been gifted with love.
To get you started on your path to clear worktops and cupboard doors that close I’m just going to give you five quick tips.
Five actions you can take today to help shift the old energy and allow fresh air to flow.
Take one thing and let it go
Sell it, or donate or gift it. Just one thing, something that isn’t useful, isn’t beautiful. It may be valuable, that could be a ‘sell it’ but take one thing, and let it go. There…you’ve started
Stop buying things
We’ve got less materialistic during lockdown and COVID. The shops have been closed, but some people have moved their shopping habits online which in some ways is more dangerous.
It used to be the joke that you’d get on the shopping channel at 2 am when you came back from having a beer at the pub. Now we’re online 24/7 and so is online shopping. You probably don’t even have to log in, it’s on an app on your phone, so easy, too easy.
Try to have a week without buying anything, and see how you go.
Create a Pinterest board for visual inspiration
It’s easy to get a little bit fed up, or a bit stuck. Pinterest is a visual scrapbook, it’s like Instagram, very visual but on Pinterest, you can create your own scrapbook boards. I’ve got various ones you can pin on too. I’ve got one for the [Midlife Isn’t A Crisis] Facebook Group and Podcast, some are secret, one for each one of the books that I’m writing.
I love the arts, I love looking at art, it refreshes me and energises me. I have visuals that I enjoy.
You could create a minimalist board and collect images that inspire you. Maybe an interior of a bedroom, a garden, holiday trips. Pin things that make you want to get rid of clutter and concentrate on what’s important in life.
Tell friends and family that you don’t want them to buy you physical gifts
They could give you a voucher for a local restaurant or takeaway so you can have a meal together (or apart depending on what down on how we go with lockdown) They could buy experiences, or donate to one of your chosen charities.
Stop getting clutter given to you because it’s even more difficult to get rid of. You’ve got the emotional pressure of feeling guilty for getting rid of something somebody else has paid their hard-earned money for.
Why not have an agreement with all your friends that you’re just not going to buy each other gifts? Instead, make them something, bake them a cake. Convince your friends and your family that you don’t want more stuff.
Make some mental space
Take five minutes. I would like you to stop at some point during the day, for five minutes, and do nothing. Just sit. Whether you call it meditation, just sitting in the window looking out, if you’re able to get out into green space sit there or in a quiet room with your eyes closed. Whatever it may be, try to spend five minutes.
It can be difficult, some people don’t like being in their own head and I appreciate that but just give it a go, see if you can do five minutes.
Making space, decluttering, whatever you call it is about having the right stuff in your life.
It’s about abundance.
Focusing on what’s important.
Come back to the touchstone of what’s useful and what’s beautiful.
Don’t come at it from ‘I’m getting rid of everything’ instead know ‘I’m making space for the things that I love, that I want, that I need in my life.’
It might be writing, making time to write a book, you know that’s something I’m passionate about.
Learn from the professionals.
Museums and galleries (I miss them so much) often create an open space with just one item in it. It focuses your attention. An empty room with one item in it, and that item can be tiny, but it focuses your 100% attention. Whereas if you go somewhere that’s busy, cathedrals and ancient buildings that are really packed with ‘stuff’ you miss some of the quality because there’s just too much to take in.
Love plants or your garden? Have cut flowers and want them to show off?
If you’ve got a nice clean space with a small posey vase on it, you can focus, and appreciate that one thing.
Remember minimalism is about abundance, not scarcity.
Don’t be frightened of it.
It’s a journey
I’m trying to live by this. It’s difficult because I love my books, and I have a lot of things. I’m a grandparent. I’ve got things that my daughter made for me when she was at school, that my grandchildren have given me. They have an emotional attachment so I am slowly letting other things go and making sure that I focus on the right things.
If you are a creative mid-lifer or budding writer but feel stuck find out more about my coaching