Decluttering My Life: Why I Finally Decided to Tackle That Pile of “Stuff”

Let’s talk about clutter. I’m not just talking about the kind of clutter that makes your house look like a “before” shot on a home makeover show (though that’s definitely part of it). I’m talking about the kind of clutter that sneaks up on you—the pile of magazines you swear you’ll read one day, the drawer full of random cords, and the closet that’s somehow bursting at the seams even though you have “nothing to wear.”

I’ve been avoiding tackling my clutter for a while now. Every time I thought about cleaning out that drawer or organizing my closet, I’d find a reason to put it off. “I’ll do it tomorrow,” I’d tell myself, knowing full well that “tomorrow” was code for “probably never.” But recently, I decided enough was enough. It was time to reclaim my space—and my sanity.

So, I rolled up my sleeves, put on some music, and got to work. The first few minutes were rough. I mean, where do you even start when you’ve got so much stuff? But once I got going, it was kind of therapeutic. I made three piles: keep, donate, and trash. And let me tell you, that trash pile grew faster than I expected. It turns out I was holding onto a lot of things I didn’t need, use, or even like.

As I decluttered, I started to feel lighter. It was like I was clearing out not just my physical space, but also my mental space. I realized that all that “stuff” was weighing me down more than I knew. And when I finally finished, my home felt more open, more peaceful, and more me.

Now, I’m not going to pretend that my house is suddenly minimalist chic—I still have my fair share of knick-knacks and cozy clutter. But I’m more intentional about what I keep around. And the best part? I can actually find things when I need them.

So, if you’ve been avoiding your own pile of “stuff,” I say go for it. You don’t have to tackle it all at once—start small, and see how it feels. Who knows? You might just find that decluttering your space declutters your mind, too. And if nothing else, at least you’ll finally be able to close that junk drawer without using your entire body weight.