In my many years of observing folks decluttering, decluttering distractions are often front and center ...preventing the person decluttering from getting
their project done.
These are distractions that occur, while in the process of decluttering, making the decluttering process stretch way longer than it has to...and sometimes bringing the
journey to a complete standstill.
One of the biggest decluttering distractions is when someone is trying to get rid of clutter and can't decide whether or not to keep something. So,
the person begins going through various scenarios in their head.
"What if I need it someday?"
"I wonder if my sister may want this."
"I'm not sure if I have to keep this or not...I'll do some searching online."
"It may come in handy if somebody
throws an 80s party someday."
"Maybe my kid (who is only 7) will want this when they grow up."
When this contemplation begins to happen, the decluttering process nearly always comes to a slow down at best or a standstill at worst.
When you don't know "immediately" whether or not to keep something or get rid of it, put it in a To Be Decided box and then proceed with your original decluttering project.
Once your other items are decluttered, you can come back to whatever is in that box. Yes, you'll still have to make the decision about what to do with those items, BUT at least you will have succeeded at getting rid of the rest of the stuff...and now you only have to deal with this small volume of
items.
The other decluttering distraction that happens often is the walk down memory lane distraction. Someone is attempting to get rid of clutter and finds something that reminds
them of their old school days, or aunt Sue, or a baby item they still have...even though their baby is now married with babies of his/her own.
Instead of continuing with the
decluttering project, that person is now taking a walk down memory lane. And once that person is in memory lane land, it's very challenging to complete the decluttering project he or she started.
Stay on task. Don't get sidetracked down memory lane. Put whatever it is aside and reminisce about it later when today's decluttering task is done.
