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Moms Overcoming Overwhelm | Decluttering Tips, Declutter, Systems, Routines for Moms, Home Organization · Thursday · 16 min

250 // 25 Questions to Help You Live Clutter-Free

It’s the 250th episode of Moms Overcoming Overwhelm! To celebrate, I’m sharing 25 questions to ask yourself to help you live a clutter-free life! Thanks for all your support over the (almost) four years I’ve been doing this podcast. 5 Questions for Before You Buy: 1. Does this item bring freedom or burden to my life? 2. Where will it live? 3. Does it align with my values? 4. Can I borrow it instead? 5. Do I need to buy it now, or can I pause and check in later? 5 Mental Clutter Busting-Questions: 1. Is this thought serving me? 2. Is this thought absolutely true? 3. How would I feel without this thought? 4. What is a true thought that could replace this negative thought? 5. Do I have to think about this now, or can I choose another time to think about it? 10 Decluttering Mindset Questions: 1. Does this item reflect my values? 2. Do I have the capacity to manage this item in this season? 3. Does it support my current self in my current season of motherhood, or is it aspirational? (focusing on past or potential future) 4. Would I buy this again, if I didn’t own it already? 5. How would I feel if this item spontaneously combusted? 6. If I were moving, would I bubble wrap it and pack it, AND unpack it when I arrived? 7. Can I recognize this item has value AND I can let it go to experience something better? 8. If I were to pass away unexpectedly, would I want my family members to have to go through these items? 9. Am I keeping this “just in case” (which likely means never) or am I keeping it “just for when” with a specific timeframe/season in mind? 10. Am I keeping this out of guilt or obligation? Why am I feeling guilty? Is it my perception? 5 Questions to Get Started: 1. Is perfectionism causing me to put off decluttering? Am I afraid about doing it “wrong”? 2. If time is my biggest barrier, what is one activity that currently doesn’t serve me that I can replace with decluttering for 10-15 minutes? 3. When is the ideal time for me to declutter based upon my energy levels and current schedule? 4. Can I commit to a weekly donation pickup (or drop-off) at a place I feel good about, knowing that I can be more discerning later on? 5. Does the boundary I’ve selected for this category reflect the value I place on it, and my capacity to manage it? BONUS: How do I want this space to feel, function, and flow? Resources Mentioned: Check out my podcast playlists For mental clutter questions, I got several from The Work by Byron Katie. Check out my freebie 50 Questions Minimalists Ask and my other free resources. Related Episodes: Episode 85: 23 Things I Learned About Decluttering in 2023 Episode 100: We Made it to 100! Here’s the Top 10 Most Downloaded Episodes of All Time Episode 182: Declutter Your Life by Simplifying These 10 Things *** I help moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts. Contact - > info@simplebyemmy.com Podcast -> https://momsovercomingoverwhelm.podbean.com/ Learn -> https://www.simplebyemmy.com/resources Connect -> Join our free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms Instagram -> @simplebyemmy and @momsovercomingoverwhelm *** Don't Know Where to Start? *** 5 Steps to Overcome Overwhelm -> https://simplebyemmy.com/5steps/ 5 Mindset Shifts for Decluttering -> https://simplebyemmy.com/mindset/ Get podcast playlists for decluttering mindset, tactical decluttering tips, ADHD, getting kids & family on board, and more! https://www.listennotes.com/@momsovercomingoverwhelm/playlists/ Wanna work with me to kick overwhelm to the curb, mama? There are three options for you! Step 1: Join a supportive community of moms plus decluttering challenges to keep you on track at the free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms Step 2: Sign up for the weekly Decluttering Tips and Resources for Overwhelmed Moms Newsletter and see samples here: https://pages.simplebyemmy.com/profile Step 3: Get more personalized support with virtual OR in-person decluttering and organization coaching (in-person coming soon- Pittsburgh, PA)! https://www.simplebyemmy.com/workwithme

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transcript

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show notes

It’s the 250th episode of Moms Overcoming Overwhelm! To celebrate, I’m sharing 25 questions to ask yourself to help you live a clutter-free life!

Thanks for all your support over the (almost) four years I’ve been doing this podcast.

 

5 Questions for Before You Buy:

1. Does this item bring freedom or burden to my life?
2. Where will it live?
3. Does it align with my values?
4. Can I borrow it instead?
5. Do I need to buy it now, or can I pause and check in later?

5 Mental Clutter Busting-Questions:

1. Is this thought serving me?
2. Is this thought absolutely true?
3. How would I feel without this thought?
4. What is a true thought that could replace this negative thought?
5. Do I have to think about this now, or can I choose another time to think about it?

10 Decluttering Mindset Questions:

1. Does this item reflect my values?
2. Do I have the capacity to manage this item in this season?
3. Does it support my current self in my current season of motherhood, or is it aspirational? (focusing on past or potential future)
4. Would I buy this again, if I didn’t own it already?
5. How would I feel if this item spontaneously combusted?
6. If I were moving, would I bubble wrap it and pack it, AND unpack it when I arrived?
7. Can I recognize this item has value AND I can let it go to experience something better?
8. If I were to pass away unexpectedly, would I want my family members to have to go through these items?
9. Am I keeping this “just in case” (which likely means never) or am I keeping it “just for when” with a specific timeframe/season in mind?
10. Am I keeping this out of guilt or obligation? Why am I feeling guilty? Is it my perception?


5 Questions to Get Started:

1. Is perfectionism causing me to put off decluttering? Am I afraid about doing it “wrong”?
2. If time is my biggest barrier, what is one activity that currently doesn’t serve me that I can replace with decluttering for 10-15 minutes?
3. When is the ideal time for me to declutter based upon my energy levels and current schedule?
4. Can I commit to a weekly donation pickup (or drop-off) at a place I feel good about, knowing that I can be more discerning later on?
5. Does the boundary I’ve selected for this category reflect the value I place on it, and my capacity to manage it?

BONUS: How do I want this space to feel, function, and flow?

Resources Mentioned:

Check out my podcast playlists

For mental clutter questions, I got several from The Work by Byron Katie.

Check out my freebie 50 Questions Minimalists Ask and my other free resources.

 

Related Episodes:

Episode 85: 23 Things I Learned About Decluttering in 2023

Episode 100: We Made it to 100! Here’s the Top 10 Most Downloaded Episodes of All Time

Episode 182: Declutter Your Life by Simplifying These 10 Things

***

I help moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts.

Contact - > info@simplebyemmy.com 

Podcast -> https://momsovercomingoverwhelm.podbean.com/

Learn -> https://www.simplebyemmy.com/resources

Connect -> Join our free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms

Instagram -> @simplebyemmy and @momsovercomingoverwhelm

 

*** Don't Know Where to Start? ***

5 Steps to Overcome Overwhelm -> https://simplebyemmy.com/5steps/

5 Mindset Shifts for Decluttering -> https://simplebyemmy.com/mindset/
Get podcast playlists for decluttering mindset, tactical decluttering tips, ADHD, getting kids & family on board, and more! https://www.listennotes.com/@momsovercomingoverwhelm/playlists/

 

Wanna work with me to kick overwhelm to the curb, mama? There are three options for you!

Step 1: Join a supportive community of moms plus decluttering challenges to keep you on track at the free Facebook group Decluttering Tips and Support for Overwhelmed Moms

Step 2: Sign up for the weekly Decluttering Tips and Resources for Overwhelmed Moms Newsletter and see samples here: https://pages.simplebyemmy.com/profile

Step 3: Get more personalized support with virtual OR in-person decluttering and organization coaching (in-person coming soon- Pittsburgh, PA)! https://www.simplebyemmy.com/workwithme

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