Survey #257 results
| Name (click to view full survey response and comments) | How have your ideas, attitudes, and behaviors around clutter changed over the course of your adult life? Do you have a higher or lower threshold for what counts as “clutter”? | Do you find it easier or harder to declutter and organize as time goes by? Are there categories of stuff that get easier to manage? Are there categories that get harder to manage? | Think about the person in your life who’s had the most impact on your decluttering and organizing. How have their attitudes and behaviors around clutter or the way their stuff affects you changed over time? | If you could ask for one small change in someone else’s behavior that would improve the state of your home, what would it be? |
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| Marnie | I’m less likely to tolerate it now, the older I get the more pretty stuff I want so I know I have to get rid of the not so pretty stuff. I’m more likely now to actually see unused items as clutter, before I always worried about needing it someday. | easier to declutter but harder to organize what’s left. I’m not very good at decorating even though I love pretty things but have a hard time making them work in my spaces. Even organizing utilitarian items is a challenge | Husband and mother both want to keep everything, though they are doing better. But still very challenging, the garage is so bad hubs will simply go buy another item rather than looking for the one he knows he has. Mom will not throw anything away and routinely keeps tiny bits of leftover food (especially canned foods) even when it’s not enough to make another meal. Fridge is always crammed | My husband to help declutter the garage and haul off the stuff that needs to go to the dump |
| Cee | As I mature in life things are of less importance. I'm now attempting to remove anything clogging my space | Sentimental clutter (photos) harder. New paper coming in easier to manage. Old paper harder due to sorting to avoid tossing important items or even money that may have been lost in a pile. | Having to clear my parents and grandparents clutter have made me determined not to leave a message for my children and grandchildren. Been successful with some areas in home. My husband See's now and that has slowed the incoming of stuff. We agree to get out unnecessary stuff to regain control of our space to keep managing home easier | Stop shopping just because and manage stuff as you go , don't allow stuff to push you out of your space and spill over in to shared space |
| Gabriella | I grew up in a maximalist household, was given a lot of things and was expected to keep and preserve them. That probably accounts for my difficulty in letting go. At the same, it made me feel overwhelmed by all the stuff at an early age. As a young adult I lived quite minimally, however, and enjoyed doing so. This changed toward my end 30s, mainly for two reasons: 1. My tendecy to accumulate an ecxessive number of books and a fair amount of clothes. 2. When I was 38 my, mother and grandmother passed away within the same year, leaving me to clear their apartment that was filled to the brim, within short notice. Grieving, I managed to clear only about 80%. At present I am still struggling with the last 5 - 10%. On the other hand, I've always felt satisfied and relieved after decluttering and getting things out of the house. In the past years I've made substantial progress in reducing my inventory. Newly acqired items and presents that don't work for me, I get rid of quickly. Even letting go of sentimental stuff has become less daunting. I now take painstaking care to minimize the inflow. It may sound weird, but I've begun to gain as much pleasure and satisfaction from NOT acquiring new items (and making a game of it) as many other people get from shopping. | Both. It has become easier to declutter in the sense of my having developed decluttering muscle (and my home organization works fabulously). Since I have reduced my inventory so much - though by far not enough - now the items that are left are increasingly difficult to let go of. Pertinent categories: books, sentimental items, clothes | My partner (to me, the most wonderful man in the world, for the past 35 years!) Is not strictly speaking disorganized but is able turn any space into clutter paradise in no time - and hates to clean up. He used to own very little stuff, but in the past years, has accumulated a plethora of clothes (he wears 5% of his clothes 95 % of the time), kitchen iitems and sports equipment. The problem is, that he keeps everything, even broken items, that pile up in corners of the patio of our home in Morocco (in our Berlin home I don't let him do that). He wears 5% of his clothes 95% of the time. Not exaggerating! When I complain about the clutter he tells me with a sweet, irresistible grin "The clutter is bothering you, not me". | It would help immensely if my adorable man got rid of all of his belongings that he doesn't use, never will use or does'nt care for anyway, i. e. things that are just sitting around, clogging up our space. |
| Pat | A tough question, it requires thinking and reflecting! When I was younger, things would accumulate and I would just find a space to put them in. If not used frequently, they were "stored" in the garage. That was a huge mistake. Fast forward to today, the garage is packed with stuff that we do not use or need! No cars will fit in any more, like they did in years past. Bedrooms that we do not use are loaded with layers of old items that we have dumped there. Lots of clothing, shoes, purses, musical instruments, sound equipment, art supplies, CDs and DVDs, bedding, etc. Some sentimental items, like photo books, that I do want to keep. It all needs attention to decide what should be maintained, and the majority should be "disposed of". But how and to where? It all falls to me, and I do not have the time or inclination to devote to doing these tasks. | I find it much harder to declutter and organize as time goes by! Only one category has gotten easier: cosmetics and toiletries. Many have expired and I do not use them anymore. Categories that have gotten harder are numerous: clothing, purses, shoes, photo collections, CDs, old bedding, tableclothes, and art supplies and frames. | The person whose impact is the highest is my husband. He tends to want to keep old magazines, computers, accessories (like hard drives, mice, etc.), and software! There are stacks of obsolete software that could never be used and books about old operating systems, and user manuals for software that is not installed on any current computers. I keep getting told that it is MY "stuff" that is taking up all the space and causing the piles of mess everywhere. Over the course of the relationship, the thing that has changed is that his stuff might be needed, while mine is too much quantity that takes up too much space and is making the bigger "mess". | 1. Get rid of old paper, like old bills that have been paid. 2. Sell or donate old musical instruments that are not played or needed. 3. Provide some assistance to me with household items that we do not use to decide which things could be eliminated and what to do with them (where they could be donated and assist me to take them there). |
| Jean | I pretend that I am more tolerant of clutter…but I’m not. | I create easier routines for myself, keeping a loose standard of control! Categories from the past leave more rapidly. Harder to manage any desire to deep clean, not a priority any more. | My husband’s clutter is still a problem for me, but I realize it doesn’t bother him at all. It’s depressing to live with his mess, I hate it. I close the door but it obviously bothers me and inviting people over is not happening., | Some sign of effort on his part to let go of paper would be a welcome start! |
| Anonymous user | I have a higher threshold for living in a crowded space because the clutter crept in gradually over the years, giving me a higher tolerance for clutter. The clutter feels comfortable and familiar, although, logically, I understand that I will be more comfortable, safer, and get more accomplished without so much stuff. | It is harder to declutter now. Previously, I could choose what I needed and move on to my next adventure. Now, with no future adventures in sight, I want to cling to items which take me back to happier times. | My husband would find free stuff and bring it home. This was fun, so I didn't discourage him, even joined in, being from a waste-not-want-not family. We shopped yard sales and gave yard sales in the early part of our relationship. Our entire home was furnished with stuff that was free or found at yard sales. Decades later, we reached the point where he said we have a "volume problem." We began letting some things go, but he died not long after that. When he died, I discovered that he had filled two huge lockers. The garage was already full. I avoid acquiring stuff now and regularly give things to charity rather than trying to sell them. | The neighbor, who moved into our no-smoking building after my husband died, would quit smoking and using the heavy chemicals that keep me too sick to function (and killed one of my pets). |
| Peggy | I'm constantly scanning my environment for things that are out of place or piling up (because... they do). This does not mean that I get things taken care of right away though. | I find it's easier in general to declutter as time goes by. I still struggle some with sentimental things. It is easier getting to less sentimental clutter and going through it. | When my daughter lived with me, her clutter took over my house. She has been out on her own for awhile and things are now much better in my home. Her home is quite cluttered at times and she often loses things. I have helped her declutter whenever she has permitted it. She is getting better at donating things she can't use, so I'm glad for that. I want her to have a less hectic space so her life will be easier. | My husband is mostly okay with decluttering, but his tools and cooking utensils are more than I feel we need. |
| Cynthia | Digital photos are difficult to manage. I don’t enjoy computer files because I can’t see where they go. Books are easier to manage because so many things are available online and through apps. | I would say that my mother had the biggest influence on my attitude towards clutter. First, there were sentimental attachments that she assigned to most anything that came into the house. I also felt like I should have a story about every item and although my room filled up with things, I couldn’t get rid of them because she didn’t want me to as a child. Then when she passed away, she had accumulated many things that she never wanted to get rid of. I saw how it made the house not as friendly and easy to keep clean. | For my husband to deal with the paper as it comes in. Pay the bill…file the documents….as soon as he reads it act on it. | |
| Lela | The older I get, the less I can tolerate clutter. Every item around me is something I must protect and maintain, and I’m tired of repairing things. With less stuff, it’s so much easier to keep everything clean and fresh and in working order. | It’s easier in the sense that I’m not as attached to material items as I used to be. It’s harder in the sense that our house is pretty streamlined & I can’t find much anymore that we don’t use or need. I keep trying to declutter, though. The category of mail and paperwork is easy now because I do a lot online and I contact every company who sends me junk mail and tell them to take me off their mailing list. | As my daughter has grown from a child to a young adult, she has an easier time decluttering her personal items. She still has stuff at my house, though! | The only real obstacle left for me is that my daughter lives in a small apartment. If and when she buys a home, I will get the last of her stuff out of my house. That isn’t a small change, though! |
| Lise | Over the years, I realized that a lot of items I deemed necessary or important really are not. Less stuff = more space, time & freedom. Currently, my threshold for "clutter" is very low... I would like to be a minimalist, but it is unrealistic. Releasing of sentimental items have improved. However, I still cannot let go of certain things and I don't know why. | It has become easier over the years to declutter - practice makes almost perfect. Clothing is the easy category. Sentimental is the hard category. | I have had several influences through the years however; it was seeing their struggles with clutter and disorganization. As a child I played in my grandparent's basement a mini maze of shelves stacked with boxes, "treasures" of potential possibilities, and perceived value. I felt claustrophobic. Awaiting for the walls of things to tumble down on top of me. Flashes of Humpty Dumpty and old cardboard boxes falling on my head but no king's horse's or king's men to rescue a kid trapped in a musty basement. I do not want to live my life full of unnecessary things ready to tumble down on or trip anyone. The goal is to avoid my survivors asking, "Why, in the world did she keep this?". | Please clean up your messes and put your things away. |
| Anja | Actually I have a much lower threshold for clutter since being disabled and having far less energy for daily life. Clutter is an obstacle for enjoying life so I like to get rid of a lot and buy far less and more practical stuff. Also things need to be easily accessible and light instead of heavy! | Decluttering needs to be a "no-mess-method" because of low energy level. Small steps are the key for me and asking people for help. | As I was abandoned by my husband in January 2025 I have only my stuff to deal with and that is a huge relief. I love having my best friend over to help me and to chat with. | As soon as I find a home for myself and my little dog I don't need to ask for any different behaviour. Very good. |
| Sandra | Short answer: YES!!! I used to own too many clothes, too many books, too many toys, too many kitchen gadgets, and too many "just in case" items, etc. Why? Because they were mine, they had been given to me, or I had paid for them. Now with a lower threshold, I value space and function over accumulation. | Easier. I'm wiser now when it comes to saying no and I'm a much more mindful shopper. Even sentimental items are easier to declutter because my children told me they are not interested in most of them. I said the same thing to my mom 🙂 A harder to manage category nowadays would be digital files. | I lost control when the children were little with too many toys, books, school papers, and clothes. I'm glad I started to be a good example to them while they were home to see it. I'm happy to say they are very good at managing their own space now - much better than I was at the same age. | My dear husband is struggling with stuff he is storing from his now deceased parents and with sport equipment we used to enjoy but no longer do. Nothing happened yesterday: we're on a 10-20 year timeline here. Those items are either slowly deteriorating or taking up a lot of space in our house, and he is actually keeping things he says "should go someday". All this I find very frustrating because nothing changes. And now I'm afraid to declutter because I know for a fact he will use the free storage space to spread out the mess. |
| Anita | I definitely want less clutter and ‘things’ as I’ve got older. | Yes I think it gets easier but I still get stuck by where things should be donated…. I don’t know for sure but I think in the Uk it’s more difficult to donate to charity shops as they don’t accept a lot of things. I think as you get older the reality of your past times and hobbies gets clearer. Therefore you can get rid of things you know you’ll no longer use again. My husband and I agreed we’re unlikely to go camping in a tent again….so we were able to get rid of 2 tents. | I am in a family of neurodivergent people that seem to like to buy everything to do with the particular hobby they have at the time. This means a lot of clutter. But as it is other people’s I can’t really get rid of it. Also my one daughter still lives in an extremely small flat so I still have a space dedicated to to all her stuff. | That’s difficult because it is who they are…some of all of their things relflects their personalities. My family have a lot of creativity and art work which I feel has to stay. I think we have reached a point where whereby my husband and I buy less for each other and enjoy time out instead. Although I have got him to go through bookshelves asking if I could get rid of any and he usually piles up just my books!!! So a small change would be picking his own!!!!! |
| Summer | As I've gotten older and experienced divorce, several moves, and the passing of my parents, I have had a complete shifting of my view on clutter. Less is less is my mantra. That said, I am by no means a minimalist and struggle regularly to keep clutter under control. | It is still a challenge to keep my clothing and paper a challenge. I have always struggled and continue to do so. | I am divorced and currently dating a wonderful man. By very deliberate design, we do not live together and have no plan to do so ever. However, his adult daughter, her boyfriend, and their two children are now living in his home. It seems this is a permanent situation. His home had too much clutter already and the addition of this family of four has the house bursting at the seams!! The abundance of stuff has diminished my comfort being in his home and has put a strain on our relationship. | Release the things that no longer serve you. No, your stuff is not worth nearly as much as you tell yourself!! |
| Jessica | I have a much lower threshold since becoming a mum. | I found that decluttering for myself gets easier as time goes by. For example, I found categories like clothing/makeup/skincare got much easier as I learnt what I liked and can now maintain a pretty steady inventory. But with kids’ things, it’s the opposite! They’re constantly growing out of or into things, so there’s this ongoing cycle of needing, buying, and managing stuff - it's much easier for things to accumulate. | - | To complete actions all the way themselves indtead of half doing them (for me to finish). |
| Evelin | in my early 20s I never thought that there might be something like too much stuff. that changed around becoming 30 when I got into minimalism | the older you get the more stuff you have, that's what made it harder. on the other hand I easily got rid of an old bag that I bought in Paris when I was 19 (I had always thought that I would never ever get rid of it whatever may come) | my husband is a minimalist by nature, he doesn't own a lot of stuff. the only thing that has changed is probably that nowaydays he is more aware of these topics (clutter, organizing, minimalism, etc... because I talk a lot about it) | being more tidy |
| Anonymous user | When our children were small, most things were put awey so that the kids didn't get into them. I didn't worry about toys being left out in the livingroom during the day, but they were all put away after supper. When the kids got bigger, it became part of the daily routine for them to do rotating chores, put things away when they were done with them, and do a good tidy-up at bedtime. ( I figured their future spouses and roommates would appreciate it.) We regularly went through outgrown clothes and toys. Now, I want my house to be ready for what we enjoy doing, without having to clean extra beforehand. I have a low tolerance for clutter and don't want to be cleaning when I could be enjoying whoever is here with me. | If children have the stories behind things that are special to you and they have memories of using the items, they are more likely to value them. As my kids got homes of their own, I asked which things were important to them and gave them the items for their own family to enjoy. Harder to manage: I inherited my great-great grandmother's tintype album, which only holds 12 pictures. If she could do it, I can at least try. I don't want to limit myself to only a dozen pictures, but it makes me think about which ones are more special than the others. I'm making my grandchildren " ancestor albums" with their direct ancestors- geandparents, great-grandparents, ... ,as far back as I can. I've pared down my photos to only 4 albums and several hundred on my phone. Photos get harder to manage, because everyone takes so many pictures with the tech available now. | My mother was 4th of 10 children, only the second girl. and of a generation where the women were expected to do all the housework. She was very particular about everything being tidy. She cleaned thoroughly, decluttered ruthlessly, and taught me how to do the same. The only thing I was determined to change was that I was never decluttering my kids' belongings without their input, because it hurt me as a child when that happened. I started my married life expecting myself to keep doing everything the way she had. However, I was working full time outside the home and had a husband who worked away from home, so I quickly adapted to doing essentails. Mom didn't say , but I do wonder if she secretly thought I was letting my standards slip, My house is decluttered and clean because I function better that way and I know how to keep it up. I taught my kids (and my husband) not to have gender-specific ideas about chores. | I'd like my spouse to go through the "just in case" extras. |
| Celina | it's easier to part with some things now that I consider jsut rubbish e.g. small tickets or papers that I used to keep out of sentiment. However, growing up poor and experiencing flactuating weight has caused me, for instance, to be unable to part with clothes and yet unable to refrain myself from shopping for clothes deals. | Easier: trash, 'sentimentals', paper (we're digitalising everything now). Harder: things I got on sale and are still good/craft supplies that I paid a lot for. I just cannot get over the fact that just because something is useful, it doesn't mean that it's useful for me here and now. I just tend to keep it 🙁 | nah, just myself to blame, I live alone. But it helped when I lived with my sister - she is into fashion and she was able to help me too, make good choices. Sometimes she made me throw out things (e.g. awesome but cluttering packing material). | I'd ask myself to get down to working on my hobbies and stop buying too many clothes just because they're inexpensive and high quality. |
| C | As a teen my room was messy, not cluttered. Perhaps my mother got rid of superfluous stuff. I can't remember, but as a child we moved so often that many of my things never appeared again at the new place. As a young adult I didn't have enough money or stuff to create clutter, plus I moved often. When our daughter arrived and we needed to be frugal I took in or bought a bit too much due to insecurity, frequenting flea markets for bargains. Then came the various "inheritances" of all sorts. It was at a time when I had little time to decide on these. Items linger(ed) on. Clutter is when I have no place to put things or can't find things anymore. | ha! a lot depends on what is going on in my life. Very easy at times, extremely difficult at others, but looking back, yes, decision making is easier as I get older: I think "what can be of use or necessity in the next 15 years?" | In the past it was my mother, then my auntie. I learned later on that my father was a packrat, probably because how the war took everything away from him. My husband's habit of just leaving things out drives me crazy some days. But he can declutter well when the mood strikes him. (seldom) He says often he has better things to do with the rest of his life than to bother with decluttering. We argue that we cannot leave all the stuff for our daughter or his siblings to declutter, nor will we be able to make good decisions on valuables when we get even older. | I should ask myself to stop scrolling the internet so much and allocate half an hour each day to organize and prepare items for donation and/or auction. |
| Leslie | I absolutely have a lower threshold for clutter as I've gotten older and been on the minimalism and organization journey. The less I have, the less I want. | It's easier over time. Hard Categories are recipes and medications. I watch a cooking video and quickly jot down the ingredients on a piece of paper and eventually have tons of these little papers floating around. Recipe organizing is so tedious. | My parents. One became a compulsive shopper last few years before he died. My mom has a hoarded house plus four storage units full. She resists letting anything go, says she will sell items but not willing to do the work of selling. Won't let me help either. It inspired me to purposely own less. One of Dana K White's books helped. It said regarding parents stuff: "value the person and its not your house, not your stuff, and only the people that live in the house get a vote on what stays or goes" Mom is 79 now, so I don't expect much change as she doesn’t think it's a problem, but a walker or wheelchair couldn't be used if needed in the current condition of the house. It overwhelming to think about what I will have to deal with one day. | N/A, I live alone |
| Joolz | When I had a large young family we had a lot of stuff like all my friends. Every cupboard was stuffed full. A couple of house moves with the expense, time and energy involved led me to think about simplifying lots of aspects. I am now mid 60 with parents early 90s. They have lots of stuff from living in the same home for 65 years. My dad has lost some sight and is unsteady on his feet and the task of dealing with all the stuff is mine. I need to be patient, guide my dad with questions to let him come to a decision and gently nudge him to let things go. It will test our relationship for sure. | It gets easier because the passage of time helps enormously to make decisions. Clothes that are not your style or size. Books that have no appeal to be read. I think about future me. I want to be present me but with an eye out for future me. Time keeps going by, seasons of life move by and it is easier on yourself to acknowledge that and be at peace with that. | I started decluttering with my mum one afternoon a week. First the bathroom, bringing her a drawer or small collection she could sort as she sat at the table. I cleaned as I went. She was exhausted afterwards by all the decisions. We had a laugh at some of the things we found especially way past used by date items in the kitchen. When it came to tea sets and pieces painted by my mum my dad became very agitated about what my mum was letting go. They never use the "good tea sets" and we eliminated items that didn't have a full set. I backed off more decluttering though the house is stuffed full. I have been helping Dad garden and suggested that in the colder weather we could tidy up the garage. Surprisingly this was accepted. I feel icky because the parent child relationship is turned around. I know they need the help for their comfort and safety. So gently onwards I go. | Ah! I would ask the golden retriever to stop shedding his coat! |
| Sunny | In my 20s, 30s and 40s I was accumulating ‘’stuff” for my home such as linens, dishes, holiday decorations, small kitchen appliances, gardening tools and accessories and more. Now in my early 60s, a streamlined environment appeals to me more. I have a lower threshold for what counts as clutter for some things, however, sentimental items are difficult for me to part with. My dad has passed and I find it hard to part with items he gave me. | The more I declutter the harder it is because I got rid of the low-hanging fruit and what remains is harder to part with. Clothes are easier because I am retired. I don’t tend to keep glass jars for flowers and rather use nice vases I own. As people in my life pass away, it is harder to let go of items they gave me or that they owned. | My late friend was the queen of a simple life. She would easily part with items she no longer used. I marveled at that and the idea of that remains very appealing to me. She used to say that being organized and having less gives you freedom—she was spot on! When I would spend time at her house I always felt good. It was cozy, clean and comfortable and did not overstimulate my senses. She influenced me a lot but I still have items to part with. | For my husband to streamline and tidy the garage. He has a lot of hobbies—barbecuing, fishing, boating and classic cars. So much ‘stuff’ goes along with these hobbies. |
| millie | I grew up in a messy house in which nothing was thrown away. When I grew up and got my own place, if my things were organized I didn't think of them as clutter -- I thought of them simply as my stuff. However, my STUFF accumulated as I got married and had kids and tried to live a typical, middle-class life in a consumer-driven world. I had to teach myself how to declutter because I didn't grow up in a family that taught me that skill. Otherwise, my house would have turned into the mess I grew up in. Fast forward to being a retiree now, I live a more minimal existence than I've ever lived. I have a low threshhold for what counts as clutter. The advances in technology has shifted my thinking, as has society's more casual attitudes about entertaining. I don't need much to live a happy life. | I think it's easier to declutter for me now because of my age (66 years old). I'm in the "letting go stage," although my kids are in the "attaining stage." | My spouse has decluttered far more than me. It has definitely made it easy for me to let go of things. | |
| Ann | I have a higher thresh hold for what counts as clutter for sure. Right now it's too much and feels unmanageable. But my vision is to have a rich full house with lots of the items I love all around us — books, bowls, photographs, items from travels like the Guatemalan pompoms hanging from our dining room overhead lampshade. | It has gotten harder. Mainly because I used to live in small spaces as a young person, and move pretty frequently. I inherited my childhood home in 2011, and I'm quite unwilling to go fast in the throw out process there. It has definitely gotten better since my parents died — what is of value is either sorted, or more visible, less everything mixed together. My husband and I bought our first home in 2015 (we were in our 50s), and in these 10 years, it has gotten quite full! | I lived either solo or with roommates until I married at age 49. Now I've been married 14 years, so I'd say my husband is the most influential clutter partner in my life. Always before, with roommates, I was the messy one. Now I'm the less messy one! Pretty nice. I have more compassion for him, because I know how it feels not to have the cleaning impulse and know-how, and for others to be aggrieved. Also, he's got some mental health issues that are a factor, so that helps me not get as bugged. Also, we're not THAT different from each other, thank goodness. | Actually, the first things in getting our life in order would be to manage our money more clearly and calmly. I used to be quite good at this, but have fallen away, with my partner's struggles. And our food and eating. We both are in and out on this one. Funny, the house feels so primary. But when I think of us together, I think of other things. Maybe I see the house as being my project more? But we do so much better when we help each other. So I'm not clear on this one. Right now, I guess my Ask with the house would be that we both get involved with *developing* and *learning* systems. I'm more the one who will try to come up with systems. (To organize & recycle the types of plastics. The shelves on the fridge door. Which books go on which bookshelves. How we store pantry items.) Then he doesn't really know or remember them. Which makes sense, since he didn't figure them out. But it can be a tense moment when I point out a system which he isn't following. |
| Jetta | My clutter threshold for clutter has definitely gotten lower over the years. | Decluttering and organizing has gotten easier. The office area is still something that I have to stay on top of or it quickly gets out of order. If my days are busy and I'm on the go, then I'll have to play catch-up on paper items. | I like everything to be put up in its place before going to bed, but my husband is fine with items being left out. I have to realize that we just see things differently and if that means I have to pick up some of his things, then I'll do it. | |
| Anonymous user | I have switched from acquisition to dispersal. At my age, I don’t have a lifetime to get use out of dinner party crystal, furniture, wall decor. I may be driving the last car I ever buy. I’m doing some math to give me a reality check: if I can read 30-40 books a year, then i don’t need to keep more than 350 unread classics and the other 1000+ can be donated. If I can only knit or crochet 5 items a year, then I don’t need more than 50 types of yarn in my stash. This type of calculation is difficult when young, but the older I get the more concrete decluttering becomes. | It is easier and easier to declutter as long as I still have my wits about me. I get tired more quickly with age and my dinner parties are shrinking from 12 to 10 to 8. My husband and I don’t camp any more so we can give up the tent. I don’t work outside the home, so I don’t need as many nice clothes. And so on. | My husband doesn’t like to get rid of things, but as I declutter my clothes, books, make-up drawer, shoes, sports equipment, and hobbies, I find him doing the same thing. Seeing my side of the closet, the simplified bookcase in the living room, and more space in the storage room must be inspiring him. | I do ask for help and ideas. Sometimes I need to be patient but eventually we plan a vacation, the look of the yard is improved, a heavy piece of furniture is moved. |
| Anonymous user | Yes. My threshold is lower; my anxiety is also higher. | Harder Easier- gifted items Harder - sentimental | Yes. Larger amounts of clutter. My tolerance has decreased. | Action on their part. |
| Kit | I learned that I can't keep everything and have my house stay under control. I remembered back to my teen years when I had a minimal bedroom and loved it. I began decluttering my stuff and the visible places in our home to be functional and peaceful. Later, I helped my daughter declutter as she integrated things from her married life into our home. We're down to 4 boxes of books in the garage. Even later, my spouse began to appreciate the peaceful atmosphere created by the clear space and started helping me. His wardrobe is about 1/3 the size it used to be, and the bedroom and gameroom are much clearer. We're now also working on the garage. It's got a long way to go, but a couple of weeks ago we hauled away a truck full of donations and things for the landfill. I think the key in there will be to define the space - which sections are assigned to which categories of items, and which things just don't belong? | When I was young, we had many fewer things, and organizing was my joy. Then I kept way too many things, and organizing became impossible. Intentional decluttering was head-exploding at first, but it's much easier now. The key to success for me is to think about it for 1-4 years, then finally let annoyance overcome my reluctance. (Oh, and to recognize something predestined to be clutter and donate it as soon as it comes into the house.) 🙂 Categories that are easier to manage are clothes and everyday pantry items and cookware. Categories that are harder to manage for myself are sentimental/holiday items, paper, and electronic accessories. Categories that are harder to manage because of family members are books & magazines, CDs & DVDs, sports equipment, furniture, and tools. For me, all categories of unused items seem to get easier to manage over time as I think of them as already having been time-tested. Unless they belonged to someone who has passed away; I still have an upright piano for that reason.... | Spouse has begun to come around to the idea that intentional decluttering is both necessary and potentially emotionally uplifting. He's been working on his own stuff for more than a year now, to the point that it's become a casual, routine behavior. He still holds tighter to stuff than I do, so that's still a struggle. | Let the books, magazines, and DVDs go. |
| Allison | Definitely a lower threshold than in past years. I'll never be a minimalist but am moving in that direction. | Everything is easier to declutter and manage. I've let go of meaningful items and somehow life still goes on. Downsized considerably several years ago and am considering further downsizing. | Dealing with my parents' and husband's belongings had a huge impact on me. I don't want to leave anywhere near the amount of stuff they did. Everything I keep my heirs will have to dispose of and that's not fair to them. | Not my home as I live alone but the family members I will probably clean up after they're gone should declutter right away. |
| Anne | Paper is easier since I keep almost nothing. And lots less mail too. | I’m a neater person because Bob is neater. So it helps me to be a little more disciplined. | Put Viking catalogs straight into recycling, lol | |
| Name (click to view full survey response and comments) | How have your ideas, attitudes, and behaviors around clutter changed over the course of your adult life? Do you have a higher or lower threshold for what counts as “clutter”? | Do you find it easier or harder to declutter and organize as time goes by? Are there categories of stuff that get easier to manage? Are there categories that get harder to manage? | Think about the person in your life who’s had the most impact on your decluttering and organizing. How have their attitudes and behaviors around clutter or the way their stuff affects you changed over time? | If you could ask for one small change in someone else’s behavior that would improve the state of your home, what would it be? |
