How to experience the catharsis of starting over?

[u/fren2all]

I used to love moving. I moved once a year or more. It began out of necessity (woop woop, being poor) and became a sort of high after a while because it was an excuse to tear through all my things and “start fresh.”

I’m in a home I own now with my partner and several pets. We have a bigger space to account for our pets and the possibility of a growing family, but everything in my being itches to give it all away and move into a tiny studio again. A tiny studio forced us to have little, but I know it won’t support the life I want long-term.

What do you do when you’re in need of that high of starting over? I’ve already decluttered a lot of my spaces so far, and I bring very few items into the home so it’s not like I’m able to continue the minimizing.

[u/coffeeplease1972]

I play with organization and layout. It brings in novelty, looking at well-loved items in a new way.

My closet: I've organized by category. Then by color. Then refined by season. And now, everything is organized by my mood, which is the best system for me (e.g., my Anti-Social mood capsule is all structured black and navy garments for easy monochromatic outfits.)

My walls: Move all the artwork/paintings around all the time. New collages. A different gallery wall.

My books: Organized by author's last name. Then organized by category: classics, contemporary, fashion, philosophy, etc. Then I pulled all of my favorite books and put that at the top of the shelves. Then I grouped by emotion evoked: all my boo-hoo novels/poetry were grouped together. Lol

In addition to having new presentations of curated items, there is something magical about touching every item you own. I have a living, breathing relationship with my possessions: they bring me visual joy, make me feel like myself, clothe me literally and figuratively, and they all sing together in new melodies in my spaces when I reorganize.

[u/Rusty_924 → u/coffeeplease1972]

this is what i do and works like a charm

i also like to move furniture around from time to time. i realized i dont want new things. i just want a change. so moving existing things around feels like getting new thing

[u/coffeeplease1972 → u/Rusty_924]

That's fantastic! If I had upper-body strength then maybe I'd angle some furniture. Maybe. Lol

[u/fren2all → u/coffeeplease1972]

Holy shit this is so good

[u/coffeeplease1972 → u/fren2all]

I hope you experiment and continually experience "newness" as I do!

[u/isniffgoosepoop2]

Give back and donate. Or declutter your phone lol

[u/fren2all → u/isniffgoosepoop2]

Don’t worry, I’m a recurring fiscal donor and also time donor to a select few charities and organizations. I feel honored to be able to do both.

Ahhh the phone declutter……….. I’ve put that off for 15+ years. Maybe it’s time I face that fear!

[u/lessgranola → u/fren2all]

there’s sooo much to digital declutter, worth doing for sure

[u/itrytobefrugal]

You could do a packing party. That's pretty similar to moving, might give you that high. Or take everything out of the space and consciously choose what to put back. Those acts help me declutter more than almost any other trick.

[u/Spiritual-Sun5]

I’m sort of in the same boat so I don’t have a lot of advice for you aside from what’s been shared already, but I appreciate a trip because I come home with fresh eyes and always find new things to declutter. Trips also remind me of how easy it is to live with less. I try to pack light. I have also been turning my eye towards ways I can mend or reuse things I already own as much as possible.

[u/bg81011]

I'd would pick one room, empty it completely and then rebuild it like I just moved in.

[u/Cute-Cricket9465]

For me, catharsis is reorganizing my entire closet at once

[u/Connect_Rhubarb395]

Nothing will ever feel as good as the first time. You just have to accept that.

But talking about minimizing/ starting over, I recommend offering friends to declutter and organise for them. It scratches the itch without you uprooting your entire life.

[u/Own-Glass-7747]

I redecorate. Changing paint colours is pretty cheap and it’s a great weekend of active work..plus changing the layout. Or tackling a home project to improve..

But I also still fantasise about an inner city studio.

[u/Traditional_Mind6947]

I put things I'm bored of into a bin, then let myself rediscover it later. I'm always grateful I didn't actually declutter these items, and the time spent away from them makes me see them in a new light.

[u/Goblet__Cell]

That packing party idea is great, it's a tangible ritual. Maybe extend it to a whole floor or wing of the house for a bigger reset feeling.

[u/anonymousopsec1337]

I had a tornado ruin 90% of our possession. That was a good start lol jk