Decluttering often feels like an inconvenience. Time-consuming and just plain boring, we tend to put off. Which is why decluttering methods that physically force us to face clutter head on are the answer to our laziness.
The Overly Inconvenient Decluttering Method does exactly what it says on the tin, but maybe not in the way you’d think. It takes that inconvenient nature of clutter and pulls it to the forefront so you simply can’t ignore it. It’s annoying – and utterly genius. Here’s how I got on with this clever yet oh-so-simple trick.
What is the Overly Inconvenient Decluttering Method?
Part of the beauty of this decluttering method is how simple and easy it is to implement. Have you ever popped something at the bottom of the stairs to remind you to take it up with you? Or left something by the front door so you remember to take it out? Or put an important document on top of your laptop so you don’t forget to address it? That’s essentially the Overly Inconvenient Decluttering Method.
You begin by identifying the clutter you need to sort – be this something you’re not sure that you want or a big pile of stuff that needs categorising. Then, you put this stuff in the way of your daily routine. You want to position it somewhere where it will be truly annoying, forcing you to confront and address it. Basically, it irritates you into being decisive. It’s pretty hard to ignore clutter when it’s the one thing between you and the bathroom.
How did I use the Overly Inconvenient Decluttering Method?
When I put this method to the test, I deliberately chose the clutter sitting right at the top of my procrastination list. For me, that meant a pile of documents I’d been avoiding like the plague (despite their importance – naughty household advice writer!), a crate full of beauty products I hadn’t sorted since moving in, and a growing stack of postcards cluttering my desk.
I started by being as annoying as possible. The crate of beauty products was the first target. I placed it ever so slightly in the doorway to my kitchen at the start of a working-from-home day and carried on as normal. Immediately, the effects of the method were felt. The number of times I clipped my ankle grabbing a coffee or snack had me on the verge of throwing the entire thing in the bin.
What surprised me most? How motivating irritation can be. Before it even hit 1pm, I was aggressively sorting through the pile just so I could move it out of the way. And move it I did – with around 10 fewer products crammed inside. Success!
Feeling emboldened, I got strategic with the postcards. I placed them in spots where I regularly sit around the house – all near the wall I’d been meaning to turn into a display. I obviously didn’t want to sit on (and ruin) them, so the only solution was to finally get them up on the wall before I could properly relax.
As for the letters, I went all in. I placed one on each of the surfaces I interact with the most – the kitchen counter, the bathroom sink, on my desk and I even tucked one inside my laptop. Seeing them constantly pop up throughout the day quickly wore me down, and I eventually sat down to deal with them – even if it was begrudgingly.
My verdict
I really like this strategy, but I’d say it’s less of a decluttering method and more of a jumping-off point – or, more accurately, an anti-procrastination tactic. It teaches you the importance of actually addressing your clutter, rather than endlessly avoiding it, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you how to declutter once you’ve started. You’ll still need to bring your own system of sorting, organising and letting things go.
That said, there’s something very effective about being so irritated that you’re forced into action. If you’re someone who struggles with procrastination (so, most of us), this is a surprisingly powerful nudge. I also loved the slightly creative side of it – figuring out the most inconvenient spots in your home became a bit of a game in itself.
All I’ll say is thank goodness my housemates were away for this one. They’d have thought I’d completely lost it, storing my bank statement in the sink.
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