Have you ever found yourself saying, “Huh, I did not even know I still had this?” If so, chances are you own too much stuff. Recently, I wrote about how Marie Kondo’s tidying method can permanently change your thinking and behavior. Her method is definitely worth exploring if your home resembles a museum of past items rather than a space reflecting your current life. In this article, I want to share a tip that will help maintain a clutter-free home long after you’ve decluttered: the One-In-One-Out Rule.

The One-In-One-Out Rule

The rule is pretty self-explanatory, but let me explain. Once you reach an equilibrium where you’re content with the amount of stuff you own, whenever you want to buy a new item, you must get rid of another. Here’s why this rule is such a game-changer:

1. Create a Sustainably Tidy Home

Your home will not revert to a cluttered state. If you’ve cleaned out your house and donated all unused items, but then start buying new things just a week later, it’s not sustainable. This rule protects you from falling back into clutter by doing the basic math for you. Unless you trade any small item for enormous sofas and a premium pool table, but that’s on you.

2. Become a Mindful Shopper

You become much more mindful when buying new things. Apart from the money spent, you also need to get rid of an item you already own. This makes you think twice before making a purchase, ensuring you truly need or love the new item.

3. Learn What Is Meaningful: a Minimalist Approach

You accelerate your understanding of which items are truly meaningful to you. By constantly evaluating what you’re willing to let go of, you identify what items hold genuine value in your life.

4. Learn Your Own Limits

It forces an understanding of yourself as a creature with a limited amount of time and energy. You start to realize you can only manage and appreciate a certain number of items, helping you set personal boundaries and priorities in life, hobbies, and possessions.

Guiding Questions To Get Rid Off Stuff

Sometimes it’s obvious which item to get rid of. If you’re swapping your coffee table, the old one becomes the ‘one-out’ part of the rule. However, if you’re looking to add something new to your home, you’ll need to let go of something else. Here are three questions to help you determine which items are no longer in line with who you are now:

• Have I used this item in the last 6 months?
• If I did not already own this, would I buy it again?
• Am I keeping this because a family member or friend gave it to me?

Especially the last question is a common trap. While the intention behind gifts is sweet and thoughtful, it’s challenging to find something that someone else truly wants. Often, we hold onto gifts because a family member took the time to buy them. However, if you know you won’t use the item, consider bringing it to a secondhand shop. This way, the gift can make someone else happy.

Final Thoughts

Implementing the One-In-One-Out Rule helps maintain the tidiness achieved through decluttering. By continuously evaluating your possessions, you prevent clutter from returning. This approach encourages mindful shopping and deliberate choices about what you bring into your space. Ultimately, it fosters a deeper understanding of what truly matters, ensuring your home reflects your current life rather than your past.

An item that I struggled to let go of for a long time was my guitar. What items do you struggle to let go of, even though you haven’t used them in a while? Share your experiences and any tips or tricks you have in the comments below.

Sources

Gabe Bult’s 12 Easy Rules To Own Less Stuff
Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up