The ABC’s of Mindful Decluttering and Organizing

If you have ever asked yourself, “How can I declutter in a simple, mindful way without feeling overwhelmed?” you are in the right place. The ABCs will help you move step by step, with less stress and more kindness toward yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • Mindful decluttering starts with letting go of duplicates and extras before you buy any organizing products.
  • Grouping like‑with‑like helps you see what you own, reduces overwhelm, and makes it easier to create simple categories.
  • Storing items close to where you use them, in primary and secondary storage, saves time and stress in daily life.
  • Mindfulness breaks during decluttering help you pause, breathe, and return to your goals instead of getting stuck.

Below is our super simple three step decluttering and organizing process that you can use in any space, large or small.

A. Declutter First for Mindful Decluttering

Before racing out to purchase organizing tools, eliminate any duplicate items by choosing the best ones and donating the rest. This mindful decluttering step helps you to see what you truly use and value.

How this helps you:

When you declutter first, you avoid buying containers for things you do not really need. You see what you love and use most, which makes choosing storage easier and saves both time and money. It also reduces visual clutter, so your space feels calmer right away.

Imagine you are working in your kitchen. You notice you have many coffee mugs. You lay them all out, choose your favorite ones that you use often, and donate the rest. Only after that do you decide what shelf or rack will hold the mugs you love.

If you are feeling very tender or emotional about clutter, you may find this post on The Emotional Costs Of Clutter helpful before you keep going.

B. Follow the Like-With-Like Principle to Create a Simple Organizing System

Why this helps you:

Grouping like-with-like shows you how much you really have, so you can let go of extras without guilt. It turns a big, vague mess into small, clear groups, which makes decisions easier and less emotional.

Let’s say you have papers in the kitchen, bedroom, and home office. You gather them all to one table. Once they are in one place, you can sort them into clear groups, such as “bills to pay,” “kids’ school papers,” and “files to keep.” You make the categories!

How to do it!

  • Just like you did in kindergarten, gather together all items of a certain type.
  • Do not get bogged down by items that could go into more than one category. Place them in the group that makes the most sense for now. You can always adjust later.
  • If you begin to feel stuck or become overwhelmed, take a mindfulness break and bring your awareness back to the results that you are working to achieve.
  • When you are feeling grounded again, trust yourself to  choose a system or strategy that makes the most sense to you right now, as you can always subdivide and change your mind later!

Simple “like-with-like” steps:

– Pick one category, such as papers, books, or cleaning supplies
– Gather all items in that category into one spot
– Notice how much you have and decide what to keep, donate, or recycle
– Give the keepers a simple, clear home

If this process feels slow or messy, that is normal. Decluttering touches on memories, money, and relationships. It is okay to pause, feel your feelings, and come back later. You are not behind. You are learning new skills and caring for yourself at the same time.

If you feel frozen or overwhelmed, take a short mindfulness break. Here’s how:

1. Pause what you are doing and set the item down.
2. Take three slow, gentle breaths and feel your feet on the floor.
3. Remind yourself of your goal, such as “I want a calmer kitchen counter” or “I want a clear desk so I can focus.”
4. When you feel a bit steadier, return to just one small decision or one small pile.

C. Keep Things Close to Where You Use Them (using Primary and Secondary Storage)

Now that you have edited out any unwanted items, you are ready to create a simple organizing system and determine the best locations to store the things that you have chosen to keep.

How this helps you:

Storing items close to where you use them cuts down on searching, backtracking, and daily stress. You spend less energy looking for things and more energy on the people and activities that matter most to you. If you cannot decide the perfect place for something, choose a “good enough for now” home. You can always adjust your system after you live with it for a while.

Now that you have edited out any unwanted items, you will determine the best locations and ways to store the ones that you have chosen to keep!

In the professional home organizing world, we talk about “primary storage” and “secondary storage.” Primary storage is the space closest to where you naturally use an item. Secondary storage holds items you use less often, so your everyday spaces can feel clearer and calmer.

During tax season, you might keep current tax papers in a folder next to your desk. This is primary storage, since you use them often. After your taxes are filed, you move those papers into a clearly labeled box in a closet or attic. That is secondary storage, since you only need them once in a while. Make sense?

In your home office or household command center, you will want to keep the supplies and information that you need to pay bills, respond to emails, get your calendar up to date, etc. closest to where you work (in primary storage areas.)  For example, if it is tax season, you may keep tax related materials in this area.  But when your taxes are completed (and after doing a happy dance!) tax related papers can go into secondary storage.  This could be an attic, a basement or the top of a closet.

Organizing your space for optimal use may require thinking outside of the box about where to store items that are not used frequently.

A Gentle Summary of the ABCs of Mindful Decluttering

Mindful decluttering does not have to happen all at once. You can move through the ABCs at your own pace:

A: Declutter first by letting go of duplicates and extras.

B: Group like-with-like so you can see what you have and what you truly need.

C: Keep things close to where you use them, using primary and secondary storage.

You do not have to get it perfect. Small, steady steps are enough. Every bag you donate, every drawer you sort, and every kind thought you offer yourself is progress. You are not alone in this, and your space can change over time in a way that feels safe and kind to you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mindful Decluttering and Organizing

What is mindful decluttering and organizing?

Mindful decluttering and organizing is a gentle, intentional way of clearing clutter. You pay attention to how your space and your stuff make you feel. Instead of rushing, you move at a pace that feels safe. You notice your thoughts, emotions, and body as you make choices about what to keep, what to donate, and where to store what remains. The goal is not a perfect home. The goal is a space that supports your life and your well‑being.

What are the ABCs of mindful decluttering?

The ABCs of mindful decluttering are a simple three‑step process you can use in any space, large or small. A is for Declutter First. You edit out duplicates and unwanted items before you buy bins or containers. B is for Like‑With‑Like. You gather similar items together so you can see what you have and decide what stays. C is for Keep Things Close To Where You Use Them. You store items in places that match how often and where you use them, using primary and secondary storage.

Why should I declutter before buying organizing tools?

When you buy organizing tools before you declutter, you usually end up storing items you do not need, want, or use. That leads to more expense and more visual clutter. By decluttering first, you keep only your best and most needed items. Then you can see what type and size of containers, shelves, or labels will actually support your space. This lowers stress and prevents buying products that never quite work.

What does “like‑with‑like” mean in organizing?

Like‑with‑like means you gather all items of the same type in one place. For example, you bring all your pens together, or all your towels, or all your tax papers. This helps you see how much you have and where there are duplicates. It also makes decisions easier, because you are comparing similar items side by side. If you feel stuck, you can take a short mindfulness break, breathe, return to your goals, and then choose the simple system that makes sense to you today.

What is the difference between primary and secondary storage?

Primary storage is the space closest to where you use an item in daily life. These areas should hold what you use most often, like current bills, everyday office supplies, or active projects. Secondary storage is for items you use less often, like finished tax returns, seasonal decor, or rarely used supplies. These can live in an attic, basement, or the top of a closet. When you separate primary and secondary storage, you clear your main work areas and still keep important items safe and accessible.

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