The Extreme Decluttering Trick That Will Help You Stay More Organized

In studies, clutter has been linked to increased levels of stress. That nugget of psychological knowledge has been circulating for a while. It's wise to be aware of things that are subtly making our lives more difficult, but knowing about the stress it causes doesn't always translate into taking action. If your home is bursting at the seams with years worth of accumulated stuff that's eating at you, it might be time for some radical decluttering. A "packing party" concept created by The Minimalists might be your key to freedom from the burden of excess. The trio made famous by the 2021 Netflix documentary "The Minimalists: Less is Now" developed this intensive project that involves packing literally every item in your home into boxes as if you were moving. In a nutshell, any objects you haven't needed after a three-week period are deemed unnecessary and either donated or sold.

If you're looking for the easiest way to declutter without getting overwhelmed, a packing party is probably not your best option. But if the constant pressure of living with excess is pushing you to the brink, a packing party just might be the remedy to your woes. This type of unburdening is pretty hard-core: You'll need at least a day to dedicate to the task — more if you're unable to coax some friends to help you. However, if you're finally ready to clear out clutter for good, give a packing party serious thought.

In an essay on his blog, Ryan Nicodemus, one of the Minimalists and the creator of the packing party concept,  shared that he found this method so liberating that it literally changed his life, from mindset to career path. Nicodemus packaged up all of his belongings in his 2,000-square-foot condo with the help of a friend. Each box was clearly labeled with its contents so that when he needed something, it didn't involve a frantic search. After three weeks, he noticed that 80% of what he packed still remained in boxes. Without sentimentality, he eliminated these objects from his space for good. This idea might sound utterly refreshing, but it doesn't take into account decorative pieces that give your home personality. Nor does it factor in seasonal items, heirlooms, and important documents that are best kept as hard copies.

If you're a fan of maximalist decor, advice from minimalists might fall on deaf ears. The historical British design icon William Morris once proclaimed that you should "have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." With the austerity that follows a packing party, it's hard to imagine how the decorative pieces fit into this plan. To make this method work for you, it might be smart to come up with your own stipulations before starting, like allowing yourself to have no more than three pieces hanging on a wall at first or displaying only irreplaceable family heirlooms on built-in shelves. If the what-ifs of a packing party only add to your overwhelm, fret not; there are plenty of other tried-and-true strategies to declutter your home.