Use the 10/10 Theory to Consciously Declutter Your Home
No matter how committed you are to decluttering, when you try to reduce the amount of stuff in your home, you’re bound to run into a few roadblocks. This is where different decluttering philosophies can come in handy. For example, if you’re combing through your sentimental items, you need to move slowly but be pragmatic ; and if you’re just worried that you might need something in the future, there are a few mental exercises that can help ease your anxiety about getting rid of them.
If you find that you still can’t decide which items are actually worth keeping, the 10/10 theory can help you. It’s a way to reframe the way you think about your things and assign “value” to them. The theory is that once you know its value, it will be easier for you to decide whether you need to keep it.
How the 10/10 theory works
This method comes from minimalists , who bring order to professionals with Netflix series and best-selling books on their behalf. They recommend rethinking the way you determine the value of your possessions and dividing them into two categories: treasured items and things that bring you joy.
The monetary value aspect is an obvious consideration: if you can get value out of something you don’t use much, it’s much easier to get rid of it. Thinking about joy as you clean and organize is a familiar component of other decluttering techniques, including KonMari , and it makes sense: your space should make you feel happy, secure, and fulfilled, and too much clutter won’t help you. I won’t help you there.
How to use the 10/10 theory to get rid of things
To start changing the way you think about the things you own, minimalists recommend making two lists. The first is a list of your top 10 most valuable items—things like your car, your home, your antiques, your electronics, and anything else that has a big price tag. Then make a list of 10 things in your life that bring you the most joy. These don’t have to (and probably shouldn’t) be material items. They suggest experiences like watching a sunset or spending time with a child, as they will show real contrast when you compare them to your list of valuable, material things.
The purpose of this exercise is to give you the opportunity to think about the difference between what you think is important and what really matters to you, and then get used to getting rid of things that don’t really matter.
It may seem like translating this mindset change into decluttering is a big leap, but hear me out: Instead of making just these two lists, make multiple lists:
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your most expensive things
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physical things that bring you joy
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things you use most often
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things you use least
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things you got a lot of money for
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things you could easily replace
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things you can never replace
Compare each of these lists, paying particular attention to the list of things that truly bring you joy, and develop your own hierarchy of what is truly important to you.
Spending a little time assessing the value of things, using different measures of what is valuable in the first place, can reveal patterns in the way you think about your things and help you change your mind about what is truly important in your life. Simply put, you will realize that you can actually let go of some things. Making lists takes some time, but it prepares you to take a critical look at your belongings as you begin the process of physically decluttering. No, you probably won’t be able to get rid of your house or car, but you can get rid of things that don’t make sense, don’t bring you joy, or can be easily replaced.
When it’s time to begin the decluttering process , start by separating the items in front of you into four categories: keep, throw away, donate and sell. If you’re getting hung up on whether something should stay or go, think about where you would put it (or where you put it) on your various lists. Does the item have monetary value but no emotional value? It could be sold. Do you use it often, but it’s inexpensive? Probably hold on. Do you rarely use it, but really love it? It can remain as long as it really makes sense. The more you practice thinking about the values that your item carries or represents, the easier it will be for you to understand which ones can stay in your life and which ones need to go.