A 6-minute trick that makes decluttering less intimidating

Read time: 4 minutes

One of the most common things I hear from my readers is they desperately want to make progress on their quest to declutter.

But there’s a big problem: “I don’t know where to start and how to come up with practical ideas to resolve my clutter problems!”

I’ve had dozens of conversations and exchanges over email with clarity seekers. Across the board, starting and identifying practical solutions are the most challenging parts for almost everyone.

Today, I want to share an interesting resolution you likely haven’t heard of: Reverse Brainstorming. It’s a radical (but effective) way to solve problems, and I believe it can be a game-changer in our quest to declutter our lives.

The idea behind Reverse Brainstorming is simple: to figure out what you want, you first need to know what you don’t want.

Let’s explore how this can help us clear the clutter from our lives and generate novel ideas/solutions in other areas as well.

The Power of Reverse Brainstorming

We often strive to come up with perfect solutions right off the bat—whether it’s about decluttering our homes or improving our daily routines.

But what if we started by identifying the worst possible ideas first?

This approach can help us see our problems in a new light and lead us to more effective solutions.

Here’s how reverse brainstorming works:

• Start with a clear problem, framed as a “How might I…?” question
• Think of ways to achieve the opposite effect
• Write down as many answers to your reversed question as possible
• Flip each negative idea into a positive solution and take action
  
  

Using Reverse Brainstorming to Declutter

Let’s start with decluttering. Here’s how to use Reverse Brainstorming to make this process more effective.

Now, if you share your home with someone (partner, kids, roommates, or in-laws) and you’re looking for ways to get them on board with letting go, make it fun and encourage creativity with reverse brainstorming.

This is a great exercise you can do together as a team.

Give it a try. Just substitute “I” for “we.”

Step 1: Start with a clear problem

Begin by framing your problem as a “How might I…?” question. For example:

“How might I declutter my living room effectively?”

Step 2: Think of ways to achieve the opposite effect

Next, brainstorm how you might achieve the opposite of your desired outcome:

“How might I make my living room even more cluttered?”

Step 3: Write down as many answers as possible

Spend 3 minutes listing as many answers to your reversed question as possible.

Here are a few ideas related to the above example:

• Pile up unused books and magazines everywhere.
• Keep all the broken or unused furniture.
• Never sort through the mail or paperwork.
• Collect random knick-knacks and display them on every surface.
• Store random items on the floor and every available surface.
• Allow old/unused electronics and gadgets to pile up.
• Buy more bins, baskets, shelves, and storage units to hide the mess.
• Move things around without actually getting rid of anything—aka Clutter Shifting.
• Haphazard “organizing.”
  
  

Step 4: Flip each negative idea into a positive solution

Spend an additional 3 minutes taking each negative idea and turning it into a positive solution:

• Instead of piling up books and magazines, create a routine to review, donate, sell, and recycle them weekly or monthly.
• Rather than keeping broken or unused furniture, sell, donate, or discard it. Create space for the things you use to be seen and appreciated by you.
• Instead of letting mail and packages pile up, set up a system to immediately sort and recycle them.
• Replace random knick-knacks with meaningful decorations (that accurately reflect who you are) or bare surfaces.
• Rather than storing items in random places, store items in a designated home. If it doesn’t have a home assigned one.
• Instead of hoarding items you aren’t using, overcome the sunk cost fallacy and get rid of old or unused electronics by recycling or donating them.
• Stop buying more storage. We often hide our clutter in pretty baskets and IKEA storage bins—and forget we own these items. Limit storage to only the items you use and regularly rotate through.
• Instead of clutter shifting, sort and categorize. Identify items to keep, donate, and discard.
• Being organized does not equate to being clutter-free. Organize for preference, not as a solution to hide your clutter.
  
  

Step 5: Take action

After 6 minutes of reverse brainstorming, you’ll find practical new approaches for (and ways to think about) tackling your original problem.

All you have to do now is take action.

Applying Reverse Brainstorming to Other Areas

This method can be applied beyond decluttering. Here’s how it can help in other aspects of life (to get you thinking):

Boosting Productivity

1. Clear Problem: How might I boost my productivity?
2. Opposite Effect: How might I hinder my productivity?
3. Answers to Reversed Question:
   • Multitask constantly.
   • Skip breaks and work endlessly.
   • Use outdated or inefficient tools.
4. Flip into Positive Solutions:
   • Prioritize three things a day.
   • Take regular breaks to recharge.
   • Use modern, efficient tools to streamline work.
      

Improving Relationships

1. Clear Problem: How might I improve my relationships?
2. Opposite Effect: How might I harm my relationships?
3. Answers to Reversed Question:
   • Avoid communication.
   • Take loved ones for granted.
   • Always prioritize your needs over theirs.
4. Flip into a Positive Solutions:
   • Communicate openly and regularly.
   • Show appreciation and gratitude.
   • Consider and prioritize your loved ones’ needs.
     
     

Action Step For This Week:

The beauty of Reverse Brainstorming is that it can help you see your challenges from a new perspective. By identifying what you don’t want, you can more clearly define what you do want.

Give it a try this week and see how it can transform your approach to decluttering and positively impact other areas of your life as well.

If you implement this exercise (on your own or with those you live with), I’d love to hear about your success. Send me an email and tell me how it went.

That’s all for this week.

See you next Sunday.