Day Nine: Eliminate the Doom Device
In the quest for a cleaner, more organised living space, a new method has emerged that promises to simplify the decluttering process – the DOOM box. This innovative approach, inspired by the concept of quarantine, provides a solution for those who find it difficult to make immediate decisions about items they are unsure about keeping.
The DOOM box is essentially a container where you place items you are unsure about parting with during the decluttering process. By storing these items somewhere tidy and out of immediate sight for a set period, usually around a month or more, the idea is to reduce decision-making pressure and avoid clutter caused by holding onto things "just in case." If you don’t think about the items or use them during that time, it’s a sign you can let them go without regret.
To effectively declutter and get rid of a DOOM box, it's essential to set a time limit and use decision rules. For instance, the 90/90 rule suggests that if you haven’t used an item in 90 days and don’t foresee using it in the next 90 days, it's time to let it go. Another approach, the Sparking Joy method from the KonMari method, encourages keeping only what genuinely sparks joy or serves a meaningful purpose.
Marie Kondo's KonMari method, which focuses on the principle of joy, can also be integrated into the DOOM box strategy. By reviewing the contents of the DOOM box, ask yourself if each item truly brings joy or value before deciding to keep or discard it. This approach helps prevent perpetual clutter, as unlike some methods that encourage slow, room-by-room clearing, the DOOM box helps decisively clear out indecision and move on.
Organisational strategies can also be employed when sorting the DOOM box. Consider categorizing items or using additional boxes labeled by room or purpose to streamline decision-making and relocation during your declutter session.
Additional tips include adopting a value-based decluttering mindset, prioritising the "Didn’t Know" decluttering rule, and using emotional support methods like Swedish “döstädning” (death cleaning) to view decluttering as a positive, life-affirming process.
In summary, the DOOM box is a practical tool to manage indecision in decluttering. By temporarily isolating uncertain items, using time-bound rules, joy-based criteria like the KonMari method, and mindfulness about your personal values, you can effectively declutter and reduce clutter permanently. This approach minimises regret and helps turn decluttering into a thoughtful, manageable practice.
When employing the DOOM box method for decluttering, it's beneficial to categorize items in additional boxes labeled by room or purpose, as this helps streamline the decision-making process during your declutter session. Additionally, incorporating techniques such as the 90/90 rule, the Sparking Joy method from the KonMari method, and the Didn’t Know decluttering rule can help you confidently let go of items that no longer bring joy or serve a meaningful purpose in your home-improvement and home-and-garden lifestyle.
