Decluttering: A pleasure, not a chore

Rather than fixating on what you’re letting go of, Josephine encourages people to focus on what they’re making space for: clarity, freedom, and a home that reflects the way they live today. Her guiding philosophy? “Drink it while it’s fizzy.” In other words, enjoy the good things in life while they’re still meaningful to you whether that’s a bottle of champagne, your best china, or a jacket you love.

Jo approaches what can feel like an overwhelming task with structure, practicality, and warmth. She understands that letting go isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to items tied to memories, aspirations, or guilt. Josephine offered practical methods of choosing the things to part with without regret.

A few tips from her talk included:

• The most common types of clutter that hold people back, which often include sentimental items, 'aspirational clutter', and costly possessions that we feel guilty about discarding
• Questions that help cut through indecision, such as "Would I buy this again today? Do I use this? Could someone else benefit more from this than I do?
• What not to do, such as delaying the process, relying on storage instead of sorting, or taking too much into a new home

Her key advice? Don’t try to tackle everything at once and don’t do it alone. Enlist help, start small, and focus on what you use and value. Most importantly, don’t wait too long to begin.

For those who are interested in learning more about Jo's methods, mantras, and a few common mistakes to avoid (hint: don’t start with the attic!) we highly recommend connecting with Jo directly. There’s much more to learn and the right support can make all the difference, for more information please email david.simpson@auriens.com or call 07917 352 411.