How to Declutter When You Have Multiple Interest

Read time: 4 minutes

Many people wonder if it’s possible to balance multiple interests with minimalism. There’s a common misconception that minimalism means limiting your interests, but this isn’t accurate or helpful.

The key lies in managing your interests while choosing to live with less rather than “restricting” them. This can seem unclear, but it’s an important distinction.

Some assume that living a minimalist lifestyle means focusing on only one hobby or interest. They see minimalism as restrictive rather than a pathway to greater freedom.

However, I know a few people (who are not YouTubers) who live minimally and enjoy a variety of interests.

These individuals have inspired me and provided valuable insights during my minimalist journey. They are genuine minimalists who thrive with diverse passions.

To me, minimalism is about “maintaining margin” in your life.

Decluttering (the first step to a minimalist lifestyle) is about creating the life you want—not stripping away what you have.

The real key is understanding what your daily actions reflect about your priorities.

Let’s explore this together.

Understanding Your Daily Actions

Many of us who identify as multi-passionate might use our diverse interests as a reason to hold onto more things than necessary or avoid decluttering altogether. Often, though, we may find that our actions don’t fully align with all the hobbies we claim to have.

Before starting my minimalist journey, I filled my space with items related to multiple interests I claimed to have at the time. However, the vast majority of these things were never used as much as I intended.

Instead, they occupied the space behind my couch, on top of my bookshelf, under the bed, and spread equally between the top shelf and the floor of my closet.

The truth is, it’s easy to say one thing and do another.

It’s common to keep items for activities we seldom engage in.

This disconnect between our claims and daily actions leads to clutter (both in our spaces and minds) that doesn’t truly serve us.

So, how do we bridge this gap without creating a cluttered environment?

The best place to start is by looking at your daily routine. Reflect on the past 30 days, this last season, or 12 months ago. What do your actions say about your priorities and interests?

Are you spread too thin across other aspects of life, and therefore, are your hobbies constantly taking the backseat?

Are you juggling too many things simultaneously, leading to both physical and mental clutter?

However you answered these questions, the solution to balancing your interest and maintaining a minimalist lifestyle is not limiting what you can do—it’s creating a space that allows you to do more of what you value.

Here’s what I recommend:

Step 1: Prioritize Your Interest

Start by listing all your interests. Then, identify which resonates with your core values and brings you the most joy.

These are your top priorities.

This exercise will require an honest internal conversation to ensure your top priorities align with your true self, not your fantasy self.

Remember, having several passions or interests is okay, but having clarity on what you genuinely and regularly engage in versus just “liking the idea of” is critical.

Step 2: Allocate Dedicated Time

Once you’ve identified your core interests, allocate dedicated time for each. Create a schedule that allows you to immerse yourself in these activities without feeling rushed.

This will require you to say no to other things more often than you’re probably used to. It will not be easy, but it is necessary.

After creating your schedule, give yourself time to see if your intentions translate into reality. Are you, in fact, engaging in and dedicating the time you thought to the hobbies and interests you labeled a priority?

If not, revisit your list from above. If yes, you nailed it.

This approach helps you manage your time better and ensures you are honest about which passions are worth investing further into.

Step 3: Simplify Your Space

For each prioritized interest, keep only the essential items that add value. Discard anything that no longer serves a purpose or distracts you from what you care about most.

For example, it’s evident from my videos on YouTube that my family’s home is clutter-free. But what isn’t captured on camera is how intentional we’ve been about creating a space that supports our interests, hobbies, and values.

(Quite a few people have asked me for a home tour video, which I’m considering, but if you have specific questions about how we’re doing things, hit replay and let me know)

Here’s the point I’m making.

Balancing multiple passions or interests with minimalism involves intentional choices.

What are you saying yes to, and what are you saying no to?

Reflect on your daily actions to ensure they align with your core values. If they don’t, I encourage you to make the necessary adjustments.

• #1: Build a decluttering project list
• #2: Choose the best place to start
• #3: Keep the things you genuinely and regularly use (see steps 1 & 2 from earlier)
• #4: Filter everything else through your core values. Does it support or prevent you from spending your time doing the things you care about?
  
  

Your Turn

Think about your own life. What do your daily actions say about your priorities and interests? How can you declutter your space and manage your passions more effectively?

I hope this reflection inspires you to embrace a minimalist lifestyle while honoring your passions and interests.

That’s all for this week.