Pro Organizers Agree: You Should Ditch This Common Decluttering Habit

• Despite being a popular organizing method, making a “maybe” pile can lead to overwhelm, stir up decision fatigue and slow down the decluttering process.
• Four professional organizers share their advice and concerns about keeping a “maybe” pile.
• There are rare instances where a “maybe” pile might be beneficial, according to experts.

Decluttering the entire house is hard work, and there’s no single way to do it. There are countless decluttering methods — some involve setting timers, tackling one zone at a time or separating items into designated piles. No matter how you get your house in order, a few professional organizers warn against one common decluttering habit that can slow your progress and create indecision.

If you can’t decide whether or not an item has a place in your home, you might add it to a “maybe” pile with plans to return to it later. The problem? This popular technique can be counterproductive. Instead of successfully decluttering the house, you’ve just created a pile of items you’re unsure about.

Shaniece Jones, decluttering expert, never suggests clients create a ‘maybe’ pile when decluttering. “‘Maybe’ piles lead to hesitation instead of resolution.” Instead, she recommends quick decision-making. Try placing items into piles that communicate clear next steps, like keep, donate, trash or recycle and repair.

“While some organizers see ‘maybe’ piles as a helpful middle ground, I’ve found that they often prolong the process and create a breeding ground for indecision,” Jones adds. “Hear me out: ‘Maybe’ piles equate to indecision, indecision leads to overwhelm, then you are right back where you started when you began decluttering in the first place.”

Why should you avoid the “maybe” pile?

• You inevitably have to return to it. If you aren’t making an immediate decision about the fate of your items, you’re essentially creating a task for your future self. “It’s a decision delay tactic,” says Jones. “It keeps you stuck in a mental loop and undermines the clarity you initially are trying to create.”
• You might end up creating more clutter. Jones calls it a form of “clutter shuffling.” Moving things from one place to another might feel like progress, but it’s not true productivity. “It’s a temporary payoff because it feels like you cleared a space, but you still have not made the decision.“
• It can lead to overwhelm. “While it’s tempting to hold onto everything ‘just in case,’ that approach isn’t practical and often leads to overwhelm,” says Susan Guraj, founder of VS Organized Interiors.
• It delays decisions: “When you decide to keep the ‘maybe’ pile for later, you are stirring up decision fatigue, which can cause you to avoid the pile altogether,” Jones says.
• You may end up keeping items you don’t care about. If you avoid going through the pile, you may take the easy way out: Decide to keep it all. “Creating a ‘maybe’ pile can allow items that aren’t truly needed to be kept anyway,” says Emily Mass, owner of Spaces By Emily.

Is there a right time to keep a “maybe” pile?

The “maybe” pile can be helpful in certain situations, but it should always be a temporary solution. It’s important that you address items in the pile during the same decluttering session. “I actually like to reframe it as a ‘Revisit’ pile,” says Jones. “It’s a small shift, but it sends a clear message: This isn’t where things go to sit forever — it’s just a pause before a real decision gets made.”

Here are two instances where a “maybe” pile might work:

• If you’re warming up to decluttering. Victoria Tran, founder of Sorted, sees the benefit of a “maybe” pile when you’re early in the process. “Once you see the progress and realize what you truly need and love, that ‘maybe’ pile almost always turns into a ‘no’ pile — so don’t shy away from using it when needed, but always aim to move through it with confidence and clarity.”
• If you’re not the sole decision maker, for example “when sorting sentimental items or items that require input from a family member who isn’t present,” says Tran. “But ideally, try to avoid deferred decisions. Every item should have a clear destination by the end of your decluttering project.”

Source: Home Ideas - goodhousekeeping.com