I’ve Had a “Limbo Box” for Years, and It’s the Only Thing That Helps Me Get Rid Of So Much Stuff

When it comes to decluttering, what stops me — more often than not — from getting rid of items is not knowing where to start, feeling dread about saying goodbye to sentimental items, and tossing an item I may possibly still need. And I’m sure I’m not the only one.

I’ve experienced all the above, but when I adopted the “Limbo Box” method for decluttering, it changed everything.

Here’s how I approach the “limbo box” method for decluttering. First, I decide to tackle a specific area, be it a garage shelving unit, my shoe collection, or a kitchen cabinet. Every item is taken out and assessed. I have a “definitely donate” pile, a “past its prime” (trash) pile, and then an “undecided limbo” box (very similar to Apartment Therapy’s outbox method). It’s in this last box that the magic happens: I let it sit for two to four weeks post-decluttering, and if an item keeps tugging at me, then I’ll pull it out and put it back. Otherwise, it gets donated. This trick cuts decision fatigue by more than half, makes organizing feel more enjoyable, and gives me space to contemplate items I’m unsure about.

I actually came up with the idea on my own years ago, driven by a desire to create some soft space (and extra time) between clearing out a room and immediately getting rid of the unwanted items. I didn’t really have a name for it, but then I realized others did the same thing and someone gave it the clever name of the “limbo box” method, and it’s since stuck with me!

This process of leaving things in limbo helps me to realize I don’t need the item after all, and the time that goes by helps soften the process of “letting go.” That built-in time also reduces some of the panic I can feel when decluttering. If you’ve ever tossed an item that you ended up regretting saying goodbye to, you’ll understand. This method curbs that likelihood substantially. By the end, I almost always end up donating the entire contents of the box.

How you go about this is up to you. I like to place the items in a small- or medium-sized box in our front closet, which keeps it enough out of sight to not feel tempted to pull items out all the time, but still easy enough to access. Then, when those few weeks have passed, I’m able to declutter in bulk. If you’ve often struggled with decluttering because it seems daunting, feels exhausting, or increases worry about getting rid of something you may still want, I highly suggest giving this method a go.