Most people groan at the thought of decluttering: it's such a chore, it can be emotional and put off as too difficult. But there are some very beneficial reasons to declutter and here are 9 of the best reasons to declutter, you'll want to start this very moment!
1) Make room for new memories and goods.
There are loads of techniques out there such as the "one out, one in" method of decluttering where you can only bring home something new if you get rid of something old. This isn't a bad approach, but can be a bit harder to police (ourselves!). A seasonal purge works best for me where I go through last year's clothes before putting them in the wardrobe ready for the new winter or summer. I find that a few month's away from last season's items gives me better objectivity and it is easier to make decisions on whether those things should stay or go. So, I quickly put aside things for charity which makes room for the new season's yummy things!
With sentimental things, some people find that if they hold negative memories, they don't want to keep them. This can free your mind and space of heavy feelings about an experience or a person.
2) Make some money
You may have things in your cupboards that you can sell and get some money back. Don't keep holding on to things through laziness! Put aside a day clear them out of storage, and pop them on ebay or Facebook marketplace, buy-swap-sell sites or online community noticeboards. Make sure you include a couple of good photos, dimensions and the condition they're in (be brutally honest here). Clear them out and get the cash to use for something nice!
3) Less visual noise
No one - well not many - enjoy being in a cluttered space. It's unsettling and you can feel unsure about why. When my place is cluttered (usually during school holidays!) I feel compelled to try and get it back under control. I can't quite relax in the space properly until it's all back in order.
4) It's easier if you do it often
If you declutter regularly, it's much easier to keep on top of it....it isn't such a mountain of a task and is therefore less likely to put off! Even if it's just a little bit every week or two, or bigger cleanses every quarter, getting into some sort of habit makes it so much more manageable!
5) It saves time
Let's face it.....less stuff requires less time to maintain it all! Less dusting, less, organising, less storage required, less everything!
6) It makes moving easier
Four years ago, I moved twice in the one year, with most of our stuff kept in storage for a few months. We got so used to living with less, and it was so....well....enjoyable! And then, we bought a new home and they delivered all our stuff - a whole container load. I couldn't believe we had so much stuff! I had to get rid of most of it as we just couldn't fit it in our new, smaller, abode. It was sooo much work and frustration, I swore I would never let it get to that stage again. Well, I've been generally pretty good and our new home doesn't feel cluttered. I'm no minimalist, but things are thoughtfully placed and there's just enough decorative elements without having every surface covered. And if we have to move again, the process will be much easier (although I hope we won't have to move for a very long time!).
7) It saves money
This one is simple. Don't buy stuff and you don't have to store it! Use your money for experiences rather than stuff. Take photos for mementos. Books in iBooks or other virtual methods are usually cheaper than hardcopies. Etc etc etc!
But there's another way less stuff saves you. If we live with alot less stuff, we need less space. We don't need a spare bedroom to hold our items, so we don't need such big homes. And in places like Sydney, where property is crazy expensive, buying smaller houses is a lot less expensive!!
8) It makes you more mindful
By thinking about what we buy and the resources that go into it as well as how will we store it, we will want to waste less. It's better to buy fewer better quality items than stacks of cheap, poorly made things which won't last long and end up as land fill.
9) You can't take it with you!
It can be quite selfish to leave all your stuff for your kids to sort through after you've gone. Even if you find it difficult to do, you can make the load lighter by knuckling down and decluttering your home. And as you never know when you're going to fall off the perch, there's no time like the present to get started!
So, they're my top 9 benefits of decluttering. What are your thoughts on the matter and how have you overcome your clutter?
