I discovered the benefits of decluttering when I moved from a house to a condo in 2013.
As a divorced mom, the upkeep of a three-story dwelling had taken its toll on me both physically and financially.
I loved the idea of pushing garbage down a chute rather than lugging huge bins to the curb every week.
And no more snow shoveling in winter sounded too good to be true.
Only problem, we would have to downsize our possessions to fit comfortably into the new space.
The more we purged, the easier it became to say goodbye to things that had outlived their usefulness.
The more we purged, the easier it became to say goodbye to things that had outlived their usefulness. Click To TweetThe truth that downsizing and decluttering only improved our lives came as a big surprise. There was no down side.
4 benefits of decluttering
Many people acknowledge that the clutter in their homes causes undue stress. But they have no time to do anything about it.
I believe if more people knew the life-changing benefits of decluttering they would find the time, and experience balance in all areas of their lives.
Here are just four of the many benefits of decluttering your home.
1. Reduced stress
It’s hard to relax in a cluttered room. Trying to decompress after a hard day in a space strewn with stuff is all but impossible.
You spend your down time reorganizing junk or putting things away, rather than putting your feet up. And that builds frustration, the opposite of what you want when your goal is to unwind.
Every day you experience the tension of time spent looking for items. Kids are late for school because they can’t find their shoes or books.
That pressure trickles down to your loved ones who bear the brunt of your annoyance. Not to mention the effect on your own peace of mind.
Clutter in your surroundings hurts your ability to focus. The extraneous items in your field of vision take you away from the task at hand.
Clutter in your surroundings hurts your ability to focus. Click To TweetWhether you have to physically clear the items, or simply take note of them in your mind, clutter divides your attention.
In this way it can negatively impact your productivity as well. Clearing the clutter for good alleviates all these stressors.
2. Improved confidence
Successful decluttering of your space feels like a major achievement, because it is! You’ve done something most people lack the self-discipline to carry out.
You’re facing an issue head on and refusing to settle for less than you deserve. You’ve made tough decisions about what stays or what goes.
As you decide what to keep or donate, you get more clear on your values. You get to know yourself better as you discover your likes and dislikes.
As you decide what to keep or donate, you get more clear on your values. Click To TweetWhen you look around and see a space you feel proud to call your own, your confidence increases. You feel in control of your space and your life.
3. Financial rewards
When you take the time to declutter your home, you reap financial rewards. You can sell quality brand name items on Craigslist or Kijiji.
When you clean out your closet, those designer clothes you no longer wear will fetch you a good price online or at the consignment store.
You’ll find bills inside pockets of clothes you haven’t worn in months or years.
When you clean up your files, you find credit balances on card statements or bank accounts you forgot about.
Hosting a garage sale will net you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Your newly organized life could inspire you to create a budget each month (or download an app). Now you’ll see long-term financial benefits of decluttering.
4. Improved family time
When you live in a cluttered house, you and your family spend too much time clearing up messes and not enough time enjoying one another.
Rather than spending time outdoors together, you waste Saturday afternoons cleaning out the garage. And because of clutter creep, it needs doing over and over.
Your frustration over a messy environment means you yell at your kids to tidy up. Then you feel guilty or angry at them for having to be told the same thing again and again.
When you get serious about decluttering and stop merely managing the mess, peace ensues.