How do you feel when you see dirty clothes on the floor, piles of papers and notes all over your desk, a counter full of plates, pans and spices, crammed drawer, and a jumbled closet?
Did that list just exhaust you?
I know. I’ve been there! And I am still taking the journey.
Our home is not totally clutter-free, not yet as organized as I envisioned it to be. From time to time, clutter tends to come back.
But it’s okay because this time, I can already say that it isn’t anything like that time when I just started decluttering. Not anymore.
Indeed much has changed, and much has improved. And with that comes benefits that I never thought I would experience!
Well, I have a good history of being really messy with my stuff, that’s why. Believe me, decluttering is one of the things I wish I never had to do!
But it proves to be truly life changing, when you choose to take it seriously.
Here are different ways on how decluttering your stuff transforms your life!
1. Decluttering frees up your space and allows you to breathe.
Ever wonder why it feels so good and relaxing when you’re in a hotel?
Simple.
Because there’s no clutter.
There are no piles of laundry on the floor, no war zone of toys, no mountains of paperwork, no stuff to dig into.
But you don’t have to go to a hotel every time you need to breathe and relax. You should be able to, in your own home. That’s why it’s called a home, and not just a house.
Decluttering will help you in eliminating the unnecessary stuff in your surroundings. And less clutter means more space, not just physically, but mentally as well.
With a clear space, you can breathe and relax after a long day’s work, and that’s when fresh ideas thrive!
2. Decluttering helps you to easily locate your things.
If I ask you to get something, will you be able to find it right away?
I’ll mention a few objects, then, as you read each, imagine where you left it exactly.
Let’s do this!
Car keys.
Nail clippers.
Sunglasses.
Your smartphone.
A clean underwear.
Socks.
Your birth certificate.
And that’s it!
So… how did you do?
Were you able to quickly recall where you put those things?
If yes, well, that’s great!
If not, then, it’s a sign that you really need to declutter. Being able to easily locate things is a product of a clutter-free home, where everything has its place.
Imagine when you can quickly find what you need! It saves you a lot of energy and time.
More importantly, it saves you from the annoyance of having to look for your missing stuff, and from the frustration that you feel when you just can’t find what you badly need.
3. It gives you more time for what matters most.
What matters most in your life?
Is it your stuff?
Or is it the time that you spend with your family, your friends and God?
I bet it’s the latter!
Your space is not the only thing that your stuff occupies. It also consumes your time. More stuff means more time to organize and clean.
Imagine the amount of time that you spend organizing things that you don’t use anymore. You may not even be aware of it, but it reduces the time that you could have spent to nurture your relationships.
Now, a time spent is spent forever! It won’t come back.
Decluttering allows you to remove the unnecessary things in your home, so that these won’t consume your time anymore.
Yes! You’re going to free up a lot of time when you declutter!
Which means… more time for the things that matter most – your relationships.
You can even use some of it to start a new hobby or work on a project that you have been putting off. Like when you want to quit your job already so you can stay home with your family, and you want to start an online business or a blog to make it possible, you can use your extra time for that.
4. Decluttering can make you some extra money.
Yup! Who doesn’t want some extra bucks?
You may decide to hold a garage sale, or sell some of your things online.
I know that one of the reasons why it’s hard to get rid of something is because you know that you spent a great deal of money on it. You feel like if you let it go, you’re not valuing the money that you paid for it, and even the effort that you put on to earn that money in the first place.
If that’s how you feel with some of your stuff, you can consider selling them, as long as they are still in good condition. Like a clothing or a shoe that you haven’t worn yet. Getting some money out of it can make you feel like it was not a total waste after all.
There are ways to make good money from clutter.
You can sell your used cell phones to Gazelle. CDs and DVDs can be sold to decluttr. And there’s eBay!
For more ideas on how you can sell your decluttered items for the best price, here’s a post from Mums Make Lists.
If you’re decluttering books, you may sell these online. Read this post to see the many places you can sell these to.
5. You’ll bless others with your stuff.
Your clutter could be somebody else’s treasure.
Giving to others is my favorite way of getting rid of items that can still be used. I don’t really like the idea of wasting something. So when I pass it on to someone else, it feels relieving knowing that my things will still be put to good use.
There are two ways you can give your stuff away – donate them, or pass them on to your family and friends.
You may decide to donate some of your things like clothes, books and toys to charity. This is a perfect opportunity to show kindness and practice generosity.
Donating is also a great remedy when it’s hard for you to part with your things. Just like in my experience, thinking that somebody else needs it more than you do is an effective motivation to finally let go.
And you will really feel relieved knowing that your things won’t go to waste after all. At the same time, you’re able to bless others – people who are less fortunate than you.
Some of your things you may decide not to donate, but to pass on to a family member or to a friend.
Either way, you are blessing other people.
This reminds me of one of Jesus Christ’s teachings – it is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
Indeed it is, and how great it feels when you share what you have with others!
Looking for more posts on decluttering? Check these out!
- 24 Powerful Questions to Ask Yourself to Make Decluttering Easier and Without Regret
- Where to Start Decluttering When You Feel Overwhelmed
- 10 Creative Ways to Keep Motivating Yourself to Declutter
Need help decluttering your home? How about some printable checklists? If that sounds cool, here’s our Free Mini Declutter Workbook.
Subscribe and get it here for FREE!
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