source: Ian Sterling
Decluttering means different things to different people, and there are many ways to approach it. Having a definition and goal in mind – such as when I set out on my decluttering mission – before you get started will help you stay motivated and make hard decisions about what to keep and what to give away.
What Does It Mean to Declutter?
My definition of decluttering is simply getting rid of those things whose cost is higher than their benefit. I don’t necessarily mean the financial cost, but rather the cost in terms of the space they take up and the time they waste (to dust, move, think about, etc.) just by being in your home.
By decluttering your home and giving away, selling or throwing away any items that aren’t making your life richer, you are able to simplify and enjoy life more.
Benefits of Decluttering
With that in mind, here are a few benefits of decluttering that you may or may not have thought of:
- The more you practice evaluating the value of things in your life, the less attached you become to stuff in general.
- As you purposefully declutter your home, you’ll realize how much stuff you truly have and start to evaluate future purchases more carefully, which will ultimately save you money as well.
- If you are more of a keeper and your spouse is not, starting the decluttering process can reduce the conflict around that issue. Of course, decluttering can cause conflict if you start giving away your spouse’s things without their permission, so I don’t recommend doing that!
- You’ll spend less time dusting and cleaning.
- You’ll have a better idea of where things are in your home and be able to find them more quickly and easily.
What is the biggest benefit you’ve noticed from decluttering? If you’re avoiding getting started, what is holding you back?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
i am in the process right now of decluttering the whole house - between ebay, donating to my daughter’s school “trash or treasure” stall at their upcoming school fair, and passing on lots of hand me downs to friends I am clearing out a lot of surplus from our home.
In addition to the points you made, I look at regular (at least annually) major decluttering as a part of our healthy financial situation. Instead of hanging onto items well past their use by date and letting them get ruined (toys, books and clothes especially) I try to sell them while they are still in good condition and recoup a lot of our money (and i n a few cases of bigger baby toys i made a profit!). I shop well in the first place (big bargain hunter) and then sell well and that funds future purchases.
That’s a great point, Deb, about selling things while they’re still in good condition! Thanks so much for adding that!
I have found that clutter stresses me. I’m much more irritable when my house is messy or cluttered with “stuff” that doesn’t need to be there. When I declutter my home and can see open space and clean surfaces, I am a much calmer person. With 7 kids in the house, I need to be calm!
I don’t have 7 kids, but I hear you! It’s so much easier to stay on top of things when you don’t have a lot of clutter, and having a straight, semi-clean house is important to me too!