Clutter and holding onto things that go unused and aren't enjoyed don't just affect your storage space, they can affect your mood too.
A book that truly lives up to its name, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" written by Marie Kondo is all about clutter, the affect it has on our lives and how to change it.
Those knick knacks we don't really like but keep around anyway are not only taking up space, they are also taking up another very precious resource - or energy.
It's true. I took the plunge and decided to tidy up my own home and the results were amazing.
Kondo's mantra is - if it doesn't spark joy, get rid of it.
It sounds simple, but when you start looking around you may be surprised with how much stuff occupies space in your life that doesn't spark joy. It's like a subconscious drain; you know, the "what-if clothes" you haven't gotten rid of in 3 years, or the CDs from the 90s you don't listen to anymore but keep buried in the back of your cabinet.
Honoring the space we live in by only keeping things of value and meaning ups our self-care game, which spills over into our day-to-day lives.
7 Reasons to Declutter Now
1. You'll Feel Lighter/Happier
It may sound strange, but I noticed it right away. By getting rid of things that didn't bring me joy I felt lighter and more free. Almost as if the things that were surrounding me that I didn't enjoy were holding me down. In fact, the author states that a lot of her clients even lose weight after tidying up.
2. Gain More Awareness of Your Likes and Dislikes
Since beginning this declutter mission I've become a very discerning shopper. If I don't love it, I don't buy it. The real estate in my house has shot up in value. I don't let just anything come through the front door.
3. Calm Replaces Frazzled
When your stuff is in order life just becomes calmer. With clutter around us, there is a constant level of anxiety. You'll notice when you nix the clutter, you nix the anxiety. That and you're not looking for your keys anymore because they have place.
4. Decisions Become Clearer
Getting rid of bags and bags of things that weren't working for me any longer was so empowering. We get to choose our happiness, and those choices are everywhere. Starting this at home opens up a whole new wavelength of clarity. Knowing what you don't want is a great first step to knowing what you do want.
5. Keeps You More Present Minded
The toughest thing was getting rid of mementos and keepsakes. I found that I kept things that I didn't necessarily like any more because they reminded me of a certain time, place or experience. My fear was that by tossing the thing I would also toss the memory. This isn't true! The memories are still there. I don't need the 2010 Disney World key chain to remember our vacation there.
6. Make More Room For What You LOVE
When we clear out the things we don't love, we make more room for what we do love. This is true at home, in business and in our relationships.
7. Cleaner House - And It Stays That Way
This is the easy one - clean the clutter out and your house is cleaner. Just knowing my closets aren't stuffed and that everything serves a purpose makes me feel like my house is cleaner. Dust bunnies beware.
It may be tough to get started, but once you do, you'll want to declutter everything - your house, your inbox, your life. You will start to notice just how valuable your space is.
"The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" was a great reference tool for me and I highly recommend using it as a guide to decluttering and organizing. There are also people out there who specialize in this kind of thing, so get some in-person help if that's what you need.
Enjoy a world surrounded by things you love - happy decluttering!
Danielle