Clear Space, Clear Mind: Why Now is the Perfect Time to Declutter Your Home

There is no better time than the start of the year to get your declutter on!

Thanks to Marie Kondos, ‘The Life Changing Magic of tidying’, which has sold more than 3 million copies, decluttering your home is a hot topic. What exactly is clutter? Clutter is anything you don’t like, anything you don’t want, anything you don’t need or anything that doesn’t make you feel fabulous!

There are some amazing physical and emotional benefits to decluttering. Here are some reasons why you should consider a declutter now, with a link to the best tips we could find online to get you started.

1. Reduce Anxiety.

When things are out of order, it can make us feel anxious and scattered. Creating order is said to relieve anxiety.  The simple act of getting rid of a few items that no longer serve a purpose and finding a permanent home for your used items gives us more of a sense of control, which ultimately can relieve stress.

• Have a place for everything, so you can find it instantly when you need it.
• De-cluttering can be a huge task – especially for those of us who hoard – and requires a methodical approach. Tackle one room at a time and work through each room systematically. Sort your belongings into 3 piles: items you want to keep, items for charity and items of no use.
• Arrange the items you are keeping neatly, in a logical order, in drawers or cupboards, so they are out of sight, but can easily be found when you want them.
• Consider different storage solutions for smaller items, such as document boxes for paperwork, vacuum-seal storage bags for out-of-season clothes, or plastic storage boxes for miscellaneous odds and ends.

For any items too big to hide away in cupboards or drawers, such as surplus furniture, paintings or rarely-used sporting equipment, consider hiring a storage unit. This will give you peace of mind that you’re not throwing away items which you want to use in the future, whilst enabling you to clear the decks and create a sense of calm at home.

Once you’ve finished sorting, take the items for charity down to the op shop and throw away any belongings of no use or sentimental value. If you have a lot of items to get rid of, it might be worth hiring a skip bin. This will not only make the whole ‘sorting’ process easier, but can also save you a lot of time in trips to and from the local tip.

2. Reduce Relationship & Family Tension.

Clutter can cause a lot of arguments in the home. Get the family together and agree on a declutter strategy. Here’s a suggestion, each person must find 3 personal items to give to charity. This can be toys for the kids, unused old makeup or unworn clothes.  Reduce the number of arguments over things being left lying around the place and get the whole family on board.

3. Increase Your Energy to Tackle Bigger Issues.

Decluttering gives you a greater sense of control and is incredibly energizing. You have put your mind into ‘getting things done’ mode. When you do this, you will more than likely find you are energized enough and in the right head space to get more things ticked off your ‘to do’ list. Things you may have been putting off for ‘another day’. We are all guilty!

4. Sleep Better.

A study conducted in Washington found that people who sleep in a cluttered room often suffer from hoarding disorder and have more problems sleeping.

Your bedroom is simply a place to rest and the items in your bedroom should reflect rest. Think of your kitchen, its primary function is for cooking and the objects you keep in there are for cooking!

Take out the dirty laundry and find another place for it. Or find a laundry basket that has a lid on it and complements your décor.  Go through your wardrobe (be ruthless!) and get rid of anything that doesn’t make you feel fabulous!  Keep your resting space restful!

Here are some great tips we found to get you started on decluttering in the bedroom: https://www.getgreenbewell.com/how-to-declutter-your-bedroom-for-better-sleep/.

5. Get Rid Of Emotional Baggage.

When you start to go through some of your older possessions, you will more than likely find items you have kept as ‘keep sake’. Something from a past relationship perhaps.

Being free of items that trigger a past emotion can open up your energy channels – out with the old and in with the new – moving your mental space into the ‘now’.

Need Some More Tips On How To Declutter?

So, there are many, many benefits and good reasons to start decluttering. But how do you get started? We found some great tips here to help you get on your way.

There is no doubt that letting go of clutter can be difficult. But the advantages far outweigh any negatives. When you declutter your home and find you need to keep some items that you simply don’t have the need or the space for at that time, you can contact us and we’ll talk you through our various storage solutions.