Most of us are guilty of a little hoarding. Whether you struggle to get rid of those sentimental items or can’t resist an impulse buy, it’s easy to find yourself drowning in clutter. It’s easy to collect things we don’t need, and things can be difficult to let go of, though it’s not for lack of trying. We often find ourselves having a clear out, but end up battling with our thoughts of “but what if I need these 3 different blenders?” or “but this was a gift from my childhood sweetheart.” Reality check: Your assortment of blenders (or old magazines/never-worn clothes/toiletries you’ll never use, etc.) is excessive and will just cause you unnecessary stress. Just like your bad boy teenage boyfriend. Allow yourself to let go of what you don’t need and feel the benefits of decluttering. Here are 5 ways in which organising will help put your mind in order as well as your home:
1. Feel the Satisfaction
Decluttering is satisfying. Okay, you might not agree when you’re currently sat in a giant pile of all your clothes wondering why you ever started decluttering in the first place, but it is. The benefits of decluttering outweigh the stress of the decluttering process. Seeing a once messy room (or even a cupboard) looking Instagram worthy offers a massive sense of accomplishment as a reward for all your hard work. It’s nice to feel as though you’ve achieved something when you haven’t even left the house. Take the opportunity to feel proud of yourself by letting go of the things you don’t need and make room for good vibes.
2. Appreciate What You Already Own
It’s a great feeling finding things that we love but had forgotten we own when we’re clearing out. Imagine always having these things where you can properly appreciate or use them, rather than them being swallowed up by chaos. Think about your sentimental items, maybe stuff that belonged to a family member who has passed away. It’s always hard knowing what to do with these items and they can be hard to let go of. Unfortunately, a lot of the time this kind of stuff ends up hidden in a box. When you hold onto everything, objects lose their value; if everything is sentimental, then nothing is. Pick a few items that hold real value. Put them around your house where you can admire or use them. It’s lovely to be able to easily reach that snuggly blanket that your grandma knitted for you or your favourite childhood book.
3. Create More Time
How many times have you been late for work because you’re running around frantically looking for your keys? When you own less stuff, this definitely becomes less of a recurrence. There are just less places for your bits and bobs to hide. Once you’ve ditched the excess, you’ll find that you can see what you own more clearly. It will save you a lot of hassle, especially in those busy mornings. This is one of the benefits of decluttering that we could all do with. You’ll also free yourself from the endless job of keeping everything clean and tidy and will be able to make your entire house immaculate before you can say “minimalist.”
4. Sleep More Peacefully
Clutter can make us feel more anxious and stressed throughout the day. But did you know that it can even affect you during sleep? Having clutter around can affect us both consciously and unconsciously because we view it as something on our to-do list. The purpose of the bedroom is to rest and spend quality time with your partner. Both of these things are made more difficult by having distractions around. Technology in the bedroom can particularly disrupt sleep, as well as storage under the bed and messy spaces. Disconnect yourself by removing any tech devices, clear under-the-bed clutter for good feng shui, and tidy up so you can get a peaceful sleep and wake up to calm and peaceful surroundings. Treat your bedroom as your sanctuary and see how your sleep improves.
5. Give Yourself Room to Breathe
Although we don’t actually need very much at all to survive, many of us own far more than necessary. While it’s possible to sustain ourselves with what we own when living in a 1-bed apartment, upsizing to a 3-bed house means we just buy more stuff. Whatever space we have, we feel the need to fill it. If we were able to meet our basic needs with what we had in the apartment, do we really need the extras that we buy for the house? Obviously if you’re expecting a baby or need the extra room for family then you need to accommodate, but lots of what we buy is inessential. Many people are taking part in the Tiny Home Movement and massively downsizing. Your house doesn’t have to be bare and clinical for it to be organised. It can still be cosy, without being overwhelming. Give yourself room to breathe and don’t be afraid of keeping a little empty space for you.
