January 6, 2015
5 Reasons to Declutter
If you are following me on Instagram, you know that I”m doing #declutter30 this month. Decluttering, cleaning, and organizing are all HUGE in January. Everyone is ready to start the year off with less stuff, make resolutions, and changes in their homes. We start out all excited and then it’s hard to make those changes and the changes fall by the wayside and back to our old habits.
Make this year different. Make small changes. Give yourself grace. Keep going.
In case you”re already feeling defeated, I thought I’d share 5 reasons to declutter if you”re losing steam and not sure you want to keep decluttering. And just in case you”re wondering, decluttering IS NOT organizing. Decluttering comes first! If you have been following my cleaning routine, you know that CLUTTER is on the calendar every.single.day. I have to deal with it daily so it doesn”t take over. That to me is the secret to keeping clutter away and at bay. Declutter spaces like crazy and then maintain the clutter on a daily basis. It makes a huge difference!
In case you need a couple reasons to get started and to motivate…..
- SAVE TIME – No looking for things that you can”t find because everything has a place and a home.
- SAVE MONEY – No more re-purchasing items that you have and cannot find. Use what you have in your home before purchasing. Get creative, you might be surprised at some treasures you forgot about.
- LESS STRESS – I feel crabby and stressed when there”s clutter and visual noise in our home. Decluttering makes it less stressful and more relaxing to be in our home.
- FEEL MORE ORGANIZED – That organized feeling you are looking for? Decluttering will get you there. You”ll know where things are, you won”t be searching aimlessly anymore and you”ll enjoy opening up cupboards and drawers instead of feeling fearful of what might fall out on you.
- WELCOME OTHERS – If you”ve felt uncertain, anxious, or nervous about welcoming others into your home, decluttering will help to get you beyond that place of fear.
What”s your reason to declutter this year?
Jen @ Healthfulsaver Says
My reason to de clutter is to be able to enjoy the house and belongings that we have devoted so much of our life energy to obtain. What isn’t useful anymore can bless someone else.
Sara Says
Hello there Becky. This is a great website and a fantastic post. Thanks for the tips!
Kathleen Says
Grandson helped with boxes. Got seven donation boxes in car. More to do but we made progress. Have several boxes of stuff to find homes for
Havok Says
I love how you added “welcome others” to the list! This is one of the reasons I’ve been wanting to get my house in order, to have that much less stress about the idea of having people over! It’s something I’ve been putting off, though, because nobody comes over hardly ever. I would like that to change, though, so thank you for the reminder! 🙂
Lisa Says
I have my trunk packed with 9 bags to take to ACTS . Its a thrift store that helps the homeless and a maternity home.
I want to have my home available for our church small groups to meet here. My son also wants to have his small group meet here. I want my home decluttered and decorated simply so others will feel welcome. I have a difficult time when I am at a meeting and the place is very messy.
Beverly Says
I’ve got to get my house under control. It’s not terrible (or on a hoarder level), but it makes me feel “overwhelmed”. There are a lot of projects that I want to work on, but I have trouble get past the “throw up my hands” mode.
Manita Says
I am in the same boat, and this is 2016!
Becky Says
Post authorI wrote the post last year 🙂
Arla Barnard Farmer Says
After I suffere a life threatening illness several years ago, my husband and kids sat me down (separately, without conferring with each other) snd told me “please don’t die and leave all your stuff for us to clean out”. Powerful. I’m still working on it and finally decided To get counseling. I’m not a true hoarder, just too much craft stuff, kitchen gadgets, and books.
carrie challoner Says
I like to declutter to help clear the mind. Also helps me to be creafive. Like upcycling like using shoes boxes and bahe unused as storage.
velvetanne Says
Great ideas – thanks for sharing. I was going to say all the above comments. I had to downsize during the economic crisis – a job loss and a divorce. Thank goodness at first it was a crisis – made it easier – no time to think about it. Ended up with the things dearest to me. It is addicting – I keep decluttering but it does become more difficult with things that are left.
4mygrl Says
A desire to have more FUN in my life. I feel as though I can’t participate in fun activities because I am always cleaning and getting no where. Not inviting people over because of the messes, really hits home. Have a lot of new friends, but am afraid to have them over because they will want to see the whole house and there are areas that are just embarrassing to show. I have given myself a year to get this house in order. I volunteered to host next year’s Christmas cookie swap and my new friends will be here! Oh, Lord, what have I done!!
Susan Says
I clean other people’s houses while my kids are in school. Can I keep mine clean? No, don’t seem to have enough time. So I’m willing to try 15 minutes a day and see where that gets me. One thing I’ve learned in cleaning other houses, the ones easiest to clean have LOTS of empty space – on the counters, floors and tops of furniture. In other words, no clutter. So I’m focusing this month on really decluttering our house. We even have stuff in boxes that moved with us (more than once) that I’ve refused to go through until I have our house in order. I suspect a lot of it will finally go bye bye, but I know there is some stuff that I will want to keep. I just need to make sure I have space for it, and it will be used, cherished or it will have to go.
Kathleen Says
I am having a difficult time starting. I truly want to do it, but I can’t seem to get going. I keep reading everything that I can and then I feel like I can just doesn’t happen. Feeling discouraged!
Swan Says
Becky, you listed all of my reasons for decluttering. Thanks for sharing.