So, you’re thinking about decluttering your space? That’s fantastic! We’re here to discuss decluttering and ten reasons you should start decluttering now.
Your living space should be a sanctuary where you can relax and unwind, no matter what the day brings, and decluttering is a great way to do that.
Years ago, I was in the same place as many of you, overwhelmed by the mess and clutter in my life. But I found a way out.
I was taking control and empowering myself by removing items I didn’t use or enjoy. I remember the relief I felt when I cleared out my closet and could finally see the clothes I liked.
Decluttering isn’t just about tidying up; it’s about simplifying your life and giving you more time for what truly matters.
Decluttering is not a once-and-done process. It can take you a few small or massive sessions if you prefer. Either way, creating a plan to declutter and finding ways to keep you motivated can make it easier to create a clutter-free home.
Once you are at the stage where you no longer need decluttering sessions and are at the maintenance stage, you will embrace simplicity.
You will change your shopping habits and create routines to maintain a clean and tidy home. Without the clutter, you can focus on the present and enjoy simple pleasures around you, like family time.
I highly recommend Joshua Becker’s The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life.
You should start decluttering your living space now for many reasons. However, the following reasons help me with my shopping habits, and I focus on creating a clutter-free space.
Reasons You Should Start Decluttering Now
- Your home is not a storage unit
This is one of the top reasons you should start decluttering your home now. After years of bringing items to our homes and receiving items as gifts, we can accumulate a lot as the years pass. We keep and push the items back somewhere as more items come in.
By the time we know it, our homes are full and cluttered, and we use them as storage units. For instance, old clothes we no longer wear, duplicate kitchen utensils, or books we’ve already read can all be decluttered.
Our home is not a storage unit, but that does not mean you should rent one. It would be best to start decluttering to avoid using your home as a storage unit. We store items we do not need, and worse, we do not use them.
Start decluttering. Remember not to use your home for storage, and keep items you use now rather than saving for later. Chances are that if the items are not being used now, you will not use them later.
- Avoid leaving items to your loved ones
When someone passes away, it is a tough time for those left behind. That is why you should declutter your belongings and keep what you use and love.
Doing this will prevent you from leaving items that did not mean much to you and make it easier for your loved ones to decide what to do with them. It’s a considerate act that can bring relief during a difficult time.
For example, I have kept some meaningful gifts and a few jewelry pieces. The rest of my items are items I use daily or clothing I wear now. I am not leaving a lot of items behind, making it easier for my family to keep the gifts and the few pieces of jewelry.
- Minimize your silent to-do list
The silent to-do list is that feeling you get that something needs to be done even after you have checked off your actual to-do list. It’s the mental clutter that all the items in your home create, as they need your attention. All the items are giving you silent messages to tend to them, which can be mentally exhausting and distracting.
For example, dirty clothes on the floor silently tell you to pick them up and put them in the laundry basket. Dirty dishes are silently telling you to wash them and put them away. Shoes on the floor silently tell you to put them in the closet.
Addressing the silent to-do list can free you from these constant reminders and allow you to truly enjoy your time and space. It’s a way to bring peace of mind and a sense of freedom to your daily life.
Please read my post How the Silent To-Do List Distracts Us From What Really Matters
- Create a space you enjoy
When you declutter and remove items that create clutter or make your space look messy, you can transform it into one you truly enjoy. Visualize what a clean and cozy place you want your home to be, and start by removing everything else that is making it cluttered and messy.
This can look different for everyone, but our room does not have a dresser and side tables. We use a small dresser in our closet for clothes. This makes our space more spacious and saves me time cleaning our room. There is no need to dust dressers or side tables.
- Achieve financial goals
When you start decluttering, you only keep the items you use now. Instead of having items shoved in every storage area, you can now see what you have. This will help you avoid buying items you already have, helping you save money.
Once you start removing items and your space becomes easier to maintain, it will be easier to stop buying more items. Your spending habits will change due to your work to create a clutter-free home.
The money you save by not buying more items can be used to reach some of your financial goals. Since your spending habits have changed, saving money, paying off debt, or taking a vacation will be easier. This sense of accomplishment can be a powerful motivator to continue your decluttering journey.
- Achieve personal goals
A clutter-free home can help simplify cleaning, giving you more time to achieve your personal goals. These goals include exercising more, creating a skincare routine, or taking time for self-improvement like reading.
Now that I have a clutter-free home, my daily cleaning tasks take no longer than thirty minutes. I can wake up early to a clean and clutter-free home and do things that help me achieve my personal goals.
- Create your dream home
If you live in an apartment or are renting, now is the perfect time to declutter and only keep items you love and use. Doing so will help you prepare when you move into a home if you plan to purchase one.
You only have to move items you need and love to use, creating your perfect living space. If you already have a home or do not plan to move, creating a clutter-free home has plenty of benefits and should be a priority.
- Simplifies your life
Living in a clutter-free home will help simplify your life and your cleaning. Fewer items mean less taking care of items, less furniture, less moving furniture to clean, and less cleaning the furniture. Fewer clothes mean fewer loads of laundry. It will also make it easier for you to find items when needed—no more wasting time looking for items.
- Enjoy the benefits
By far, this one is one of the reasons I love having a clutter-free home. There are so many benefits of decluttering and only staying with items you love and use now.
A few benefits of a clutter-free home include less stress, improved productivity, and better sleep.
Clutter causes stress, and studies have shown that it increases women’s cortisol levels. Having fewer items means less to manage.
A clutter-free home can help you increase your productivity. A clean, tidy, and organized space will minimize distractions, making concentrating easier.
We all need a good night’s sleep; a clutter-free home will help you sleep better. Our bedrooms should always be clutter-free to create a calm, peaceful environment to promote better sleep.
- Easier to organize and maintain
There is no need to go out and buy all these nice bins and containers to keep your home organized. You need to declutter your home and slowly start organizing by using what you have.
Having fewer items makes it so much easier to keep your home organized. Then, you will need to create routines and maintain your home.
Final thoughts
I hope some of the reasons I mentioned above have helped you decide to start your decluttering journey. Sometimes, we wait until we feel stressed and overwhelmed to remove items from our homes.
However, decluttering now will help create a clutter-free home, which can help create a calm and peaceful environment.
Need more ideas to help you declutter? Read my related posts below.
How to Declutter Your Bathroom and Finally Keep it Organized and Clutter-Free
15 Simple Decluttering Tips for Beginners to Keep a Tidy Home
Comment below and let me know when you plan to declutter or if you are already in your decluttering journey.