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You hate ALL your clutter, right?
BUT just can’t get round to shifting it.
You mean to DO it every weekend.
BUT week after week, it doesn’t happen.
You’re NOT alone. I promise you.
We ALL hate our clutter BECAUSE it is overwhelming.
BUT we are even more overwhelmed by the challenge of letting it go.
SO we struggle to start.
AND if we do start, struggle to stick at it.
So how on earth can we motivate ourselves to let go of all that stuff?
That is actually making us so unhappy.
WELL one good trick is to focus on the BENEFITS.
I am going to share with you in a moment SIX massive benefits I’VE enjoyed from decluttering.
BUT I also need to let you in, on two BIG secrets.
They are the most powerful motivation to declutter I know.
And I’m going to share them at the END of the post.
Teasing. Teasing. I know.
But they will honestly make more sense once I’ve shared the benefits.
So here we go, six big benefits of decluttering that will motivate you to get started AND keep going.
Six Big Benefits Of Decluttering
1. Happier In Yourself
The first BIG benefit of decluttering is the simplest.
I simply feel happier from letting go of stuff.
I am less anxious. Less miserable. Less overwhelmed.
I smile more.
And am just fundamentally happier in my own skin.
2. Less Angry With Others
But I am also less angry with others.
My clutter made me mad.
I felt I was carrying a massive weight of stuff around.
And day after day it made me crack.
Transforming me into an angry monster.
Who stomped around the house screaming at my family.
(They wisely hid!)
Letting go of that burden of stuff, has meant I no longer feel so out of control.
And it was the out of control feeling that triggered my anger.
3. Sleep Better
The sheer volume of our clutter makes us feel out of control.
And makes our brains whirr.
It’s too much to take in, process, store effectively AND put to rest.
So physical clutter in our homes actually keeps us awake at night!
One of the best things about decluttering is I sleep better.
Hurrah! Whoop, whoop!
4. Clean Quicker
And another BIG victory is I can clean quicker!
We’re not the tidiest of families.
And even putting the cleaner on took an age with a house full of clutter.
Now, I genuinely can whizz around.
And it is much easier for the rest of the family to help.
5. Find Stuff
And with much less stuff.
It is much easier for everyone to put stuff away.
AND for everyone to find stuff.
Quickly. WHEN they need it.
Without a major family melt down.
6. Save Money
Do you know what the crazy weird thing about clutter is?
The MORE we hang on to stuff.
The MORE we actually buy.
BUT letting go of clutter helps us resist our INSTINCT to grab new stuff.
And kick the habit we’re all hooked on of buying stuff to feel better.
Decluttering will SAVE you more money than any sale or coupon!
OK. So those are 6 big benefits YOU will enjoy from decluttering.
Keeping those in your mind is a great motivation to let go of stuff.
But NOW the two BIG secrets.
The First Big Decluttering Secret
We’ve been told by the experts that decluttering is HARD.
And decluttering does look hard, doesn’t it?
I mean … there’s all the stuff we think we might need some day. And sentimental stuff. And our partner’s stuff. Our kids’ stuff. Stuff we spent lots of money on. Collections we love. Hobby stuff. Stuff we stockpiled to save money. Stuff that’s hard to get rid of. Paperwork – oh the paperwork! And then, there’s the boxes. In the basement. In the attic. In the garage. In the shed. Under the beds. And just clogging up the hall!
BUT there is an easy way to let it all go.
That is NOT by putting aside every weekend to do it.
OR by yanking loads of stuff out.
The easy way to declutter is to turn it into a little habit.
I have let go MOST of my stuff by decluttering a tiny amount every day.
And finishing one small 30 minute project every week.
You truly can let go of your clutter easily. How motivating is that?
YES, YES you shout … BUT doesn’t that mean it takes ages?
Well, here’s secret two.
And it’s another big one.
The Second Big Decluttering Secret
If you came round to my house, you would NOT find a minimalist haven.
I still have a fair amount of stuff I expect to let go.
BUT I have already enjoyed those six big benefits of decluttering.
And I enjoyed them from when I first got started.
BECAUSE the thing is, decluttering isn’t a major project to finish once and for all.
It’s a simple way of living in a busy world.
And you can enjoy the benefits of letting stuff go and living with less AS SOON AS you start.
Every day – and every week – you let a few things go you are easing the burden of clutter and you’re protecting yourself against the urge to cling onto things and buy more.
Letting stuff go everyday, is a daily victory against feeling overwhelmed.
And you know what?
You can actually find joy in the very act of letting go.
Of passing something on to someone who will enjoy it more.
Of taking a bag of stuff to the charity shop every week.
Of saying goodbye to things you will be happier without.
It will take time to banish all your boxes.
BUT the daily habit and ritual of letting stuff go becomes motivation in itself.
And each day we do it, we get more momentum.
As a very wise lady said …
It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end … ” Ursula Le Guin
I do hope this motivates you to start decluttering.
For practical support every week on your declutter journey do sign up for my newsletter … .
Along with the motivational tips there’s advice on everything from:
- Decluttering without making more mess
- Banishing the boxes
- Beating the beast in the basement
- Tackling paperwork
- Handling your family’s clutter
- … and letting go of sentimental stuff
- … to downsizing your collections
- … and stopping stockpiling
