In the whirlwind of a busy schedule, it’s easy for your space and life to become cluttered with items and activities that don’t truly add value. But that’s where decluttering and intentional living come into play.
Decluttering means taking a good hard look at your space, deciding what has real value, and letting go of things that don’t. You can also apply the same principle to your life in general through intentional living, which involves being thoughtful about your choices and actions and aligning them with your core values and goals.
Combined, these concepts can transform your physical space, your mental health, and your life. A clutter-free life is intentional. You’re making deliberate decisions about living purposefully and creating a calmer, more focused environment that supports your goals and values. Read on to discover the many benefits of decluttering.
What It Means to Declutter
Decluttering can extend beyond just letting go of unused or unwanted items. It can also involve decluttering your digital life, mental life, and the demands on your time.
Excessive clutter hinders your productivity, happiness, and even your safety. For example, piles of paper or clothes can make it hard to find what you need when you need it. Decluttering can also be synonymous with organizing your house in a way that is visually appealing or practically functional. With everything in its place, you can easily find what you need and focus on important tasks.
However, decluttering varies from person to person. Some people like a minimalist lifestyle, while others prefer a fuller—but organized—home. There can be a balance, no matter your preference.
3 Key Benefits of Decluttering
Decluttering has many benefits—some obvious and others you may not have noticed. For example, decluttering a packed garage and making room to park your car creates a safer space for yourself and your belongings. This is just one small example of how decluttering can bring tangible benefits to your lifestyle.
Decluttering can also save you money. When you better understand what you own and where it is, you’re less likely to buy duplicates or items you already have but couldn’t find in the clutter. This not only helps your bank account—it also promotes thoughtful consumption.
Beyond this, decluttering has many other mental, physical, and practical benefits.
1. Productivity Benefits of Decluttering
Decluttering your space can make a big difference in how productive you are. Here are a few key benefits:
- Time management: When your space is organized, you spend less time searching for things, and it helps you maintain a smoother workflow.
- Enhanced creativity: A clean and organized workspace can stimulate creativity and innovation. You’ll be less distracted, and have more mental space to develop new ideas.
- Better decision-making: Inevitably you’ll have to decide what you want, what you want to donate, and what you want to throw away during the decluttering process. This process of decision-making is good practice for other difficult decisions you may need to make.
- Easy maintenance: With fewer items in your space, keeping things clean and tidy is easier, allowing you to spend less time on maintenance and more time being productive.
With a space to think and create freely, productivity comes more easily.
2. Mental Benefits of Decluttering
Maintaining a clutter-free environment can also profoundly affect your mental and emotional health:
- Reduced stress and anxiety: Physical clutter can cause some people to feel constantly stressed or anxious. Decluttering creates a peaceful environment that reduces these feelings.
- Increased happiness: Decluttering often brings a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, and may help you feel happier.
- Enhanced self-esteem: Improving your surroundings sends a positive message to yourself, which can boost your self-esteem.
- Clearer thinking: Clutter can overwhelm your mind, hindering clear thinking. Decluttering reduces mental noise, giving you more energy and ability to focus.
- Improved sleep: A clutter-free bedroom can lead to better-quality sleep, helping your overall health.
While you may not experience these many mental benefits all at once, you’ll begin to recognize the difference your decluttering is making over time.
3. Physical Benefits of Decluttering
Decluttering your environment also offers various physical benefits. Here are some of them:
- Reduced allergens: A clutter-free space can reduce the presence of dust, mold, and pet dander and minimize the risk of allergies and respiratory issues.
- Decreased risk of injury: Clutter raises the risk of physical injuries like tripping or falling. Clearing and organizing your space can reduce these risks.
- Increased physical activity: Decluttering can be a physical activity, especially when decluttering your whole house. Bending, lifting, and moving around can help you burn calories and stay active.
- Healthier eating habits: A 2016 study revealed that a cluttered kitchen can lead to overeating. Decluttering your kitchen or dining area could help you make healthier food choices.
So while decluttering brings order to your surroundings, it also promotes a healthier lifestyle.
How to Declutter Your Home
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of decluttering your home, you’re not alone. Decluttering your home can seem overwhelming, especially if you have years’ worth of items to sort through. But, by taking it step by step and following a clear plan, you can make it that much easier and enjoyable.
Set Goals and Start Small
Start by setting small, achievable goals for your decluttering. Break down the process by each room or by areas of a room. This could be as simple as clearing out a junk drawer or organizing your shoes.
By breaking all your tasks down into smaller parts, you’ll feel less overwhelmed and more inspired to get started. Plus, each small victory will motivate you to keep going.
Be Honest With Yourself
When deciding what to keep and what to let go, be honest with yourself. Ask yourself when was the last time you used the item and when you will realistically use it again. If it’s been over a year and there’s no immediate future use for it, it might be time to let that item go.
Create More Space if Necessary
As you sort through everything, you’ll come across things you’ll want to keep but need a better way to store. In this case, creating more storage space might be your best option.
Consider adding structures like a metal garage or exterior shed to your property. These are some of the easiest ways to add more storage, and they can be customized for your specific needs and even add value to your home.
More Tips for Intentional Decluttering
To give you an extra boost toward success, here are a few more tips for intentional decluttering:
Set a Timer
Avoid overwhelming yourself by setting a timer and decluttering for a specific time each day. Even 15 minutes can make a difference.
One In, One Out Rule
Try to adopt the “one in, one out” rule. For every new item you bring into your home, send an old one on its way.
Use the Four-Box Method
Keep four boxes handy while decluttering: one for keeping, one for donating, one for trash, and one for relocating items within your home.
Take Before and After Photos
Seeing the transformation from a disorganized environment or cluttered space to a well-organized, clutter-free space can encourage you to maintain your newly decluttered space.
Ask for Help
If decluttering feels too overwhelming, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Friends, family, or even professional organizers can provide support.
The decluttering process may seem challenging at first, but the benefits you gain—both physically and mentally—are worth it. From enjoying your living space more, to even alleviating mental health conditions like anxiety, choosing to declutter with intention can result in great returns on your investment of time and effort.
