Thanks to pioneers such as Marie Kondo, the notion of minimalism and decluttering our lives has become extremely popular in recent years. More than ever, we prefer to spend our money on experiences rather than physical products – especially those of us who live in small apartments in cities where space is at a premium. However, if you’ve never tried it before, you might be unsure of where to begin. Read on to find out how to reap the many rewards of banishing clutter from your life!
The benefits of decluttering
Removing clutter from your life – both the physical kind and the abstract kind – can be uplifting and liberating. When it comes to physical items, having a clear out can help you to feel less stressed, boost your productivity, and even enjoy better sleep. Not only that, it could even save you time – after all, the fewer objects you have in your house, the quicker it is to clean! On top of which, it makes it less likely that you’ll lose items and have to spend a lot of time looking for them.
In terms of what we might refer to as ‘spiritual clutter’, removing that can also do wonders for your wellbeing. It’s a fantastic opportunity to have a fresh start and reinvent yourself, becoming the person who you have always wanted to be.
Tips for removing clutter from your life
If the idea of decluttering feels a little overwhelming, follow these tactics to make the experience a breeze:
- Start small. Focus on just one room, or even just one cupboard. Once you’ve got the hang of the process, it will get much easier. Plus, when you see what a difference it makes, you’ll be itching to carry on! When you have a pile of items from each room, you might be able to generate some extra cash if you sell those items that you no longer want – especially if you sell Bentley or another type of luxury car!
- Unsubscribe from email newsletters or paper mailing lists that you don’t read.
- When tackling your closet, donate anything that you haven’t worn in a year to charity.
- Deal with incoming clutter such as mail immediately, rather than leaving it to take up space and stress you out.
- When facing a big decluttering project, put on your favorite music and make the experience fun!
- Remove spiritual clutter by cutting out toxic relationships from your life, and learning how to say no to extra commitments that you don’t want.
- If you’re struggling to know whether to get rid of an item, put it in a box for a while. In a few weeks, ask yourself if you missed it or needed it. If the answer is no, you can feel more confident about getting rid of it.
- Another great tactic is to pretend that you are moving house, or even leaving the country. Think about whether you would bring that item with you – if not, that’s another good sign you can donate or chuck it.
- Don’t forget about digital decluttering. This will help to keep your computer running at top speed, make it easier for you to find the files you need, and allow you to be more productive.
