5 Reasons to Declutter
Western Society is a consumeristic society. A la Capitalism. This isn’t necessarily a good thing or a bad thing. It all depends on your level of discipline and whether you fall under a producer or a consumer.
Decluttering is a direct action under minimalism. To declutter is to rid yourself of things you don’t necessarily need or use anymore. For example, clothes, emails, receipts, memorabilia, duplicate items, actions, or even people. Decluttering can be very broad in what is unnecessarily occupying your life.
This type of action can be very difficult for some people. I have witnessed it first hand in my own life and my loved ones. We will generally form two types of attachments to our clutter: emotional or financial. Our emotional attachment will bring us back to a time (good or bad) where we reminisce. Or financial attachment where we try to justify holding onto things because we simply spent money on it. You must learn how to release these attachments.
Before we dive in, it should be noted that you want things or people in your life that align to your ideals, morals, spirit, happiness, ability to live, and purpose.
- Decluttering gives your time back.
I heard in church the other day that we overvalue money and undervalue time. This is the most important reason to declutter, because time cannot be replaced. Whether that means giving less time to people that aren’t truly important to you, activities that don’t bring you purpose or joy, or even being distracted by material items that don’t serve much of a purpose. These are just a few examples. Freeing up your time gives you the chance to have more freedom, or at least the opportunity for freedom.
2. Decluttering saves and makes you money.
Being very intentional with your money and not buying things out of emotion is the end result of decluttering. Accumulating clutter can form a snowball effect. Stopping that snowball and turning down unnecessary purchases saves money. Decluttering tangible items gives you the chance to sell them or even rent them. If you own somewhat pricey items, you can rent them out and have a small side hustle.
3. Decluttering frees up your head space.
Physical clutter can take up a lot of room in our living space, and it can also consume our thoughts. We may not notice it or even deny it, but it owns real estate in our heads. Life can be complex for some, but making it simple as possible makes it easier. A crowded closet can be overwhelming in terms of what to wear, whether it still fits, or even does this still look good. If you look at items and even question yourself, “Should I keep this?” get rid of it. Those materials (and thoughts) are more occupying than you might think!
4. Decluttering gives you flexibility.
I love using the closest example, because it’s easiest to relate, it’s easy to go do right now, and it was how I started. Buying shoes or clothes that be used multiple times with different outfits is very intentional. For example: a majority of my clothes are a neutral color so I can wear them more often. However, have some fun with it by going to your own style.
Another way decluttering gives you more flexibility is when sudden changes occur, such as moving or a career change.
5. Decluttering will discipline you and show priorities.
Deciding what matters to you the most is the point of this article. Truly making the most out of life and being around the ones you love and they love you back. If you decide to stop spending time and money going out on the weekends and replace that with spending time with your family, your life will change. If you realize you don’t need to be buying useless items, and instead make additional income from a side hustle, your life will change. It’ll give you a chance to organize better and faster, lower your stress levels, more financial freedom, and more energy to develop your passions.
Decluttering can be hard to get over that initial emotional “hump”, but once you realize that your time matters and is of higher quality, you will be more intentional in your lifestyle.
