The Crazy Simple Life

Picture By Sean MacEntee

Removing clutter from your home is as good for you as taking a walk, doing yoga or meditating.  Why?  Because clutter-free environments are linked to lower stress levels, improved moods and happier marriages. 

Okay, I made that happier marriage part up, but could it be true?  The more chaos you can remove from your home, the better your disposition will be and that impacts everyone around you.  Logically your relationships will feel the boost and who knows what else can result from creating a more organized environment.

So how do you de-clutter?  Here are 4 simple steps to remember:

Step 1:  Less is more.  Start by walking through your home to identify crime zones. Typical areas include closets, books shelves, toy bins, and the stack of magazines you don’t read.  Be tough on yourself.  Letting go is healthy.

Step 2:  Tackle one area at a time to avoid being overwhelmed.  Start with storage areas to make room for things to be added.  This will also help when time is limited; you can tackle one area one day and another the next. 

Step 3:  Get rid of, or store, unused items.  De-cluttering doesn’t have to mean bye-bye stuff.  It is more about getting it out of your life…for now, or at least until it is needed again.  If you can’t bear to get rid of some things, then store them.  Label them and store somewhere out of sight in your home (attic, garage, back of closet, underbed). 

If storage space is limited, get creative. Some suggestions:

o      Buy stacking bins that will fit in a cupboard

o      Put new shelves in a closet

o      Use plywood and bricks to create shelves for shoe racks

o      Find boxes that will fit under your bed

o      Use open wall space for clothes hooks or bookshelves

Step 4:  Organize often.  I cannot say enough about the frequency of managing your stuff.   The amount of possessions brought into the home on a daily basis is much higher than the amount that goes out.  Taking frequent inventory on what does, and does not, need to be in your home will help you buy less (because you will remember you already have an extra box of q-tips).  An overwhelming overload of stuff can be avoided if you organize often.

De-cluttering is an ongoing task.  We just have to manage it regularly to make sure we control our stuff and our stuff doesn’t control us.  And be sure to celebrate small victories along the way…take a well-deserved zen moment to enjoy your re-energized space (and your happier marriage).