8 Great Benefits of Decluttering Your Home
There’s no question that a cluttered home can increase your anxiety level. It bears repeating that if you have too much stuff in your physical space, stress levels can rise. Especially when you don’t have a clear plan to achieve a clutter-free home.
Now, there are actual, tangible benefits of decluttering your home that extend beyond the aesthetic. Certainly, having a home that looks good is a plus. However, simply having less clutter can do wonders for your mental health. Sherrie Bourg Carter, Psychologist, succinctly states that mess leads to stress.
As we delve into 8 benefits of decluttering your home, think about the amount of clutter you have and the peace of mind you’ll achieve once you’ve gone through the decluttering process.
1. Reduced Stress
As the psychologist above indicates, clutter can result in sensory overload. When you have piles of stuff around, your brain is busy taking in this information. And, quite frankly, it’s distracting.
This can lead to irritability, difficulty focusing, and embarrassment about the state of your home. All of which can increase your stress level.
Consider how much more effective and clear-headed you could be without all the extra stuff clouding your home? And by extension, your mind?
The good news is that once you begin decluttering, you start to create some order in your home. This increases a sense of calm. And, by the same token, in the process of decluttering and getting rid of unneeded items, you are getting rid of that source of stress.
2. Better Sleep
Cluttered bedrooms do not make for a good night’s sleep. Your brain is busy processing the surrounding clutter when it needs to quiet down.
So, if you’re having trouble sleeping, decluttering your bedroom is a step in the right direction.
Try it. Declutter your nightstand, pick up any clothes that happen to be on the floor, clean out your closet.
At the end of the day, a good night’s rest is an important component of good health.
3. More Money
More money in your pocket is another one of the benefits of decluttering your home.
With a cluttered home, it’s not unusual to have duplicates or multiple items because you can’t find the original.
A decluttered home will give you a better sense of your inventory. And you won’t rush out to buy what you already have. Or purchase something that won’t fit in your living space. This will put some extra dollars in your bank account.
Furthermore, there’s a chance to earn additional income by selling the items you no longer use or want, that are in relatively good condition.
Here’s something else to consider. Creating and implementing a system for your paper clutter will reduce the chances of incurring late fees. And thereby increase the amount of money that stays in your pocket.
4. Improved Family Relationships
This one’s huge when it comes to the benefits of decluttering your home.
If you’ve ever had arguments or disagreements take place in your home due to clutter, you’ll be able to relate. Your spouse can’t find his wallet for the umpteenth time. Your daughter can’t find her keys. And you’ve misplaced your favorite pen.
Now, you’re running late, because you’re spending time running around looking for these “lost” items.
And exhibiting patience is not exactly one of the first thoughts that come to mind.
The good news is that it’s possible to reduce the strain between you and your family members that can arise when household items are all over the place.
In a decluttered space, everything has a home. Clearly, family members must be made aware of where things go and are accountable for returning items where they belong. Now, will this happen all the time? Likely not. However, it will certainly be a far cry from the old habits.
5. Makes Cleaning Easier
While we all want a clean home, we don’t want to spend a lot of time cleaning.
Having fewer things frees up the space in your home. Consequently, there’s less to clean, cutting down on your cleaning time.
It’s hard to clean a cluttered counter. You’re more likely to clean in between and around the items, rather than remove them altogether. And this is not an effective method of cleaning.
Once you pare down your items, you can properly concentrate your efforts on things such as clean surfaces, floors, corners – some areas of your home where clutter accumulates.
6. Less Dust
In concert with easier cleaning, another one of the benefits of decluttering your home is having less dust.
Dust builds up quickly and can impact your health, not to mention make your home look unclean. The importance of dusting is not to be overlooked.
So, if you want to accomplish your goal of having a tidy home, set aside some time on a daily basis, roll up your sleeves and get to work decluttering. A little bit at a time will get the job done.
7. More Time
When all is said and done, you’ll have more time on your hands when you have fewer things cluttering your space.
You won’t be spending as much time cleaning, as there will be fewer items to clean. Similarly, dusting won’t require the same amount of time.
Once you have a place for everything, you’ll return things to where they belong. This cuts down on time spent searching for “lost” items.
Consequently, you’ll have more time to spend with your family and do the things you enjoy. Perhaps you’ll re-discover your creative side that’s been under wraps with the clutter. The possibilities are endless.
8. Have an Effective Work From Home Space
If you work from home, you know that starting your day with a disorganized desk can negatively impact your workday.
As well, a cluttered workspace can reduce your efficiency, slow you down and possibly affect the quality of your work.
Consequently, it pays to declutter your work area and thereby improve your overall productivity.
Recap
As you can see, decluttering your home is important. And the effect of reducing clutter goes deeper than just the visual appeal.
To recap, here are 8 great benefits of decluttering your home:
- Less stress, as there is more order in your home.
- Better sleep by reducing excess stimuli resulting in a less cluttered bedroom.
- Save and earn money either by reducing the need to buy more stuff and/or selling your excess items.
- Improved family relationships.
- Cleaning is easier, as you have less to clean.
- Less dust, due to freed up space.
- More time for the things you enjoy.
- A more productive work space.
It’s time to get started. Any progress you make will be a step in the right direction.
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