The declutter movement seems to be a hot topic at the moment and minimalism is the talk of the town. This has spread from the US to the UK with increasing popularity and I am personally here for it. Everything organisation has been embedded in me for as long as I can remember so it is great watching the benefits of decluttering and leading a more organised life get the traction it deserves.
Before we talk about the benefits of decluttering and organisation though, it is probably a good idea to discuss what it actually means. The funny thing is though, there is no one right definition. My definition? Well, put simply:
Decluttering is the process of removing any items that provide no physical or emotional value in your life and therefore serve no purpose.
Organisation is the process of adding systems and processes to every area of your life to make your space (both physically and mentally) work best for you
Let’s see what the Oxford dictionary says though shall we?
Declutter – to remove things that you do not use so that you have more space and can easily find things when you need them
Organisation – the act of making arrangements or preparations for something, the way in which the different parts of something are arranged, the quality of being arranged in a neat, careful and logical way
What is your definition? How organised do you feel based on these definitions?
I absolutely love watching shows like Get Organized with The Home Edit and Tidying Up by Marie Kondo but that is because my mind is already wired that way and they give me lots of inspiration for clients that I work with. They also help an awful lot of people. However their extreme and rigid methods can seem overwhelming to those new to the concept of decluttering and organisation. They have a target audience and ideal customer just like any other business and sometimes this isn’t the average Joe like you and I (I think we are all amazing in our own way but you catch what I mean)
It can feel like the expectations of decluttering and organisation is to have a pristine show home and fully productive life at all times and this is simply not the case. This is unrealistic for every single person in the world. We all make mess, we all have life get in the way of our to do lists and we all forget things.
Decluttering and organisation is something that takes time and effort to master. It is changing small habits one at a time and starting small and working your way up. It is changing things so you have a calm and relaxing space to escape from life and also having the systems in place to make sure you do have enough time in your life for family, friends and self care. To make sure you prevent burnout at all costs and make sure your home and day to day life runs as simply as it can to make room for the good stuff.
You may think you don’t have the time to make the changes you need to, to take on the decluttering in your home but I promise you by starting small (maybe a drawer or starting to prepare lunch for the kids the night before) they add up to big changes. It is also really addictive! Don’t believe me? Try it yourself! You can download my free declutter guide here which will help with your first project.
If you still need convincing, let’s get on to why you came here to start with – the benefits. What can decluttering and organisation do for you?
So, let’s start with those benefits that you may expect.
We all lead extremely busy lives and after a long day you just want to relax and de-stress in whatever way is right for you. If you picture your ideal space, is it full of clutter or is it a sanctuary surrounded by what you love the most? If you could make your home, or at least a part of your home closer to your ideal sanctuary wouldn’t you feel calmer and more relaxed at the end of the day, giving you a better chance to re-fuel?
Next up is the time saving benefits. Whether that is decluttering or organising.
When your physical items are organised, so they all have a home, tidying becomes infinitely easier and quicker. Homes inevitably get messy but when you have a designated place for all your belongings it can save a lot of time tidying up. Bonus note – you are also statistically less likely to let mess accumulate if all your belongings have a designated home and space (that’s another time saver there, imagine not ever needing to tidy up). On the flip side to this, you will also save time looking for things as you know exactly where everything is.
Time saving benefits can also be added to the ways organising your day to day life better too. Sometimes just re-arranging your schedule, nailing your daily routines or adding a life hack or two can make all the difference between being able to fit in your down time or not.
Finally, let’s explore the more unexpected benefits of decluttering and organising.
- Studies have shown that those that live in a cluttered home have higher levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) than those that live in a decluttered home. If your clutter has reached levels where you feel completely overwhelmed, it is likely that this is contributing to your daily levels of stress. It is important to add here that everyone’s version of clutter is different and therefore this does need to be taken into account as to what levels or clutter would raise cortisol levels for who.
- Decluttering and organisation can save and make you money. Initially in the decluttering stage, you can make money selling some of your unwanted items. You may also uncover some items you had forgotten about and have saved you re-purchasing in the future. Long term, it can also help you save money. By letting your space dictate your “stuff” instead of the other way round, you will likely become a more conscious shopper, only buying what you need.
- Environmental concerns are something we should now all be factoring into everything we do. If you are at the beginning of your decluttering journey, you have the chance to recycle responsibly. This includes donating and reselling items that can have a second life. It is widely recognised that although recycling is a positive step towards being more mindful to the environment, the best thing we can do is not purchase the unnecessary and live more mindfully. Thankfully, when you begin to live with less clutter, many do become more mindful of items they are putting in their home.
- Decluttering and Organisation is infectious. No matter how small the project, it is addictive. The feeling of satisfaction when you look back at your newly decluttered space will make you want to do more and more. As you become more organised and productive, activity breeds activity, the more you do to crack through your day, the more you will achieve.
- I am sure we can all think of a lot of things we would rather be doing than spending time cleaning. Of course, it is something we all need to do but trying to clean around a cluttered home naturally takes longer than doing it around a space that is already tidy. I know we have already touched on time saving but I thought saving time in this specific area was worth a mention.
- Confidence. And in the best way. When confidence comes from your own actions and empowerment it becomes even more impactful. When you begin to see the other benefits of organisation in your life, it will give you the confidence to start working on some bigger goals and projects and making difficult decisions.
- As you look into organising your day-to-day life, it will start to become apparent what is most important to you and your family. Perhaps it will highlight that you do not spend enough family time together and can begin making those changes. Or perhaps you will realise that you really do need to look into some outside help as there is just too much for one person in a 24 hour day. Sometimes just seeing things in black and white and down on paper will be enough to make a positive change.
- One of the top reasons for moving home is due to not having enough space. The truth is people often choose homes based on it being big enough to house their “stuff” instead of their space dictating the belongings they should have. When you begin decluttering, whole rooms can be discovered under the clutter where they have previously been dumping areas. Do you have a spare room that doubles as a space where everything gets hidden? If you sorted out the space, what else could it become?
- You could sleep better. This benefit it closely linked to our first point. By reducing stress levels you may get a better nights rest. Add to this a calm space where you are surrounded by your favourite items, you are more likely to drift off better and wake up more refreshed.
- Remove the clutter, remove the guilt. A lot of what we may hang on to is out of guilt. Guilt from those really expensive shoes you have never worn. Guilt from that box full of hobby items you HAD to have but never use. Guilt from the items you have been holding onto that were gifts but never used. I could go on. By letting go of items that only have guilt attached, it can lift a weight off your shoulders you may not know you even had.
So, there we have it. Were there any surprises for you? I would love to know if anything has inspired you to start your declutter and organisation journey?
If you would like some help getting started, check out our FREE declutter guide here or check out our TOC family in our private Facebook group here where I share tips, masterclasses and weekly challenges exclusively for members.
Sending love and remember – you have absolutely got this!
The Organised Co. 
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