How Decluttering and Simplifying have Changed My Life!

How Decluttering and Simplifying have Changed My Life

I know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that getting rid of my extra stuff has changed me all the way to my core. Decluttering and simplifying have changed my life. I used to feel like my stuff equaled status.  If I had this thing, then I would be successful.  That purse would make me more likable because I am trendy.  Honestly, the “status” version of me was really mean. That girl was very selfish and rude (however unintentional). She couldn’t see how blessed and fortunate she was with what was right in front of her.  She was too busy chasing perfect to recognize the beauty of life.

The need for more, better status, more things, clouded all of that.  The sad thing is that I never even realized it. With every item that I have donated, it feels like one layer of the lies about needing more gets peeled away, revealing a new truth and a new self.

Stuff carries an emotional burden. The more you have, the bigger the burden. It also intensifies the need for more stuff. The process of decluttering and simplifying my home has allowed me to cut the emotional strings attached to objects. They are things, not memories, not people. I still have sentimental items all over my house, but I have let go of some too. Suffering off and on with depression and anxiety, lessening the emotional burden of stuff has been monumental for my mental health.  There is a scientific study that links clutter to stress, especially in women.  Stress is tied to a multitude of other issues and illnesses.

Fewer belongings make us more grateful people. It seems counter-intuitive, but my family is so much more grateful for what we have and the small things happening around us. Like when I get extra hugs from my kids or they are having a bad day. I notice. These details used to slide right past me.  My kids are more gracious to each other and to those around them. In addition to grateful, we are more generous. With things, time, and money.

My kids are closer. My children are four years apart in age. Before we began this process, they often bickered and relied on an adult or screen to entertain them. Now, they disappear for hours engrossed in a make-believe story they have created. They still bicker, but it happens rarely (they are siblings after all). They look out for each other and genuinely miss each other when they are apart for any length of time. Earlier this week while dropping my daughter off at school, my son was screaming “I love you, Sissy!” out of the window. In front of her friends and other carpoolers, she yelled back, “I love you too, Buddy!”.

I am happier. I feel lighter and freer.

There is less cleaning. This is such a no-brainer!

Less crap = Less to clean!

All the items you own require some kind of maintenance. It may be it washing, wiping down, storing, dusting, cleaning…the list goes on. All of the maintenance takes your precious time to care for it. If these items take time away from your family and friends, are they worth having? I don’t know about you, but I would much rather spend my time with my family over dusting decor that doesn’t mean anything.  I can honestly say that it used to take me the better part of a day (or more) to clean my house. Now, I can do it top to bottom in about 55 minutes. I am ready for drop by guests in 15 minutes. How awesome is that?

Better finances. You buy less stuff, you have more money at the end of the month. You never realize how much you spend on random things per month! I am super critical about what I bring into our home after going through the decluttering process.  We have a little more wiggle room to do things and go places than we did before.

Renewed my sense of adventure. Quite frankly, this is my favorite benefit. The others are wonderful, but this one makes me feel like a better person and mom. I can try new things without the fear of more overwhelm. I am no longer tied to the weekend routine of cleaning and running errands, just to start the week. Being away for the weekend used to cause me anxiety. Like MAJOR anxiety. I hated feeling behind before the week even began. Any fun outings were not worth the hassle. Coming in on Sunday evenings now just means starting a load of laundry and our normal nightly routine with just a few extra things to put away. There is a whole world of fun things to do on the weekends. I am looking forward to discovering as many as I can!

My mind is clearer. I don’t suffer from brain fog like before. Decisions and details are so much clearer. It was like removing the extra stuff in my home removed the blinders I had been wearing for so long. I feel like I am more productive and do a better job on the tasks I need complete. Priorities aren’t nearly as hard to establish. The most important tasks stick out without feeling like “UGH! I need to do all of this and I don’t know where to even start!”.  Now I see a starting and ending point without much effort.

My inner voice is back! That small guiding voice in my heart was hidden for so long. It is getting louder with every load of stuff we get rid of.  I still find it really strange that voice was silenced by my clutter.  It is probably a combination of things that renewed it, but they all started with a big garbage bag and a pile of toys.

I say no! That is something I have struggled to do always. I am learning to be intentional in all areas of my life, not just my stuff. If it is something that I just do not want to do, or it does not match our values, I say no. I am still learning but not being committed to things that don’t serve me is so refreshing. Not to mention, it cuts the stress and allows more time for the things I actually enjoy.

My faith is stronger. Pulling all of my layers and excuses away has allowed God to change my heart. Letting go of things cleared my mind enough to see what grace and love are really about.  He is working like crazy in my life right now.  I don’t know His plans yet, but I know He is very busy. They will be revealed when the time is right. In the meantime, I have rekindled the peace and faith to know that He has work for me to do helping others. He is busy working on your life too!

I am still learning. I am still purging things. This list of ways minimalism has changed my life will grow and change as I get further into this lifestyle. I know that the same benefits are waiting for you. Try it. Pick one area (toys, clothes, kitchen items, etc.) and box up everything but the bare essentials. Put the boxes neatly labeled in your garage. Go get what you need out of them over the next week or two, but notice the way having less makes you feel. You can put everything back after a week if you wish but just try it.

Minimalism isn’t about the number of items you have. It isn’t plain walls and empty rooms. It is about removing what distracts you from the things you love most. You gain more time to spend with the ones you love. It is having time for adventure and to truly live your life. Your stuff is weighing you down. Let some of it go. You can do it. I know you can.