6 Reasons to Reduce Clutter Today

Reduced Clutter

There is no better day than today to start getting your life in order. Through a minimalist approach, you can begin to see benefits of limiting that which has suffocated your freedom.

The following are 6 Reasons to Reduce Clutter Today:

  1. Breathing Room – The sooner you relieve yourself from the stuff that has accumulated throughout your life, the sooner you will be able to breathe. The more stuff we have around our daily activities, the more likely you are to be stressed. If you can push back on the accumulation of stuff, you will be able to relax and appreciate the important items you do own.
  2. Healthy Lifestyle – Stuff collects dust and germs. Stuff hides leftovers and dirty clothes. Stuff is a burden on your health. Cleaning everything up and out can create a much cleaner environment to live in. Think this is healthy?
  3. Productivity – Anyone who says that by having everything out in an unorganized manner is more productive than put in a place and neatly kept, has never tried the latter. If you limit the unnecessary and organize that which is important to the tasks that need to be accomplished, the more productive you can be, freeing up more time for what you really want to do.
  4. Social Aspects – Though I do not try and care what others think, there is still a sense of responsibility and ownership to that which I have control over and what impression I am giving off. If someone were to interview you at your home for a job, what would their first impression be? That impression, whether good or bad, is very important to society. Would you want to visit a home that appeared unsafe and unhealthy? Or would you want to spend time at a home that was kept up, organized, and focused on the important aspects of life?
  5. Free Time – The less clutter in your life, whether living space, financial matters, or other areas, the more capable you are of doing the things you want to do. You can experience more and take advantage of opportunities that once seemed unlikely with the pile of junk holding you back.
  6. Snowball – The less you have stopping you, the better the chance you have at accomplishing other goals/dreams. Once you accomplish one goal due to reducing clutter, the better the odds you have of accomplishing the next goal. So on and so forth. Good habits breed success.

There are many more reasons to focus on the clutter encompassing your life, but these aspects are great to realize first. Take with these reasons, the idea that you can change and improve the lifestyle you are living by traveling down a minimalist path. It can happen. You just have to believe it is possible.

Dave
The Minimalist Path

Click here to get a copy of PROJECT M-31: Simply Your Life in 31 Days

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  • Thanks David for this post. I'm a pack rat, and for the purpose of selling my home, I had to de-clutter. I fought it kicking and screaming. I have to admit now that I've taken a small step down the minimalist path, I love my new digs. It's a huge dome of peace and calm covering me. On a personal note~ thanks for your comment and wisdom regarding my blog. Sean has mentioned your blog several times to me. (I think it was a hint about the de-clutter thing.) Glad I finally checked it out and will continue to. Good day to you.
  • Thanks! I love that your posts are brief and to the point. I'm in the process of reducing my clutter at home. It's a bit overwhelming at times, but I'm just doing it a little at a time. Usually after I let go of one group of things I no longer want/need, I can then go back and find another group. Working in 'layers' helps me to prioritize the things that are important to me. I read somewhere recently, 'if you had to be out of your house in 5 minutes, what would you take with you'...fortunately I'm not in that spot, but it's a good thing to ponder.
    Thanks again!
    Jane
    .-= Jane Rochelle´s last blog ..My “30 Notes in 30 Days” Project =-.
  • I love that "5 minutes" suggestion, Jane. As a matter of fact, some years ago I was forced to leave my house because of a fire at a neighbor's house. When the fire department knocked on my door and suggested I get out, I looked around in a panic.

    Honestly this is what happened... I thought about all my pictures, keepsakes, etc., and thought "if I take even one picture, I'll always be sad about the ones I left behind." Knowing I couldn't take everything, I chose to take almost nothing. I say almost...

    I took my cat and left.

    It's amazing to me what you think you might do in that circumstance and what you actually do when the event really happens. Yes, Jane, it is a good thing to ponder and I love that you shared that thought.
  • admin
    Great ideas Jane.....The you've-got-5-minutes thinking will helping many people eliminate a lot of unnecessary stuff.

    Good luck with your 30 notes in 30 days....Sounds like a fun project that I am sure the recipients will enjoy as well.

    Dave
    TMP
  • Vita Reid
    David, I find your articles extremely helpful ... today I implemented your helpful hint of saying \"less.\" It actually elevates my awareness in areas where I need to minimilize ... Thanks so much for the work you do here.
  • Yes, Dave, clutter is more than junk laying around... it's a lifestyle. And, with any lifestyle, you've got to face the consequences of your choices.

    Clutter robs you of your peace. There's just no getting around it. No matter how many plastic storage boxes you have neatly containing your clutter, the clutter is still there, ever present.

    It's a formidable task to live a minimalist lifestyle in this day and age, and I admire your tenacity. Thanks for the great post.
    .-= Living Remarkably´s last blog ..Where Would You Wish To Wake Up Tomorrow Morning? =-.
  • aunatural
    'No matter how many plastic storage boxes you have neatly containing your clutter, the clutter is still there, ever present' this is me in a plastic nut shell. Buyer beware, I've accumulated all shapes and sizes of storage boxes, it's ridiculous. And I don't know what's in them, I will admit the 'need' to sort them out to see. humm, I'll keep you posted.
  • Thanks for picking up on that thought about plastic storage boxes. My own stack of plastic bins is still staring at me, but I haven't yet bought more, so that's a good thing. I must admit, though, that I will wander through the aisle at Target and gaze longingly at all the new styles/colors and dream about what I would put in them. ;)
  • I'm becoming more and more aware of how more at peace I am when my outer environment is simplified. It seems that a clean, clutter free outside environment is a direct reflection of your inner environment.... which makes me want to strive more towards being a minimalist!

    Excellent points on the physical cleanliness factor of minimalism... along with bringing more of an inner peace. :)

    Karen
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