Oh, I just ran out of space in my closet. Why not store clothes in your kitchen cabinet, or tools in the living room? What about putting the books into the refrigerator? I mean, all these magazines already pile up on the dining table anyways. And what makes the garage such a magnet for clutter?
Out of sight, out of mind. Overflow for an already cluttered home.
There are plenty reasons for us keeping things we don’t need or use. The easiest one that we just forget we have them. Boxes on the top of the shelves, in the very back of the basement, dust-covered, content unknown. There are the items we keep “just in case” or “for a future day”. It’s just that this time never comes. The things we keep because we paid so much money for them, and they must be of value, or at least they are too valuable to throw away, so we think.
Hand on heart, how much do you have in each of these categories?
The average size of a U.S. home is ~2,500 sqf today. This is a steep increase from the 1,500 sqf in the 1970’s and 1980’s. In the same timeframe the average household size decreased from 3.14 to 2.51 individuals. Mathematically, we have more than double the space per person. And we’re still not finding enough room to store all our belongings (or should I say ‘stuff’). The combined commercial storage units are so large that all 340 Million Americans could stand comfortably in it simultaneously.
Now, on top, think about the time we spend organizing and reorganizing, searching for stuff, and then buying it another time because we cannot find what we are looking for. And the regret about the money spent on useless things, but we hang to it anyways, though it hurts every time we look at it again.
The path of decluttering towards a life with less is not an easy one. Nobody says that, and you will encouter obstacles and drawbacks on your way. But like climbing a tower and a mountain, the reward is on the top. The breathtaking views, and the satisfying feeling of achievement are waiting there.
You want to start? It was on your mind for a long time already? Then, what is holding you back? Every journey starts with a first step. Take a trashbag and walk through your home. Pick up all the junk, broken things, and items you always wanted to discard, and do it right now. Create one clean and calm space, preferably where you spend quality time and relax.
Ready for the next step? Get inspiration from one of the many groups on social media. Or look for a consultant near you to get help. The key is consistency, not intensity. You don’t jump to the top, you take it a step at a time.