Self-Care and Decluttering
Organization and Action Steps to Organize for Self-Care
Decluttering can be a transformative practice in our lives. It can be a labor of love for you and your family. The simple act of decluttering, sorting and editing may feel like a chore, but in the end, it can radically transform your perspective on possessions, daily routines and everyday life. It can become the greatest act of kindness because it lowers the stress level in your life. You will never be completely finished with decluttering but will be able to integrate it more easily into your life on a regular basis. Look to The Uncluttered Life’s Declutter Deck® for tips and tricks about home organization.
Organization
Clutter and stress are intimately connected. Clutter leads to increased levels of depression and anxiety. This is well documented in studies. It also makes it more difficult to get a real break.
Ideally, your home should feel like a sanctuary. When there is too much clutter, it is hard to exist in that environment. A home should feel safe and fill your cup rather than taking away from it.
When trying to declutter items that are useful, but not being used, it’s easy to ask the “what if” question. Successful decluttering is as much about identifying your priorities as it is about clearing out your space.
Making one area of your home look nice gives you the motivation to continue to the next space.
Visual clutter often leads to overstimulation. Keeping your eyes busy all day keeps your mind busy, as well.
Decluttering is about putting our systems in place to protect our mental well-being. It is also to keep from needing to get away from a life you don’t enjoy.
Action Steps
Questions are important to ask during the decluttering process. These include whether something is useful, but not something you use. Also, is this item worth keeping and does it add joy to my life? Does this add more value to my life than it takes away? What is the attachment to the item if you no longer like or need it but are unable to give it away?
Tackle one thing at a time at a rate that feels reasonable and sustainable for your life.
Do and be more with less is about simplifying your life and really living. Living with less creates time and space to discover what really matters. Through decluttering, and focusing on the best things instead of all the things, you can create a life with more savings and less debt, more health and less stress, more space and less stuff and more joy with less obligation.