the perks of a simplified home
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THE PERKS OF A SIMPLIFIED HOME
4 Treasures Gained From De-clutteringby Michele Ranard, M.Ed.
790 words
“The
ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary
may speak.”
--Hans
Hoffman
Almost
every home owner I know talks passionately about wanting to simplify and slow
down, and truly there are a host of pathways to get there. So what stops us
from taking that first step? Maybe it’s that we haven’t first fully explored the
payoffs for simplifying. In Organized
Simplicity (2010), expert Tsh Oxenreider explains that in addition to
gaining freed up storage, there are all sorts of additional perks from tossing
out needless stuff.
The Big Payoff
The
following are four side effects of simplifying she mentions in the book:
1. More Time for Others. A
home filled with lots of stuff can often leave us feeling unfulfilled. For
example, a home high in square footage is also high in maintenance. Getting
behind in housework can mean less time for social connections or entertaining. In
contrast, by streamlining and living with less, we are rewarded with more time
for those things which matter most. Oxenreider says “It’s a bummer when being
responsible means being chained to your stuff and your schedules, instead of
enjoying relationships in a slower-paced way.”
2. Improved Health. Simplifying allows the focus to be on what is most important, including health. When the objects we own work for us instead of the other way around, suddenly home becomes a haven. Cluttered lives filled with excess can take a toll on mental and physical health because of the stress created by clutter. Too many extracurricular activities and long work hours can lead to compromised health as well. Oxenreider reminds that when we feel stressed, we often lose sleep, and “Not enough sleep means an increased chance of depression, weight gain, high blood pressure, and perpetual grouchiness.”
3. Financial Well-Being. This is an obvious and glorious side effect of more simplistic living. With less stuff to store, water, maintain, and buy, we are rewarded with happier wallets. De-cluttering has a domino effect. A de-cluttered kitchen is easier to clean, more inviting to cook in, and saves us money because we are more likely to want to eat in. Less eating out will likely mean consuming less calories, and skinnier versions of ourselves may lead to savings in healthcare costs.
4. It’s Environmentally-friendly. When our households have less stuff, we simply don’t need as much space. Less space means lower utilities, which is both financially savvy and ecologically sound. We will use less electricity, less gas, and less water to keep our places running.
Ideas
for De-cluttering
Start
de-cluttering where it will help the most.
Self-proclaimed clean freak blogger Clean
Mama says if it’s your kitchen that is up for grabs, start there. “Too many
clothes that don't fit or aren't your style anymore? Start with your closet.
Stepped on a Lego for the last time? Start with the kids' toys.” She says successful
de-cluttering leads you to de-clutter other spaces.
Don’t
buy new organizing stuff. Clean Mama
recommends using what you already have to get organized so you aren't adding
more objects to the mix. She says “Re-purpose a basket or box to organize your
magazines in lieu of buying a new magazine basket.”
Ask these 10 questions. Oxenreider
recommends these 10 questions to assess what stays and what goes:
1. Is
it something I use regularly?
2. If
not, do I love it?3. Am I keeping it out of obligation?
4. Am I holding on to it because I think I should love it?
5. Am I saving this just in case?
6. Do I have multiples of the same thing?
7. Could something else I own do the same job?
8. Am I holding on to a broken item to fix one day?
9. Is this item worth the time cleaning/storing it?
10. Could I use this space for something else?
Think
“small chunks.” You don’t have to save the world in
a day. Professional organizer Samantha Buck suggests setting a timer for
yourself. “I like to set a timer for 30 minutes and work fast as I can to
complete de-cluttering projects. You'll be amazed at how much you can get done
by using the clock to challenge yourself.”
Pay attention
to what you toss. Organizing guru and author of When Organizing Isn’t Enough (2008), Julie Morgenstern, says “The
process of throwing things out forces you to recognize what your attachment
is.” Noticing will help you limit what you
bring home so it won’t be necessary to invest in more storage items (or a
bigger house!).
We
have so much to gain from losing the unnecessary! Everything truly meaningful
will suddenly come into greater focus as the things that don’t matter grow dim.
Michele Ranard has a husband, two
children, and a master’s in counseling.
Resources:
Buck, Samantha. Lifeorganizeit.comClean Mama. http://cleanmama.blogspot.com/
Morgenstern, Julie. When Organizing Isn’t Enough. Fireside, 2008.
Oxenreider, Tsh. Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living. Better Way Home. 2010.
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