Dynamics of Decluttering

Spring is a favourite season for a lot of us. The warm days coax the crocuses and daffodils into bloom and remind us why we live in the beautiful Okanagan. It's also the season that can energize us.

The first step in crafting the life you want.. is to get rid of everything you don't.

- Joshua Becker, The Minimalist Home

So, throw the windows wide open, air out the house and go on a super spring-cleaning spree. This is the perfect time to declutter and organize your space.

The dynamics of decluttering your mind and your home are immeasurable.

Here are some of the key benefits of getting your house in order:

More money – who wouldn’t want that?

More time - who doesn’t need that?

More calm - who doesn’t like the sound of that?

More freedom - who wouldn’t like that?

Decluttering allows you to create a simpler lifestyle that is easier to manage, leaving more time for family, friends, passionate pursuits or anything else that's enjoyable or important to you.

BUSINESS BENEFITS:

Being better organized especially benefits small business owners. They need to wear a number of different hats, everything from sales person to bookkeeper to administration.

High stress can happen when the accountant calls and asks for a specific tax document and we have no idea where it is – it could be in three different places or more. We panic, tear into boxes, leaving behind a mess to clean up later, a lot of time and energy is spent endlessly searching.

Having separate file folders or file boxes for different categories would make life so much easier. Warranties, tax documents, banking, insurance documents etc., should all be categorized, labelled and filed under the appropriate headings. The 'Shoe Box' filled with receipts and miscellaneous papers will only take you so far. Starting out thoroughly organized leaves valuable time for what’s really important to you – building your business!

PARENTAL BENEFITS:

Teaching kids to have only what they need around them and to keep items better organized can make their life and their parents' lives feel more orderly and much calmer. Here's an interesting statistic: the US is home to 3.1% of the world's children but consumes 40% of the world's toys. I would guess that the Canadian numbers are quite similar (proportionate to our population).

DECLUTTERING ALSO HAS SOME HEALTH BENEFITS:

Do you go through your makeup and creams regularly and get rid of old product? If you haven't used a product in two years, it should go… and here’s why;

Old eyeliners and mascaras can cause eye irritation or infections. Creams and make-up for face or body that are out of date, can cause skin breakouts, and that gorgeous lipstick will no longer offer the stunning shade it once did but could dry out your lips. So, watch for the expiry date and look for a change in texture, smell or colour as this is a sign that a product is past its prime. Besides the hygienic reasons, anything that's cracked, crumbly, dry or separated, just isn't going to apply evenly and will not give you the appearance promised by the manufacturers.

We all know that make-up products can be expensive, but this should never be the reason for holding onto old product – maybe apply more discrimination at the purchasing counter and not more products.

Another area of the home that clutters easily is the kitchen, particularly food items. A startling statistic recently published – 40 percent of food in the United States is wasted and approximately 40 percent of that waste starts at home. When food is wasted, so are your resources and money used to shop for that food. One solution is to create a weekly meal plan and only buy what you need for those meals. Another option is to choose meals for the first half of the week then have a left-overs night or go on a second round of food shopping for the rest of the week. Also, don’t waste money on ‘soon to be expired’ foods if you can’t use them in time. Expiry dates should be checked regularly on items picked up at the store as well as those in your cupboards, fridge and freezer, as these can cause health hazards.

FEELGOOD BENEFITS:

When we use less, we waste less. Decluttering our homes helps us in so many ways. It also helps us to value everything that we have, because now we can actually see what we have. It also makes us more conscious of just how much stuff goes into landfill sites. Maybe it will curb impulse buying and encourage us all to make more thoughtful purchases.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all decided, in some way, to live a little lighter, healthier and with an eco-friendlier footprint?

If you would like more information on Decluttering, contact:

Hertha Cooper

Living Lightly Decluttering

www.livinglightlydecluttering.com

ph: 250-309-3178