Why we are scared to declutter

Why we are scared to declutter

Why we are scared to declutter

The number 1 top tip for an organised home is absolutely simple…declutter. Declutter till all you have left is beautiful, dear to you or practical. It is a thrifty, straightforward and relatively simple way to make your home run smoothly and look its best.

In my view de-cluttering is nothing to be scared of, it doesn’t mean throwing away things you love or value, it means exactly what it says… you are de-cluttering. The stuff that clutters up your life and your home are being ditched and good riddance to it all !

This year I have read two books that have really impacted me:

Stuffocation

Stuffocation: Living More With Less is an excellent book that really makes you rethink what you actually need in your life and how all this stuff is causing us problems

having everything we thought we wanted isn’t making us happier. It’s bad for the planet. It’s cluttering up our homes. It’s making us feel ‘stuffocated’ and stressed – and it might even be killing us.

I agreed wholehearted ly with this and it really set me to thinking about how to step away from this stuffocation.

The life changing magic of tidying

Someone bought me the renowned Marie Kondo book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A simple, effective way to banish clutter foreverand I have to say I thought that someone thinking I needed it was in itself was a message to me!

A great book full of very practical tips and I love her message that if an object does not spark joy then just say thank you and let it go. This book taught me a lot and has made a rather huge difference to my life. I have a way to go..my clothes, for example, are straining at the cupboard door but oh both these books really spurred me to make a change.

So why doesn’t everyone de-clutter?

I am in love with decluttering but I know a lot of people hold back. And with good reason really, they fear they have a lot to lose by losing their stuff

Safestore have done a survey of 2,000 Brits and uncovered many reasons why we still struggle with banishing our clutter.

Their key findings are

• More than half of Brits say their stuff makes them feel happy and reminds them of who they are
• But a third of us have got rid of something we now wish we’d kept
• Nearly half the nation wish their parents had kept more to pass onto them
• Nearly 80% of us find it most difficult to throw away photographs
• The biggest throw away regret – items to do with our childhood
• Men are more likely to have things related to their ex hidden away

I can absolutely relate to these findings and actually in response to these worries

1. I would NEVER throw away old photos but I would say get them out of boxes and into albums where they can more easily be enjoyed (and do throw out the many duds)
2. I have a childhood memory trunk for old toys, school reports etc these are an absolute treasure to look back on – but just keep your favourite
3. Stuff relating to my ex is in my best firiends loft!
4. And yes I do wish my mum and dad had left more to pass onto me but not stuff more letters and photographs I think.

So the key lesson I think from Safestore’s research is de-cluttering is fine BUT don’t throw out precious memories or heirlooms in the process particularly letters and photos. Do make a plan for their storage however don’t just leave them clogging up your home.

See, nothing to be scared of!

Original article and pictures take thrifty-home.co.uk site