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Hi Everyone! Today we’re talking about clutter and the positive benefits that can come from tackling it head on. First, what does clutter mean exactly? Here are a few definitions:

A collection of things lying about in an untidy mass.
A crowded or confused mass or collection.
To fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness.

Wow. When it’s put in those words, it sounds pretty bad. Those definitions leave no question as to why clutter causes us stress, causes us to be unproductive, causes us anxiety, and causes us to feel so defeated and overwhelmed that things continue to pile up- and the cycle just repeats itself every day. Clutter is a life stressor that many sweep under the rug, but it’s almost always one of the easiest stressors to fix.

Whether we want to believe it or not, our living space reflects our inner selves. When we have a clean, neat, tidy, and organized space, our cortisol levels are reduced. Therefore, allowing us to feel less stressed overall. When we aren’t focused on clutter, it frees up our mind to focus on other (more important) things going on in life.

What’s the best way to combat clutter? Well, this answer can vary widely for many people. However, the short answer is “one step at a time”. When you start digging in to the mess, throwing things away, putting them in their place, so on and so forth, you start to feel signs of relief as the project nears the half way point. As you start seeing progress being made, you start feeling like you are more in control. Those feelings of relief and control will propel you through the rest of the project.

My tips for getting started:

Set aside enough time to work on the project from start to finish. Depending on the mess, and if you’re tackling it alone, it will likely take you between 2-4 hours.
Get basket/bins to organize things in. Here is a variety of some of my favorite generic storage bins that will work for pretty much any space:

3. As you are going through the clutter- have your bins all set out into a row so that you can start assigning and placing items in each bin.

4. Throw away or donate things you do not need. This is crucial! Throw away expired items, and donate items that are still good but you just do not need/use them anymore. Try to simplify as much as possible. This will play a huge factor in being organized and feeling less stressed.

5. Ask for help if you need it. If tackling the project on your own just seems like too much, ask a friend, family member, or someone like me (yes!) who enjoys turning a mess into magic. There is nothing wrong with asking for help, and if you feel like you need it- just ask!

6. Just start. This is my number one tip. Just start. If it’s not in the budget to get baskets or bins right now, you don’t necessarily need them to get started. Start with what you have. Clear the trash, sort through everything, wipe the space clean, and then place the items back in a spot in a neat and orderly fashion.

Now, let’s go through a list of some major benefits of decluttering a space:

Decluttering creates a sense of self-confidence.
Decluttering is energizing.
Decluttering reduces stress and anxiety.
Decluttering helps to reduce family or relationship tension.
Decluttering creates healthier habits.

The list could go on and on and on, but I will stop here. There is not enough that can be said about the positive effects decluttering has on you and your home. It can do so much overall good in your life.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, or don’t know where to start, please reach out to me. I am happy to help you in any way I can!

-Brittany

See below for a few BEFORE/AFTER photos of beautiful orderly spaces!