Have you ever calculated the cost of living in a cluttered home besides the money?
The cost is much higher than you think. A cluttered home can and will negatively affect every aspect of your life. From wasted space to relationships and your health, clutter has a powerful hold on all of it.
Craving more space
Clutter takes up space in our homes and our thoughts. Getting rid of clutter will free up space in your cupboards, kitchen, bathroom, your child’s room, garage and anywhere else that clutter collects.
With the high cost of housing, your home becomes a very expensive storage for your unwanted stuff. What could you use more space for if you can reclaim that space?
Rent it out to a student or elderly person to reduce the cost of living in the house. Create a space for hobbies, a playroom for your kids/grandkids, an exercise room, a home office, a playroom for your kids, or use it as a spare bedroom.
Wasted time
The more we have, the harder we have to work to store, clean and repair the things we don’t use. Caring for stuff requires your precious time and energy.
Do you want to work 24/7 to keep your home free of clutter? Or would you rather be spending your time with your family and friends? In the end, none of us will remember how much time we spend taking care of clutter.
Create a sanctuary
A well-kept home feels calmer and more peaceful. It’s a protection from the busy world, a quiet haven for tired souls to refresh, a space of comfort for those with health challenges, and a sanctuary to enjoy being with family and friends.
Depleted energy
Constant preoccupation with too much stuff in your home can deplete your physical and mental energy. Moving, cleaning and storing unused stuff will sap your energy, making you lethargic and unhappy. The National Soap and Detergent Association claims that getting rid of clutter could reduce 40 per cent of housework in an average home.
Money motivation
Clutter is the biggest waste of your money. We waste our hard-earned money to purchase stuff, store it and maintain it.
Before you go on your shopping spree, ask yourself a couple of questions. This is the time to be honest with yourself.
Is shopping my hobby? Am I bored with my life? Am I trying to impress others?
Reduced productivity
A cluttered home reduces our ability to concentrate on tasks we have to do. You become distracted by too much visual clutter and overstimulated to look at it. You have to move stuff out of the way to find and get to what you’re looking for.
Besides physical clutter, there is digital clutter equally bothersome and capable of reducing your productivity. With too many computer files, thousands of emails in the inbox, and a rainbow of coloured post-it notes on every surface, it’s no wonder our brains are overloaded and non-productive.
Many of my clients reported that once they got rid of clutter, they received clarity and motivation to improve the other areas of their life.
Ranka Burzan owns a professional organizing company based in the qathet region and has written several books on reducing clutter and becoming more organized. For information, go to solutionsorganizing.com.
