I have found that I "need" to buy less household items. I cut back on the cleaners that I use and the toiletries and found that my shopping list is cut in half and MUCH more manageable! It is also a lot easier to see inside my cabinets!
How has uncluttering helped you in your everyday life?
Same here. Less shopping, only replacing what is absolutely needed, which cuts down the stress of trying to find a place for newly-acquired "stuff".
I appreciate every thing I have.
No places in the house I avoid because I can't bear to look at them.
No lost library books or phone numbers written down on bits of paper.
Being able to find that recipe, or the serial numbe of the furnace, or the phone number of that kid who was in kindergarten with my daugher, or my marriage certificate, within thirty seconds flat.
Not throwing away food becuase everything in the pantry and fridge is usable.
Definitely, less wasted time is a big benefit. A smaller shopping list. A shorter "wish" list. Greater peace & comfort in the home.
I have also found that I am more productive, because there is less standing between me and my projects.
I am still in the process, so I still come across things I've forgotten I have. :-) But I can see the day coming when, like Aunt Cloud, I appreciate (in every sense) every thing I have.
All of the above +
For me one of the added benifits of not shopping much any more is I don't have to deal with the intolerable parking lot at my local shopping centre. It is a frustrating death trap.
I find I get up earlier now and have more energy for other things like taking a long walk everyday.
What a joy it will be the next time we move house when the inventory I have to write will be have the size of the previous one as will the preparation time required before the removalist arrives. Aleluia to that.
I am really trying to get to the point where I declutter enough so that I can appreciate what I have. There are still a few too many items, but I am working on it!
I can relax! I hate a messy room, tripping all over stuff, what an eyesore!
Yes, less shopping for me, too. Also, cleaning is so much easier! When there are no piles of magazines (or whatever) on the floor, it takes a lot less time to vacuum. And if everything has a home, it doesn't take much time to tidy up the apartment.
And relaxing is a big bonus. When you know what you own and where it is (and when you know that the things you don't know about right now are the ones that are definitely not important), its a huge relief.
The biggest benefit, for me, to not having clutter or a lot of things is when people pop over. I usually panic just a bit when I see a car drive up the drive way but then I take a look around and there's never really that much out of place since I don't have that much stuff. Then I relax. It's awesome!
i really love the feeling of space and lightness.
it is beautiful.
and all of the things mentioned already....yes yes yes!
Being able to find things without having to rummage around in a overstuffed drawer. Also, my house is much more peaceful and I can relax without feeling like I should be cleaning or putting stuff away.
Life is simpler.
As I'm seeing more and more space, I'm experiencing more calm and more peace. Sure, I have my melt down days, but they are fewer and farther between. My blood pressure was down on my last visit to the doctor. I think that is being affected positively, too.
It's easier to clean, so my asthma is less troublesome.
Thank you everyone for your posts! It's so great to hear about all of the uncluttering benefits :o)
365lessthings, I hear you on the moving! All my previous moves, I started a least a month beforehand packing. Now, I'm moving in 2 weeks. I've packed 3 or 4 boxes of miscellaneous things, my books, but there's nothing else I can pack yet...the remainder is dishes and clothes! (And DVDs, which my boyfriend watches a lot, so waiting to pack.)
It's a strange feeling...I feel like I should be packing. It's nice, too though. Let's me know I've done a good job uncluttering, though I'm sure there's still a bit more I can stand to get rid of. The "miscellaneous" boxes will be the last ones I unpack, to let me decide if I really need/want that stuff or not anymore.
Jen
i am noticing how much easier it is to keep things clean and organised.
it takes almost no effort at all once that clutter has gone and there is a home for everything.
i am folding and ironing washing right off the line, for the first time in years.....because it is suddenly simpler to do so.
and there is no debate about washing dishes after dinner, instead of leaving them until the morning....the benchtop clutter is suddenly completely unbearable.
it is like something has finally clicked in my brain.
Fewer bruises. I am an award-winning clutz (No...seriously. Someone made me a trophy as a joke) and if there's anything on the floor within 50 feet of me, I will fall over it.
All of the above! I have succeeded in transforming myself into a non-shopper and only buy something if a) I have to replace a broken or non-functional item b)it's a gift for someone else and leaves the house c) I need it to survive, like food, and even then, I try to keep food healthy and unprocessed
When I buy something new, I get rid of something.
I also put stuff in a bag for Goodwill every week and get it out of the house.
I can find things much more easily because I have filing systems. I have removed a ton of paper clutter by scanning and not printing things.
I still have a ways to go in getting rid of stuff I had in storage for years. One box at a time.
this forum is starting to talk me into getting a scanner....
I wanted to bring this thread to the top for the people who have just found this forum. There are a lot of payoffs to decluttering :)
i've been enjoying some decluttered travel for the past couple weeks.
being able to pack and go in a few minutes every morning has certainly made this trip much more enjoyable.
one can easily lose an hour a day packing and unpacking when on the move (i've been in a different hotel every night for more days than i want to count now).
instead i've had time for massages and long baths.
i did have a laundry crisis, but that was resolved eventually.
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