Becoming Clutter-Free Will Help You Be More Stress-Free

​“Unclutter your life. Unclutter your home. We feel best when everything and everyone around us is in harmony and in balance. The peace and the beauty of your home will raise you up, and give energy to your goals.” - Eileen Anglin
 
Did you know that when you eliminate your life of physical clutter, you also benefit emotionally and mentally?

​As a life coach, I believe our home environment plays an important role in creating balance in our lives. Our home is supposed to be our sanctuary. It’s supposed to be the place we feel the most relaxed and at peace. And let’s be honest, when our home is unorganized and filled with clutter, the last thing we feel is relaxed.

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​Too much crapola will suck your energy!
 
I’ve always been the organized girl who has a place for everything. When I was a teenager, the place for my clothes happened to be my bedroom floor, but as an adult, I can't stand when there is crap lying around where it doesn't belong. Maybe it has something to do with my parents, who programmed “company ready” into my brain or my high school job at McDonald’s where I learned to “Clean as you go!”
 
I’m human, so although I’m typically pretty organized there are some places (out of sight, of course) where things accumulate. Like those old paint cans I had hiding out in my basement because I didn’t know how to dispose of them properly. Or the folder of “amazing articles to read” that I had neatly tucked away in my filing cabinet for the last several years, just waiting for me to find time to read them.
 
Like many others, springtime is my time for “spring cleaning”. It’s my time for a little extra purging and organizing. I can’t tell you how good it feels to have finally disposed of those paint cans that would taunt me every time I went downstairs to do my laundry!!!
 
What if these pants that go up to my boobs go back in style?!?!
 
I had a client who decided to declutter her house. She had clothes that she hadn’t worn in nearly a decade shoved into several closets, bins under her bed and in her spare room. Can you relate?
 
She was so excited to tell me that she went through everything and donated all the clothes that were too big for her because she was committed to never fit into them again.
 
After celebrating her huge achievement, we talked about the things she chose to hang onto and why. Afterward, she decided to go back for another round and ask herself, “Will I ever wear or use this again?” “Does this make me happy?” Sure enough, she ended up getting rid of a couple more bags of clothes! 
 
What if I need this electric bill from 1998?!?
 
Paperwork is another place where many people accumulate clutter. I think it’s because they are confused as to how long they need to keep their “important” documents. Did you know you only have to keep your tax returns for seven years?
 
Many years ago, I had a friend who had started a new business and asked me to help her organize her home office. She had boxes of old paperwork jammed in the back of the closet including paycheck stubs from her very first job…they were 20 years old!!!
 
There are really only a handful of things you need to keep forever. Things like your birth certificate and Social Security card. “How Long to Keep Tax Records and Other Documents” is a great article to check out if you are interested in learning more.
 
In my friend’s case, there was absolutely no disadvantage to getting rid of all those paystubs…just the benefit of gaining a lot more room in her closet and a little extra energy in her life!
 
Let’s make your Home Environment YOUR “Happy Place”
 
Keeping your home environment organized can feel like a major effort but trust me…it’ll be worth it! Below are some of my favorite practices that help me keep my home environment my happy place. I bet they’ll work for you too!

Purge Each Season
Each season, I go through my closets and drawers and get rid all the things I haven’t used or worn in the last year except for those I know I’ll use in the future... like my cocktail dresses!

Spring Cleaning
As I mentioned earlier, this is my time to do a little extra purging and organizing around the house. It’s the time I go through my bathrooms, kitchen, basement, and garage to get rid of all the things I no longer need or use.
 
I find that after tax time is a great opportunity to go through my office and do that extra paperwork purge. It's also a great time to go through my electronic files and get rid of anything I no longer need.

“Out with the old, in with the new!”
My favorite thing about online banking is that you have access to your statements at any time, so you don't need to hang onto a paper copy! I only keep what I need  for my taxes.
 
I replace old investment statements and insurance policies when I get a new one. I toss ATM receipts, deposit slips, and credit card receipts after I reconcile with my monthly statement or my online account activity. I typically balance my personal and business checking accounts every Monday.

Clean as you go!
​Thank you for the lesson, Mickey D's! Instead of letting things pile up to do later, I do them right away. Loading dirty dishes in the dishwasher instead of putting them in the sink. Putting laundry away right after it's folded instead of leaving it in the basket for days. Making my bed as soon as I get out of it. Wiping down the shower after each use. I even clean my dishes and countertops while I'm cooking.
 
Incorporating these type of practices into your life will help you create a peaceful home environment, reduce stress, and save you time and energy! What practices will you incorporate into your daily routine to help you stay organized and clutter-free? I’d love to hear from you!