Recently, I have been helping some people declutter. This came about because although I have always considered myself a free spirit, I am uber organized. I’ve done blogs on minimalism and I believe living simply can bring about some minimalistic aspects, but there is a difference (see my blog, Simple Vs. Minimalistic – August 11, 2020).
Regardless, the word is spreading, and I am more than willing to help others. So, a friend told another friend, and her comment was that decluttering is bad for the environment. This surprised me in the fact that donating can help others in need, brighten someone’s day or at the very least save them some money.
Recycling is still an option and there are many artists that upcycle items to create new, beautiful things. Yes, we may also have to throw some things away. I found though, that much of the reason things have to be thrown away was because there were so many other things on top of something that it broke. Other things had to be tossed because they were allowed to spoil from not even knowing they were there. Clearing out your space could drastically eliminate this from happening in the future. And that is a great way to help the environment.
Holding onto stuff you no longer use, want or need, creates emotional stress that does not help your environment, which extends out into the world. Crowded spaces of unwanted stuff or things we hold onto due to a feeling of lack and/or fear of never having what we need, causes anxiety, which can lead to depression, anger, and a whole host of emotions that are not healthy.
When we clear out our spaces, we feel expansive and become more open emotionally as well as physically. According to WebMD, clutter makes it harder to focus, and those that live in cluttered spaces have a poorer “working memory”. It also intensifies allergies because dander and dust collect when there are more things for it to hang out in. Clutter has also been linked to weight gain and even insomnia.
By being our best versions of ourselves, we then have the energy, positivity and clarity to help others, including animals and the planet. Spending less on storing the things we never use but hold onto, frees up money for causes that better our world. We can donate to causes we believe in, or just spend the few extra cents to support fair trade and organic farmers with our purchases.
By shifting your lifestyle to a simpler way of life, it also brings forth more generosity and empathy for those that don’t have all we have. By clearing out, we see how much we’re able to acquire and how we DO have what we need.
Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know how to start? Envision how you want the space to look and work backwards to get it there, one small step at a time. If it gets too much, put one small pile in a box, take it to another room, sit down with some of your favorite music on, and take a deep breath. Tell yourself once you go through that one box, you are done for the day. Who knows, you may surprise yourself and find it feels so good, you want to continue.
The point is, to let yourself off the hook to get it all done at once. It is a process. Find joy in knowing that you are beginning a new way of healing; being healthy and freeing up space physically and mentally is a great way to begin a new year. You never know, you may even make or save some money along the way, bringing out the thrifty naturalist in you.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you have a hard time decluttering and letting go of certain things? What steps/ideas do you have to help others? Want to hear more on this subject? Post below and let me know.
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