I could talk and write about decluttering and organising all day. PerfectlyOrganised is here to help you, should you need it. It’s my hope that you can sort out your own belongings so that you’re surrounded only by things you love.
One of the first things you need to remember is this: never organise before decluttering. All you’re doing when you do it in the wrong order is shuffling things around. Some social media so-called influencers will encourage you to buy matching boxes, baskets, and goodness knows what else to help you get organised.
Mindless Spending
I’ve seen certain people – who shall remain nameless – buying stuff and getting it home then saying, “I don’t know what I’m going to do with this yet, or what I’m going to put in it”. Really? Surely, if they are supposed experts (I use the term loosely) in the field, they know this approach is going to encourage mindless shopping? Why tie up your hard-earned money copying people doing this, when you could be doing something much more meaningful with your cash?
Influencers: Excuse Me While I Have A Little Rant
It’s no secret that influencers are trying to get you to part with your cash, because they make money from you, it’s that simple. They move around from product to product, supplier to supplier, and they just love absolutely everything! (Big eye roll here.) “This is the best thing ever guys” is quite possibly the most over-used and annoying phrase on social media. Also add: you guys are my family; we’re in this together; I can’t believe how lucky I am; I have no idea how this all happened. Etc, etc, etc. 🙄 You get the picture. (Check out the post ‘Influencers are not your friend‘ for more gentle ranting.😉)
They don’t care if you’re spending your hard-earned income or even benefits on things they recommend. They don’t care if you’re almost broke and have no financial backup plan.
If you truly believe that influencers are your friend, please do yourself a favour and check out some videos on the subject on YouTube. No judgement here, we’re all free to like and follow the people who inspire us. But please make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons, and not just to make them rich.
The Benefits Of Decluttering
There are so many benefits but let’s look at some of the main ones. Firstly, if you’re not surrounded by piles of stuff, those things can’t send you subliminal messages. If you think that’s far-fetched and a bit ‘out there’, please check out this article where I go into it in more detail.
Living clutter-free can create a feeling of calm and space. Yes, your kids will always have toys, and your kitchen will still need some cooking paraphernalia. But if you’ve curated your belongings so that you only keep what you use, need and love, then they shouldn’t be overwhelming.
Reducing Stress And Overload
When you don’t know where things are because they’re hidden in piles of stuff, you waste countless hours of your life looking for them. You also increase your stress levels. Having order in your life doesn’t make you boring or rigid – quite the opposite. If you’re not spending time re-doing the same tidying over and over, you have more free time. Think about times in the past when you’ve been frantic trying to find your car keys, your phone, your purse/wallet. Then imagine a life where you never have to encounter that kind of stress ever again. That is what decluttering and then organising can do for you.
As I said in the introduction, my hope is that you can sort out your own stuff and surround yourself with things you love, leaving you free to live a happier, less stressful and calmer life.
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