You may be thinking that only a professional organizer can find happiness in the process of organizing a space. But that’s not true. I believe that anyone can find happiness when they declutter something. In this blog I’m going to share with you some of the many reasons decluttering brings people joy. You are probably already aware of them, but I bet you have not fully embraced this notion. As I share with you the reasons there can be joy in decluttering, ask yourself if perhaps one or more resonates with you
Reclaiming Space:
Here’s a scenario I often come across. The dining table is a wonderful, large horizontal surface and can quickly accumulate lots of random piles of things. One family I worked with had a habit of moving things from the kitchen table to the larger dining room table so they could eat at the kitchen table. The problem was that the things that were moved to the dining table didn’t leave.
In fact, other things found their way into the dining room. Things were piled on the chairs and on the floor adjacent to the table.
The family decided that since they like to eat at the kitchen table, they didn’t need the dining room to be a place to eat. They wanted to declutter the room and use it as a hobby/craft space. A place where they could do scrapbooking, work on puzzles, and build models.
As soon as they defined how they wanted to use the room they were happy to reclaim the space.
It’s important to understand that you can use rooms differently. Bedrooms and dining rooms are spaces that can be used as exercise rooms, libraries, home offices, craft rooms, or something else I haven’t thought of. The only rooms that are truly fixed are bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens.
This family found joy in decluttering and changing the space into the way they wanted to use it.
Less is More Helps You to Focus:
Letting go allows people to focus on what truly matters to them. When space is decluttered, attention naturally shifts to the remaining, meaningful items.
Here are a couple of examples:
If your children’s playroom is over full of books, toys, games, and stuffed animals it may be difficult for them to find something to play with.
Do you wonder why?
The reason is that with a room full of so many distractions, it’s hard for a child to find something to play with and remain engaged with that toy.
Spend a little time decluttering the toys, books, and games. Put a few games and toys in a closet or cupboard to reduce the number of choices available to your children. You’ll find that your children spend more time actively engaging with their toys because there will be fewer distractions.
How about the top of your desk?
If your desk is cluttered, it’s hard to focus and get to work. Your eye is naturally drawn to the piles of things which makes you wonder if anything important is lurking in the piles.
Ease your mind and give yourself a chance to get work done by decluttering the top of your desk.
Find joy in decluttering a space so you can focus better.
Releasing Guilt:
I always ask my clients if they need, use, or love something when they are thinking about releasing it. Sometimes their response is that they don’t need, use, or love it but that someone (a friend or family member) gave it to them, and they feel like they must keep it.
Has this ever happened to you? You don’t need to answer that because I am confident it has. It happens to everyone (me included). We sometimes feel guilty about giving a gift away.
I like to focus on the fact that the person who gave the item to me chose it and gave it with love. I received the gift and acknowledged the person’s good intentions. Now it’s up to me. I can use or love the gift, or I can let someone else enjoy it. When I let something go that I don’t want in my home by donating it I know that I am allowing someone else to benefit of that item and it brings me happiness.
Find joy in decluttering things you don’t want to own.
Simplifying Daily Routines:
Make your daily routines easier by reducing clutter on countertops, desktops, and vanities. Honestly, if you intentionally reduce the amount of stuff on every horizontal surface in your home you make life easier for yourself and you save money.
When spaces are clearer, cleaning and organizing takes less time. If you have a cleaning service, it will take them less time to clean for you and will charge you less.
Find joy in decluttering and either saving money or making life easier for yourself.
In Conclusion
When you turn decluttering into a positive action instead of thinking of it as a horrible chore you find joy.
Look for the reason behind removing something you don’t need, use, or love. Are these possessions cramping your style? Does the clutter make it difficult for you to do the things you want to do?
As in most things, when you embrace your reason, when you know your why, it’s easy to find joy in the task. Before you start decluttering, sit down and determine your why. Then be prepared to find joy.
If you’d like to talk about places in your home, you’d like to declutter please reach out to schedule time with me. I offer a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation. You can reach me at dnqsolutions@gmail.com or 678-537-1160.
Diane N. Quintana is the owner of DNQ Solutions, LLC. She is an ADHD Organizing Specialist, a Hoarding Specialist, and a Chronic Disorganization Specialist. Diane is also an ICD Master Trainer, Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization, Certified Professional Organizer and co-owner of Release Repurpose Reorganize LLC based in Atlanta, Georgia. She specializes in residential and home-office organizing.
Personally, even though I’m a professional organizer and know the importance of maintenance, I will sometimes let a small pile of clutter build up in places just so that i can experience the freeing feeling of clearing it. I might let the clothing discard pile sit for a few days before taking it to the laundry, or allow the filing to pile up near the file boxes, just so I can experience the Zen of sitting with it to clear it.
I think my clients are often shocked by how good it feels to tackle the clutter, to make decisions, to rediscover lost items, to set an agenda for a space, and to do all the reclamation and release of guilt that you describe. Decluttering is magical and and gives us a way to breathe freely that we didn’t realize we craved. Thanks for writing this so clearly!
Thank you, Julie!
Yes, yes, yes to all of this! The joyful benefits of decluttering are palpable. However, many of our clients dread organizing and decluttering. If we gently encourage them to take action and help them define their ‘why,’ then experiencing joy and delight is possible.
Letting go can be challenging, especially when guilt or emotional attachments are involved. But it’s also an opportunity to transform unsupportive spaces and reimagine them to work for who you are and what you need now. When that happens, it’s liberating and joyous.
Absolutely! Thank you, Linda.
I remember many of my clients using a dining room as a storage space. We converted the dining room into a home office, a playroom, a sitting room, and a library. Great post! I’m definitely sharing this one.
Yes! A dining room can be turned into many things – instead of a storage space. Thank you for sharing, Sabrina!
Were you in my house when you described the dining room table? My husband tends to put stuff there, but since the room is separated from the rest of the house he forgets his projects sitting on the table. I don’t like that the dining room becomes a dumping ground. My secret to getting him to deal with the pile is to invite people over. Don’t tell him!
That’s a fabulous strategy, Janet!
The benefits go on and on! Such a great time of year to remember that a room full of toys can be overwhelming to a child. I know, I get it, it is hard not to buy all the cute stuff. Grandparents, particularly, love to show love to their grandchildren by giving them gifts. However, a child can only handle so much. Often, the parents have that guilt you talk about, and keep items to keep the peace!
Loving and agreeing with all of these terrific benefits. Decluttering is a free way to reduce your stress!
Thank you, Seana! The benefits of decluttering are endless and, you’re quite right, they are free!