Crisp, cool, color, change, ahhhh Fall!
Welcoming the season with a transitional blog post for you. I’m currently enjoying a lighted candle with the scent of Amber Bergamot + Patchouli. I should also mention it’s a rainy day here in Oklahoma which makes it perfect to stay in + write. (Thank you, Jesus!)
I don’t know about you, but Fall me reminds me how beautiful it is to see old things go. It’s a season of discarding what is no longer needed. [Hence, the perfect timing for today’s post.]
I started my minimalism journey officially at the beginning of this year (so almost 10 months ago), + since then I have fallen in love with this idea of having less even more. (< the irony lol)
So far, I’ve managed to declutter quite a lot from my home + to be honest I don’t miss any of the things I’ve taken out.
In fact, it has improved the way we live life + today I want to share with you HOW. So grab your favorite kick-starting drink + get ready to take note!
1. Simplifies organization.
Let’s be real. It’s quite impossible to have everything 100% tidy -all-the-time. Life inevitably gets in the way. Our drawers, dressers, + cabinets will somehow end up being a mess. As a result, I’ve learned not to stress over it as long as I make time for it occasionally.
The less items you have the easier it will be to put everything back in it’s place. I am shocked at how quickly I am able to put my home back together on Monday morning after a busy weekend. When before it used to take me a whole day to properly organize, it now takes only the the morning portion of the day (depending on how bad it is). Sometimes in just 1 hour I can have my whole house on reset.
P.S. If you’re looking for some inspiration, you should follow the tag #resetmyspace on Instagram. I first discovered this by @houseonelm where she resets her home in a flash. Quite satisfying if you ask me!
2. Increases productivity.
Not only does it cut cleaning time in half, but seeing less items makes me feel like I can conquer anything. I personally feel like my home has a refreshing ambiance. As of recently, I have noticed how easy it is for me to focus on my priorities. When life feels manageable, we will be able to accomplish anything. It’s what I love most about having less. It takes away potential distractions which allows me to get stuff done!
3. Clarifies our style/preferences/needs.
Sometimes we tend to keep things because we think we like them or need them.
Take home decor for example. I have bought little to no home decor for our home. However, up until recently I still had a couple of decor from when we lived in our apartment. I decided to take a brave step + remove some of the decor. After doing so, I realized it just wasn’t what I wanted for my home anymore. Subconsciously, I was only keeping the decor to fill spaces + surprisingly I realized I prefer blank spaces over fully decorated walls.
Another quick example is clothing. I’ve been working intentionally on building a wardrobe to my full enjoyment. In that process, I’ve donated tons of clothes leaving me with minimal items. Taking out the clothes I no longer enjoy gives me a sense of satisfaction.
You see, the more we take out, the more we come closer to what we truly like in our home. There’s space for our true preference, therefore, we begin seeing clearly what we need & don’t need.
So I feel that the more you take out things, the more you will discover what you truly enjoy.
4. Breaks unneeded bondage.
Truth is we all have a tendency to cling onto certain items. Some people may do it more than others but I’m sure we all do it in some way -especially items that have a sentimental value to them.
We may not realize this but these things can actually bring an emotional or spiritual bondage that won’t allow us to live on. It’s difficult to let go, but I believe this act can bring true liberation to our lives.
It’s painful- I’ve experienced this process myself. A couple years ago I decided to toss out a very meaningful + sentimental item. Although I’m not drawn to share details, I can confess that having this item stored away had me bonded to something that could no longer reside in my heart. Ever since I removed it from my life I have felt true freedom. I feel free to live my present + not linger in the past.
“Some of us think holding on makes us strong but sometimes it is letting go”
― Herman Hesse
5. Changes perspective.
Decluttering should mean more than just tossing things out. For me, it has changed my perspective on the items themselves.
Here’s an observation: As I carry the box full of belongings that I no longer need, I can’t help but think about the concept of materialism. I start thinking about how at one point, these items were brand new on the shelf with the value twice or more of what is worth now as I am taking them out. Now, they are being tossed out because they no longer fulfill my desires.
It’s heart-breaking but that’s the way the industry works. However, I believe we have the power to improve this subject by buying minimally + intentionally. Instead of buying simultaneously, emotionally, + without any thought, let’s buy responsibly.
Let’s reconsider; Will this bring joy to me in the next coming years? Remember: buy to keep. Figure out how decluttering brings meaning to your life.
“Fall is about to show how lovely it is to let the dead things go.”
-Unknown
Decluttering is there to help you free your mind, space + time. It’s a great tool if used appropriately. I have first-handed experienced how great it feels to let go. I hope this message reminds you the same.
Tell me, are you into decluttering? How has decluttering enhanced your own life? Leave a comment on the Instagram’s post!
This is me Finding my Spark hoping you’re finding Yours,
Jazmin