Clutter is a part of life. Receiving gifts we don’t like but feel obligated to hold onto, living in places for longer, and the items that hold memories are all common reasons as to why clutter happens. However, there is no reason to feel guilty for purging items you no longer have a use for, and in fact, it’s healthy to do so! Sometimes, the hardest part of this task is finding the time or a good excuse to tackle the task. Here are a few major times in your life where de-cluttering will be more convenient and will make your life easier.
New career
With a new career there comes many changes. Change in wardrobe for work, home office, organization due to a new schedule. This is a great time to declutter because you’ll need to reorganize for your new lifestyle. Go through old bookshelves and get rid of any old binders and work related items that are not necessary for your new job. Spend this time getting an understanding of your goals for your work life in the next few years. What are you still holding on to that doesn’t interlock with that vision?
New child/growing family
Whether you are adopting, having a new child or your parents are coming to live with you, expecting another human in your home a big change. Use the time before they arrive to clear extra space in your home. Decluttering will make everything run run a bit more smoothly. The challenge in this is the stress up until the point of arrival. However, with this, decluttering and making space will actually help ease that stress. Start by cleaning out your own space, as it will inspire you to move forward, and make the whole process a lot more calming.
Moving into a new home or apartment
Getting ready for a move is a great time to sort through your belongings. This gives you the opportunity to sort your “take with me” items and your “donate” items. While it may be hard, as moving is stressful, try to push through! Don’t just throw everything in boxes and lug it to your new space, as this will end up with items living in boxes for many years to come. Take this time to visualize what you want your new home to look and feel like. Keep this vision in mind as you make decisions about what to keep. Also remember, it is easier to move less items!
Change in relationship status
Whether you are moving in together, split up, or getting married, things are bound to change in your home. Compromising can be tricky. It may cause some of us to fight to keep things we may not need or want, just because we want to win. In the event of a break up, the goal here is to re-invent yourself. Discover yourself and purge things that bring on negative emotions or memories. The beauty of this is, especially after the ending of a long-term relationship, is you re-learn who you are! Be honest with yourself, and challenge yourself to let go of things that don’t represent who you are today.
