How time spent Decluttering is an Investment in you.

You are so so busy. I get it. I am too. Sometimes, I don’t even get to sit down before time for bed. I know you’re the same. Just thinking about trying to carve out time to do something I don’t even REALLY want to do is exhausting.

The problem isn’t that I don’t want to declutter, it’s that I don’t have the energy. Yet, I really don’t have the energy for one more load of laundry, either. And decluttering can help minimize time spent on that and other time consuming chores.

Instead of focusing on not having enough energy to declutter today, I focus on the end result. A more simplified home and life. With the goal in mind, it get’s easier. Because Decluttering is what leads to a more simple life which leads to a more joy-filled life. 100% Promise.

That is the exact reason you need to spend a little time now for SO much reward later. And believe me, even 15 minutes here and there, start to add up and really make a difference.

You don’t have to focus ALL your time and energy. But make an appointment with yourself and keep it. FOR YOU. Even one 15 minute session at a time makes a difference.

Truly, more time spent decluttering now is an investment in you. The return is 10 fold–more time for yourself, your family, higher energy level, and more peace of mind and time to focus on what is truly most important to you.

There are so many rewards but here are just a few:

1. Since I started decluttering, all my decluttered rooms are 15 minutes away from being company ready. I AM NOT KIDDING HERE!! It still amazes me. Life happens, no matter how much clutter you get rid of, rooms get messy.

We still live in our home and we are still working on the habit of cleaning up after ourselves. But last night, I came into my living room after putting on my PJ’s and it looked AWESOME. My husband was watching some TV and I asked “Did you clean up?” He said yes. Now listen–it only takes me 5 minutes to put my PJ’s on. That’s how quickly he was able to clean it up. WOW. Decluttering still amazes me every day.

2. Actual cleaning is SO SIMPLE! You know the difference, right? (I’m ashamed to say I didn’t for the longest time). Cleaning isn’t picking up stray clothes, towels, cups and socks. That is tidying. Cleaning is vacuuming, dusting, washing counters and windows.

When you have to tidy a room for 40 minutes before you can vacuum, it’s exhausting. But when you declutter, there is less to tidy. So you get right to the cleaning!!

Vacuum, 10 minutes, dust, 5 minutes (not much to dust and not many tchotchke’s to dust around!) Fold a blanket and Karate chop two throw pillows. DONE. Maybe 15 minutes? Who needs a maid? I can use that money to go to dinner with my family.

3. Decluttering leaves a legacy for your children. It teaches them what is important. When they watch you declutter regularly a couple things happen.

First, they learn from example. Kids always watch what you do. And when they watch you continue to get rid of things that aren’t serving you, it sets them up for a joyful, decluttered, simplified adulthood!

Also, it helps them learn that material things aren’t important. It’s people. It’s experiences. That is where the joy comes from.

4. Everything takes less time!! No joke. I’ve written a blog post on this here. Getting dressed? If I have a decluttered closet filled with items I love that look great on me, it takes less time to get dressed AND I ENJOY IT.

When you only have 8 towels, 5 pairs of pants and 7 tops (you get the picture) laundry takes so much less time. (and yes, you can have more than 5 pair of pants–find the amount that works for you).

Cooking is a joy when your cabinets and drawers have only items you use. When was the last time you were truly able to say that?

Even emptying the dishwasher is more simple, less to empty and plenty of space to put things away. And to me, that means more time to relax with my family at the end of a long day. That is what I want more of in my life.

5. More Energy. Looking at a pile of clutter has been proven to cause mental exhaustion and stress. Every pile is just a procrastinated decision. And that wears me out.

When I walk in the house after a long day of work and look at pile after pile, it just makes me want to grab a book and hide.

Since I’ve decluttered my kitchen and am practicing my new simple routines, I wake up to a clutter free kitchen. Counter empty! I only keep a bowl or fruit, a cookie jar and a crock of utensils. (Ok, there is always a late night snack bowl in the sink but that’s life, we do still live here!) I have to do a double take. It still amazes me.

Close your eyes right now, imagine waking up and walking into your kitchen–clean and ready to make a cup of coffee or tea. Now open your eyes. You can have that. And when you start your day like that– I promise, you have the mental and physical energy to do anything! Which leads me to my point.

Time spent pushing through even when you don’t feel like you have it in you, returns in energy and mental capacity to really focus on what’s most important to you. You are no longer spinning your wheels, day after day just treading water. You have time to spend dreaming. AND you have time and energy to spend making those dreams a reality.

I want that for me. I want that for YOU!!!

What would you do if you had 5 extra hours in your day? Have you ever even considered that? Well, start. Because we are on a journey to make that happen my sweet friend.

So yes, time spent now, when you’re tired, and can barely muster the strength to cook dinner is an investment in you. In the life of your dreams. In the life of your wonderful family. And let me say, it’s urgent. You have no idea just how much so until you start.

Invest in you!