The Benefits of Decluttering: Why Less Can Be More!

There are so many benefits of decluttering. From more time in your days and space in your home to getting better sleep at night!

In today’s post, I’m sharing a huge list of the benefits you can experience by clearing the clutter from your home and your life. If you’re ever needing an extra boost of motivation to start decluttering or continue working to clear the clutter, you’ll find it here!

These benefits of decluttering are available to anyone willing to put in the time and effort to clear the clutter and simplify their home and their life.

I truly feel like there’s something for everyone on this list of the benefits of decluttering. Things we can all probably use a little more of, or a little less of, that clearing the clutter can help you find.

For example, we can all probably use a little more time, a little more peace, a little less stress and a little more financial freedom in our lives. And decluttering can help give you all these things and more.

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of decluttering to see why less really can lead to so much more!

The benefits of decluttering: why less can be more

More time

One of the biggest benefits of clearing the clutter and distractions from your life is the extra time it adds to your days. And that extra time comes in so many different ways. Here are a few examples:

Less cleaning

The less stuff you have the easier it is to keep your home tidy, simply because there’s less stuff to make a mess with!

Not only that but when you have less stuff, you have less stuff that needs to be cleaned. And less stuff to clean around. Meaning cleaning your home takes less time and effort.

Less time spent looking for stuff

When you clear the clutter, it’s easier to keep track of what you have and find it when you need it.

With less stuff, it’s a lot easier to have a place for everything and keep everything in its place.

It’s said that the average person spends more than 5000 hours of their life simply looking for stuff in their home. Anything you can do to spend less time and frustration looking for things you know are there somewhere, but just can’t find is a win!

More time for what matters

When you clear the clutter, you spend less time managing stuff, taking care of stuff and looking for stuff, simply because you own less stuff.

And instead, give yourself more time to focus on doing things you enjoy and matter most to you.

Better functioning home

A wonderful benefit of decluttering is how it gives you a better functioning home. One that’s easier to maintain, take care of, find what you need, keep organized, etc. Simply because there’s less stuff in it!

More space

Clearing the clutter and choosing to own less stuff gives you more space in your home for living.

And also means you need less space for storage simply because you have less stuff to store!

More financial freedom

There are a variety of different ways decluttering can give you more financial freedom. For example, you aren’t re-buying stuff you already own, but can’t find when you need it.

But there are other ways decluttering can give you more financial freedom too:

More mindful purchasing

Decluttering can be a very eye-opening experience. As you see all the stuff you are getting rid of that you didn’t really use, need or like, it can help you make more mindful purchases moving forward.

It can be difficult to see the money you spent unnecessarily on what is now causing clutter and adding stress in your home.

But the good news is you can learn from your mistakes and make more thoughtful purchases from now on. Aiming to buy less unnecessary stuff that will eventually end up as clutter.

Making money from clutter

Decluttering your house can even add to your financial freedom if you choose to sell the stuff you’re getting rid of.

Remember, you likely will only get a fraction of what you spent on an item back. And selling the stuff you’re getting rid of can slow down your decluttering progress because it takes a lot of time and effort to sell things.

But if you have the time, interest and patience, selling some of the stuff you’re decluttering can be a good way to earn a little extra money.

Less stress

Feeling like your home and the stuff in it are out of control can be stressful for most people. It doesn’t feel good when it feels like managing all the stuff you own controls how you spend most of your time.

Clearing the clutter and choosing to own less stuff means you’ll have less stuff to manage and maintain. Which means less work and stress in your life related to the stuff you own.

Plus, getting rid of the clutter can help diffuse some of the tensions and contention among your family about picking up stuff. Simply because there’s less stuff to pick up and maintaining your home is not so overwhelming.

When you clear the clutter, create order, tame the chaos too much stuff causes and regain control over your home and the stuff in it, it can help reduce one source of stress and anxiety in your life.

More happiness

When your home is easier to maintain and manage, you’ll likely feel happier at home.

And not only that but when you’re surrounded by your favourite things that you use and love, your home becomes a place you enjoy. And when you enjoy your home and the things in it, it’s easier to feel happier in your home and in your life in general!

More confidence

When you clear the clutter and the distractions from your life, it becomes easier to figure out who you really are. Without the clutter, you have time and space to notice what lights you up, get clear about your values and priorities and discover more about who you are as a person.

The clearer you become about who you are and what lights you up, the more confident you feel in yourself, your goals and what you have to offer the world.

All because you gave yourself the time and space by removing the clutter that was eating up so much of your time, energy and attention!

Less mental clutter

Clutter not only occupies the space in your home, but it also occupies space in your mind too. Stealing your energy and attention with its distracting presence. Leaving you feeling mentally cluttered, foggy or unfocused.

Clearing the physical clutter from your home is a great way to clear some of the mental clutter from your mind too. Each piece of clutter you remove from your home is one less piece of mental clutter you need to think about, take care of, look for, keep track of, etc.

More gratitude

When you get rid of the clutter, the excess and the distractions, you often feel more appreciation and gratitude for the things that are left. Those are the things you use, love and enjoy after all!

This feeling of gratitude can help you find contentment with your home and your stuff as well. Instead of always wanting more, newer, better, etc. it’s easier to appreciate what you have and find your place of “enough”.

More calm

When the outside world often feels stressful and busy, it’s wonderful to have a home that feels like a haven. A place to escape the stress of the outside world and rest, relax, recharge and spend time doing things you love.

Clearing the clutter can give you time and space for both your body and your mind to rest. When you own less, there are fewer things you need to do and take care of giving your body time and space to rest.

But there’s also less visual clutter, stimulation and endless to-do lists running through your head giving your mind time and space to rest as well.

And who doesn’t want a home that adds more peace and calm to their lives instead of becoming another source of stress and an endless to-do list?

Better health

Clearing the clutter can even help improve your health.

When there’s less stuff, it becomes easier to clean and effectively remove any dust or allergens that can build up. Less stuff simply means fewer places for dust to settle, collect and hide, making it easier to keep dust from building up on what’s left.

And less dust and fewer allergens help improve the quality of air in your home overall, which can help keep you healthier too!

Better sleep

Decluttering can even help you get a better night’s sleep!

When you’re surrounded by clutter and distractions, especially in your sleeping space, it can be hard for your mind to settle down and rest. It is constantly surrounded by visual input, stimulation and clutter.

Whereas a clutter-free space gives your mind the opportunity to rest, making it easier to get to sleep and improve sleep quality.

Less guilt

Guilt is a strong and draining emotion. And often, keeping stuff you don’t use, like or need in your home can add a lot of guilt to your life.

Maybe it’s the things you spent money on but didn’t end up using or liking. Or maybe it’s a gift you haven’t used or don’t like making you feel guilty whenever you see it. Maybe it’s something that reminds you of a negative experience every time you see it. Or maybe you feel guilty and bad when your home constantly feels messy, chaotic or hard to manage.

Clearing the clutter you feel guilty about can help clear some of the negative emotions and memories from your home and your life too. It’s your home, you don’t need to keep things that make you feel bad or guilty when you see them!

Better relationships

When you have less clutter and fewer distractions competing for your time, energy and attention, you can be more present with the people you love. And relationships have the opportunity to flourish when you can give them more time, attention and presence.

And when you aren’t embarrassed about a cluttered home and have a home you feel proud of, it helps you feel more comfortable and confident hosting guests and welcoming people into your home. Giving you the opportunity to make new and deeper connections with friends and family!

Clearing the clutter can help improve your relationships with your family at home as well. When there is less stuff to manage in your home, there’s less stuff to argue over who is going to pick it up. Dividing household chores can even become less of an issue when those chores are faster and easier to do.

Leading your kids by example

Working to declutter and simplify your home can help teach your kids by example about the power and benefits of decluttering and simplifying.

More freedom

When you clear the clutter from your home, you give yourself more time, energy and financial freedom.

Then, you can use that newfound time, energy and financial freedom to explore the things, people and activities you love and that light you up.

The freedom this gives you is one of the many benefits of decluttering and embracing life with less!

More experiences

And speaking of more freedom, another wonderful benefit of decluttering is the opportunity to have more experiences.

When you choose to clear the clutter and have less stuff, you have the freedom to prioritize experiences and making memories over buying more stuff.

More generosity

But the freedom that comes with less isn’t just about giving more to yourself. It also gives you the opportunity for more generosity to others as well.

When you realize you don’t need more stuff to have a happy and full life and find yourself feeling content with what you have, it becomes easier to share the abundance that fills your life.

Whether it’s generosity with your time, skills or money, intentionally choosing less gives you the opportunity and awareness to appreciate what you have and feel good about sharing it with others.

It feels good!

One of my favourite benefits of decluttering is simply that clearing the clutter feels good!

It feels good and energizing to make decisions about getting rid of the stuff you don’t use, need or love, clearing the clutter, getting things done and making your home a place you love to be in!

So many benefits of decluttering

There are so many benefits of clearing the clutter from your home and your life.

Decluttering your house won’t solve all of your problems or mean you’ll never face struggles or challenges again. But it will give you more time, space and energy to deal with those struggles and challenges when they do arise. And that sure helps make life a little easier – both in good times and times that feel more challenging!

What are your favourite benefits of decluttering?

Leave a comment and let me know!

It’s hard for me to pick a favourite because I’m so grateful for everything on this list that I’ve experienced since decluttering and simplifying our lives.

When I first began decluttering, my favourite benefit was how much easier it was to clean and maintain our home. And while I still love and appreciate that, the longer I’ve lived a simpler life, the more I think the freedom this lifestyle offers me is the thing I appreciate most.