When I moved to Texas, I brought everything I could fit my 4-door sedan from Naples, Florida and left all my other belongings locked in a quite full storage unit. The girls were spending the Summer in the Dominican Republic and I was exploring possibilities.

I signed a 6-month lease in a small apartment in Las Colinas, ten minutes away from the Dallas Fort Worth International airport, and I was unsure whether I was staying long term, and I knew I already had stuff, so the apartment was mostly empty.

We enjoyed so many sweet moments and made so many sweet memories in that place. Because we didn’t have a table, we had picnics every day. There was not much to organize or clean, and there was a sense of peace that graced us the second we entered our little sanctuary.

Now we live in Fort Worth, and with an extra little one, I want to make sure my house is safe and I want to keep my new house free of clutter, especially after getting my furniture and other belongings from storage during one of my trips to Walt Disney World.

But items sneak up on you ( it seems that every time you move, you need a bigger truck, right?) and lately I’ve felt the need to reclaim my house from clutter and on a journey to upgrade the look and feel of my spaces, and to donate, sell, and discard unused and unwanted items (in that order of priority). 

This all started when my husband and I separated last July. The breakup was depressing and devastating, but re-organizing, decluttering, and clearing space, in a way felt like I was taking control of my life.

Decluttering is not just about making your home look nicer, but there are also some powerful, and perhaps surprising benefits of decluttering.

And decluttering is not only about getting rid of stuff. It also means getting those things that will help you streamline your space so that it feels better.

Clutter is not just physical stuff. It’s old ideas, toxic relationships and bad habits. Clutter is anything that does not support your better self.

I recently received the Legrand in-wall power kit from Best Buy and installed it behind my flat screen TV. The kit provides easy routing of TV power and HDMI cable in-wall, with no electrical wiring required, which makes my home safer for my small child and a pet, but also gives my wall an uncluttered look by hiding those ugly TV cables and eliminating those annoying tangles across my floor!

The Legrand in-wall power kit helped me get rid of those annoying power and AV wires seamlessly and with ease, and still gives me access to the back of my TV. The Legrand in-wall power kit is compatible with any TV brand and there is no need to modify the home’s existing electrical wiring.

I’ve also been getting some shelves to organize my garage, which has been so helpful in organizing the items I want to donate, sell, or discard, and  a full-motion TV rack to mount the flat screen TV on my living room wall.

I love this advice by William Morris: 

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.

Unlock The Powerful Benefits Of Decluttering

Clutter is anything you don’t use, you don’t need, or you don’t like in your space. Decluttering is beneficial in many ways because clutter is a manifestation of what is going on in our minds.

#1 ~ Decluttering can save your sanity

When your home is cluttered, you feel more stressed out because clutter makes you feel overwhelmed. You feel like you’re always behind schedule and can’t seem to get anything done. Striving to live a more simple, minimalistic lifestyle can bring more calm, peace, relaxation and a zen feel to your spaces.

#2 ~ Decluttering can save you time

When your environment is cluttered, it’s easier to lose things and harder to find them (like keys, important documents, an outfit you want to wear…). This doesn’t just add panic to your life, and makes you feel like you’re not on top of things because you’re always wondering where you put things, this also is a huge waste of your precious time! Of course, you will have less stuff to clean and organize, so you can have a neat, tidy, safe space in a fraction of the time!

#3 ~ Decluttering can save you money

Having a cluttered space can cause you to miss out on time-sensitive offers, have products expire before you can use them, or even make purchases and realize you had already bought that item and didn’t need it after all.

In addition, it’s common to find money in unexpected places when you’re decluttering, or to find items that can be sold in a garage sale or an online marketplace.

#4 ~ Decluttering can save your business

When you reduce the clutter around you, you become more creative, more productive, and more focused because clutter will not distract you. When your workspace is neat, you’ll feel less tired, procrastinate less, and have more clarity that will allow you to make faster, more certain decisions and become better at problem-solving. 

#5 ~ Decluttering can save your dreams

There’s a principle I teach as a Success Principles Certified Trainer about how when we live, work, or study in an environment where we see messes and incompletes, we feel less capable, and therefore, we lack the confidence to follow our dreams or to set out to accomplish our goals.

Our mood is impacted as we walk around and see our unfinished business, and reminders of what we meant to get around to doing, or those jeans we still can’t fit into, and we end up feeling defeated.

#6 ~ Decluttering can save your social life

It can be hard to invite people over when we are embarrassed about what our home looks like. And even when we do, we’re always apologizing for our messes, which makes us feel disconnected from the visitor, in the first place.

#7 ~ Decluttering can save your comfort

We keep many of the things we buy or collect because they either give us physical or emotional comfort, so this may sound contradictory. The truth is when we cleaning out unneeded items in closets and drawers or unused furniture, we enjoy a more welcoming, roomy, and comfortable living space.

#8 ~ Decluttering can save your happiness

Imagine walking through every room of your home and being surrounded only by possessions you love, items that make you smile, pieces that are meaningful to you… This may not solve all your problems, but it would feel good, it will inspire you, and it would definitely increase your happiness levels.

#9 ~ Decluttering can save your freedom

Once you get out of your own way and start decluttering, you’ll experience that it is one of the most freeing practices you can implement in your life. Letting go of what doesn’t serve you and releasing your attachment to material possessions will give you a sense of lightness that will dramatically improve your positive energy levels.

As we recover from our addictions, we feel closer to our purpose, because we place our priority on experiences rather than on things and are able to face our emotional issues with closure and courage. 

#10 ~ Decluttering can save your kids

Well, not literally, but living in a cluttered environment can impact your kids in a negative way during childhood, but also as adults, because they do as you do, not as you say. The habit of holding on to clutter will affect their productivity, their social life, and their self esteem, and it can sabotage their dreams, too!

And, of course, when you gain more time and money freedom, have more confidence, and become more productive and creative, you are able to be your best Self – and a better mom!

Decluttering is a great way to say goodbye to things that drag you down, so you can experience more serenity, joy, and fulfillment in your life.

Decluttering makes your life a whole lot easier and happier, so when will you start? I’m excited to continue the journey and I’ll be sharing some strategies I’ve used with you in an upcoming post.

Are you ready to unlock the powerful benefits of decluttering and improve your motherhood experience? Being free of clutter means being free to live your dream life.

Founder of the Positive MOM® and creator of the S.T.O.R.Y. System: a blueprint to craft and share powerful stories that will transform your results and help others do the same. Dr. Elayna Fernández is a single mom of 4, an award-winning Storyteller, Story Strategist, and Student of Pain. She’s a bestselling author, internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, and 5x TEDx speaker. She has spoken at the United Nations, received the President’s Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award, and was selected as one of the Top Impactful Leaders and a Woman of Influence by SUCCESS Magazine. Connect with Elayna at thepositivemom.com/ef and follow @thepositivemom. To receive a gift from Elayna, click HERE.

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