Unexpected side-effects of decluttering

[dustyphoenix]

Over the past year I've probably gotten rid of about 50% of our possessions, and have come to love living with less 'stuff'. I've not followed any particular approach, just had regular clear-outs as and when I've felt like it.

What really interests me is the side-effects of decluttering, that I never expected - I wondered if anyone else has had similar? For me it's been:

• loads more time to read and time for self-care. I don't know why this is, it's not like I used to spend forever tidying up, but it might be something psychological given that I no longer look around and see loads of things that need something doing/sorting
• wearing brighter lipstick - perhaps because my clothes are simpler and dressing more straightforward, I'm having alot more fun wearing some brighter shades, and also experimenting with heels.
• more adventurous eating/drinking tastes - this is a weird one! For some reason I've gone from nearly always ordering food/drink I knew I like when out and about, to trying out new flavours. I can't explain this one!
• new interest/understanding of skin/haircare. When sorting out my products, I spent a bit of time looking at what I really needed, and started to pay more attention to what ingredients my skin/hair needed and how to use them. I now have significantly fewer products, but have a better understanding of how they work and how to get the best out of them.

I can't be the only one to have undergone a bit of a life overhaul, would love to hear some more!

Following the kondo method led to generally much better decision making all round for me.

So much less wasted time looking for things. I adore the feeling of no longer panicking when someone asks me where something is, because I know!

I'm much pickier about what clothes I buy and have gone from buying lots of cheap stuff in Primark and New Look to buying more expensive items that I know will last.

The thing from Marie Kondo which struck me the most - everything you own should have a home. So simple, couldn't believe that I'd never realised that before!

I just wish I could declutter my family's possessions too

Yes me - all of those things op. Also a recent interest in eating healthily and looking nice

Yes, definitely agree I make more effort to look nice nowadays. and definitely yes to decision-making. It's definitely put an end to my procrastination problem too - largely because my 'deck' is much clearer so if there are cards loitering that need to be posted or stuff returning to a friend I'm so much keener to get rid of it and get back to being free of it! I must admit though, I've not involved my children so much as done it behind their backs

We are still very much at the beginning of a Marie Kondo style declutter. I’ve only done clothes and books so far and gathered all paperwork that I plan to go through this weekend but my god I already feel like a new person. DH says the same.

The house (whilst at the moment still looks the same on the surface) feels better, more ordered. Even though there is still loads to do, knowing we are on the way there makes me feel calm!

I have far less clothes but I’ve started wearing some things I’ve had for ages but not worn due to not being able to see them. I have identified the things I need so I can go shopping for them specifically, rather than the usual ‘I have no clothes’ and randomly buying stuff that doesn’t end up getting worn.

Getting rid of books that I’ve been holding on to for years but never read. I feel liberated and I’m really keen to read the ones I kept. I will get rid as soon as I’ve finished each one and I’m not buying/accepting any more until I’m down to the last few.

I’ve noticed some knock on effects too. Having less belongings has made our house a much nicer place and I’ve found that the philosophy of less and simplify permeates everything else.
I don’t over schedule my day like I used to, or take on complicated projects with the dc. Everything is calmer and easier.
I’m clearer on what I want, and more direct about asking for it. My hair is more manageable because I was clear with my hairdresser about what I could handle instead of convincing myself that I’m going to have time to do things that I’m simply not.

Basin - totally get what you mean about books. I've always thought the more books the better, but have noticed that I only gravitate towards particular ones. Threw the rest out the other day and now just have the ones I'm excited to read. And YY totally agree about the whole attitude permeating everything else Introverted. I found that for me alot of my decluttering was coming to recognise that I probably would never get round to that unfinished craft project I'd held on to for 8 years and two house moves, and that letting go of the expectation that I would/should actually allowed me to move on to working what what my life is actually like now.

Yes that attitude towards simplifying things has really helped us too. I even find getting ready in the mornings (including getting DS out the door) much calmer.

Today we switched our 2 reception rooms around to give DS a seperate playroom and us a more grown up space. It seemed an insurmountable task a few weeks ago but it’s done now and I’m now sitting in my grown up room whilst DH pus DS to bed. Lovely.

I notice that I look so much better as I wear clothes that suit me!

I’m almost finished a through declutter and I’m amazed at the changes it’s nade to my life. The housework takes me half the time, an hour or so two mornings a week and it’s done. Means I have more free time at the weekend, and the house looks lovely so I’m never embarrassed for anyone to show up unannounced anymore.

I feel so much calmer and seem to have more time for me. Time with DD and DH feels like quality time as I’m not preoccupied trying to tidy up at the same time.

I’m more organised. Know where everything is. And even though we all have less clothes I’m finding I’m always on top of the laundry and never struggle to find something to wear. I agree with a PP that I’m wearing things I’d forgotten about, and I’m being a bit more inventive with my outfits.

I just seem to have more energy. If something needs doing, I just do it. I’ve always been a bit of a lazy mare. It’s been revolutionary!

I used to get stressed when we had guests coming over and it all used to go into frantic tidying. Now I still get stressed with certain guests but I have had to face that I find them stressful for other reasons.

So interesting.

I’m living with my mum and she’s a hoarder. I’ve noticed that since being here that my self care (always sparse) has got worse and I’m stressed and tired always. I’m cleaning and getting nowhere.

Her clutter is emotional and she has STRONG attatchments but not to the point that any room can’t function. She knows and watches decluttering programs regularly but can’t bring herself to start.

I’d love to do this. I have to clean this place but it’s hard with all the clutter and newspapers/journals and books (which she doesn’t read as English not her first language). We even have her old dustbin from m the 1970s and it’s cracked and vile but she won’t let me get a new one.

I work for the house - it doesn’t work for us☹️

Bring on the good stories! I want to show her.

Thanks for this thread OP - it's very encouraging as I plod on with a declutter of the house we've lived in for thirty years. Having sorted out my parents' and PIL's houses after their deaths I really didn't want our own kids to be faced with a mammoth task, and that's what got me started.

So I think I started the project in a fairly negative frame of mind - i.e. trying to avoid something bad - but I'm coming to see that once I've shed a load of stuff life in general will feel much better. I'm trying to visualise a wardrobe that instead of being over-stuffed, only contains clothes I really want to wear .. as one example. That would be amazing.

I also identify with the idea of having more time for enjoyable activities .. I like sewing and knitting but have hardly done any for years; I think I feel guilty sitting down to do something for myself when there are household tasks hanging over me, if that makes sense.

The house isn't a mess; it looks fine. But almost every drawer and cupboard is rammed full. It so needs tackling.

So it's great to hear of the positive spin-offs from decluttering. I identify with this so much and I'm going to hold onto these thoughts!

I’m determined this year to declutter our house and this thread is so motivating! I would actually say that both DH and I are pretty minimal and don’t have that much stuff. But since having kids I’ve started to feel anxious, as I have so little free time and so many things on my mind that I need to have a well functioning household to save my sanity. I’m convinced that getting rid of as much as possible will make all our lives so much happier.

In some areas we are actually doing pretty well, for example the kids’ clothes are really well organised. It occurred to me today that this is why our 3yo DD can dress herself whereas our 5yo nephew can’t. All DD’s clothes and underwear are folded Kondo style by type - trousers, T-shirts, jumpers etc so she knows where to find each item to get dressed, whereas in SiL and BiL’s house everything is just thrown randomly into a drawer.

I really need to work on having a home for everything as we have too many miscellaneous items that don’t have a home. This means I occasionally have to go to the shops to buy something which I know we have but can’t find - most recently glue for a project DD had to do. I really want to stop wasting time on such things!