How Decluttering Helped Me Be More Productive

Clutter is something that’s very sneaky. It slowly builds up for years until you’re suddenly up to your ears in things you didn’t even know you owned.

I remember the moment I first noticed that I had accumulated a surprising amount of clutter over the years. The house felt smaller and smaller but I didn’t exactly know why.

Getting rid of that clutter did wonders for my productivity. Though it was something of a process sorting things out for storage, donation, or recycling I found that it was a fantastic use of my time.

By getting rid of everything that I no longer needed in my life, I was able to make the most of my time and accomplish more each day.

I Found Space for a Home Office.

When I had work to do at home, I’d usually wind up setting up a small station at the kitchen table. I’d plug in my laptop, set my papers up all over the place, and do my best to accomplish as much as I could at my impromptu desk.

By decluttering and organizing myself I was able to find a better option.

I had a small area in the back of my home that no one was using. It had some furniture in it but it was more or less a defunct family room full of things that were gathering dust.

I found community storage on Spacer and moved all of my antique furniture to someone who had extra space that they weren’t using.

I was able to set up an office in that unused room so now I can work a little bit from home or even focus on voluntary academic pursuits. I have my own space to learn and grow outside of my dining room.

I Was Able to Meet my Health Goals.

It might seem weird to think that I was more productive in my health journey by decluttering but that’s exactly what happened. I get very busy and I eat a lot more convenience food than I’d like to.

A deep clean and declutter of my kitchen encouraged me to make better choices and stick to them.

I got rid of some old appliances (like my deep fryer) and I purged my cabinets. Some of the things in my pantry had been in there forever since dry and canned goods have very long shelf lives. I got rid of everything but the vegetables and healthy grains, and I replaced a lot of the junk with healthy snacks.

I wound up making my kitchen a place I love to spend time in. I love cooking nutritious meals, even if I pre-prepare and freeze them for the week if that’s all my schedule will permit.

I Simplified My Household Chores.

It’s hard to clean with all of that clutter in the way. It took me longer to mop, sweep, and do the laundry when I was having to work around all the things I didn’t need anyway.

I can clean my whole house in an hour or two, and then I’m set for the week. This means I can spend a lot more time focusing on my personal and professional goals.  I no longer dread dealing with the mess – I can get ahead of it before it becomes a large task.

If it’s been a while since you’ve done a major declutter, I would recommend that you do it. Setting aside a day or two now can save you infinitely more time later on down the road, and you’re free to use that time to accomplish something meaningful.

About The Author

This is a guest post by Emma Lewis, a loving mother, a devoted wife and a part of the team supporting Spacer – a company helping you find storage space whenever you need it. Emma is also a staunch supporter of the sharing economy and often mentions its benefits.