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.

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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.