One of the ways Grandmaster Tony Morris, owner of Sun Soo Martial Arts, creates a culture of excellence is to first master the fundamentals, specifically impeccable manners. When children are respectful, considerate of others and listen, he can build on those foundational skills. Decluttering is also foundational. Getting rid of piles of stuff might seem like a seasonal project or something to do on a rainy day, but like Tony’s objective with manners, decluttering is bigger than it looks at first glance. Reducing clutter can create white space and mental clarity, creating room for what you really want to do. Getting more organized can create mental room to think. Much like manners, decluttering is mastering a fundamental that ultimately will elevate how you live. 

 

Clutter in our homes takes a mental toll. Stacks of paper, a hodgepodge of countertop clutter, overstuffed closets or garages filled with storage items can take more of a mental impact than you might realize. Promises of “I’ll go through it later” can still contribute to cognitive overload. Oftentimes, you don’t realize how much clutter weighs on you until you get rid of it.

“Clutter becomes a mental burden,” says Kerry Mayer, owner of Kerry Mayer Home, a full-service professional organizing company. “I love to help people declutter and organize their spaces because doing so makes room mentally for what matters to them most,” Kerry says. She loves to help clients go from overwhelmed to joy that comes from loving their spaces.

Kerry and her husband live in Asheville because they love to create family memories by hiking and going camping at a moment’s notice. “I organized our garage, so it’s easy and efficient to pack our hiking gear and go,” Kerry says. After an adventurous outdoor trip with their family, their house is all put together and mentally relaxing when they return. “We have a system so we have stress-free packing and can enjoy our home when we get back.”

Numerous studies show that clutter can affect anxiety levels, sleep, ability to focus and stress levels and take a toll on our relationships. Clutter can even cause procrastination and contribute to stress snacking. Here are Kerry Mayer’s tips for decluttering:

Tip # 1. Break big projects into manageable chunks. Instead of trying to tackle the entire house, choose smaller tasks to tackle, like a desk or bathroom drawer. Or, take 30 minutes a day to see what you can accomplish within that block of time. 

Tip # 2 Edit Out. You can’t organize too much stuff. To declutter, we have to reduce. Sometimes clutter happens because it’s an input-output problem. We also get caught up thinking our memories are tied to things when they are really inside us. Start making decisions to reduce and think about how good the result will feel. Once you edit down your stuff, maintain a better system by following the rule: One in, one out.

Tip # 3 Organize. You don’t need to purchase organizational tools to organize your home, but sometimes a simple acrylic drawer with compartments that can fit inside a bathroom drawer can make makeup organization efficient and easy to use. Use clear and white products to keep things light and bright.

Tip # 4 Hire a professional home organizer. Save yourself time and avoid overwhelm with the help of a professional organizer. Watch your space go from chaos to control, improving your everyday efficiency and the functionality of your home by creating gorgeous clutter-free spaces. The transformation is powerful.

Tip # 5 Maintain a new system. Decluttering isn’t just about reducing material things; there also has to be a commitment to change a system, or a way of being, so you don’t fall back into old patterns. Clutter really is delayed decision-making, and it can stack up again easily unless you adhere to a new, more organized system.  

Loving your space by decluttering has so many benefits, Kerry explains. “You can love your space and save time. You also can increase your focus, productivity and even your memory.”

One of the ways to assess if it’s time to declutter is to ask yourself if your home makes you feel relaxed when you pull into the garage, walk in the front door, hang out in your kitchen, sit down in your home office or go to bed at night. If your spaces don’t make you feel calm, it might be time to address the mess! By doing so, you will reduce stress, increase your mental clarity, feel more in control, make better choices and love your space!

 

As Kerry says, “Your home space affects your whole life.”