When Is Stuff Just Stuff

Do you have trouble walking around your house, or finding stuff in that overcrowded closet? You need to ask yourself when is stuff just stuff? In other words, do you seem to have too much stuff around your house?

I was there. After my husband and my parents passed, I had way more objects and things that started just looking like stuff. It was becoming overwhelming and sad. Time to downsize for my mental health.

People think they need a bigger house or more room because their stuff doesn’t fit. Not true, most likely it just needs to be weeded and sorted. In other words, once everything has a place and a spot, and a purpose you will see what you really have.

Asking yourself if you truly need the objects will give life meaning and you will know what is important. For instance, what are you living for? Are they the objects themselves or how they can enhance your living.

The Good Stuff

Have you ever had a conversation or a thought that you are hoarding? I know that is an extreme word, but it is a description that there is too much stuff in a small amount of space.

We all gather things and yes, I love shopping. Yet, working on knowing what is important or what makes you feel your best, certain shiny objects (things you think you need) will become dull and simply start getting in the way.

Clean Out The Stuff

Cleaning out and downsizing can be a daunting process, so how do we get started? There was so much I didn’t know where to begin? I would sit and not want to do anything. In other words, where do you start?

This article has a great perspective to get you motivated. Hence, finding a purpose will find extra space. You might also need this guide to help

Simple, one room at a time! That is right, one room. Take everything out and start fresh. Make it a theme or feel the room and what you want out of it. For instance, the bedroom needs to be soft and comfy. The office, inspiring, the kitchen is creative and so forth.

When you start adding things back in. Do it slowly, sit back and see how you feel? That’s right, are you happy, sad, enlightened, or still tense? Hence, when it gets to be too much, STOP!

Time to Organize

Look around and see all the things we have collected. Do you look at them everyday? When you look at an object , think … does it make me feel young, inspired, successful, cool, or connected? Not all will, for they are just objects. Hence, stuff to dust and clutter your life.

When we reflect back on the best moments of our lives, we rarely think about the objects. The objects we spend our lives acquiring don’t give us the lives we’re desiring.

The right object has a story behind it that makes you happy, connected, inspired, successful, and/or young . The wrong object is just an object which can overwhelm and stress our day.

Now is the time to start sorting. Cleaning out things that are in the way or taking up precious space. I found this article that gives you six methods to start helping. This article also gives you pros and cons of each.

Instead of deciding what to get rid of, you choose what to keep and declutter the rest.
Beginning on the first day of a month, the number of things you declutter corresponds to the day of the month.
Set up four boxes in a room and label them: Put away, Give away, Throw away, and Undecided.
Get rid of one thing every single day for a period of time.
Pack everything you own into boxes as if you were moving. Throughout the next few months, only take out the items you use.
With your clothes, ensure all hangers are facing the same direction when you begin. Each day, you place whatever you wore back in the closet with the hanger facing in the opposing direction to signify what pieces you used.

Stuff Creates Stress

When I look back on pictures of my house, I think no wonder I was overwhelmed at times. It had to be causing some stress. It took me hours to clean.

Now, I don’t miss it. I enjoy the emptiness. I now feel the joy and happiness that you should feel at home. Everything has a place to call home and it makes me feel joy when I walk around.

Make life worth living. Ask yourself when is stuff just stuff.

Sandy