Downsize your life?

Minimalism isn’t always for everyone. But some of us find a lot of power and freedom in reducing clutter in our lives. Additionally, there are studies that show how having too much clutter in your home can negatively impact your finances and relationships. The average American home has tripled over the past fifty years, and the storage industry is now one of the fastest growing industries in the nation. Having so many things costs money, which is a good incentive to take a critical look at your possessions and consider whether or not you should keep them all.

In addition to the practical standpoint of costing money, clutter has been shown to also raise cortisol levels, contributing to stress, reduction in sex drive, fitful sleep, high blood pressure, and a myriad of other problems. Cortisol elevates throughout the day, but when we get home in the evening, it should naturally start to decrease as we relax and unwind. However, those of us with exceptionally cluttered homes may find that our cortisol levels aren’t decreasing as they should when we get home at the end of the day.

Why can’t I get rid of it?

We have distilled the main reasons why people collect things or have trouble getting rid of things from a broad range of articles and lists about clutter and minimalism:

1. Perceived value: This item was expensive, may gain worth in the future, or even owning this item increases my value as a person.

2. Sentimental attachment: The item either commemorates a memory I’m attached to, or even simply the memory of acquiring the item.

3. Saving for someday: The item might be useful “someday,” and throwing it out or getting rid of it is wasteful.

Listen to the full episode to delve deeper into each reason and learn some ways to manage clutter in your life!