WHY WE SHOULD DECLUTTER
First of all, lets start with a few important questions:
The Garage clean up
What is decluttering?
For me decluttering is turning chaos into serenity
Why do we clutter?
- Fear of loosing something that might come to use in the future
- Illusion of creating stability/structure by always having what is needed
- Fear to not have something that we need
- Illusion of being successful
The evil outcome of clutter: STRESS which leads to ANXIETY which leads to DEPRESSION
Forms of cluttering: a busy house, a busy lifestyle, a busy work setup, demanding friends stealing energy.
Where to start?
- Start at the place which is your comfort zone – your home
- Never pick a single day to do everything
- Set up 1 hour before bed and choose a part of you home to declutter e.g. start with your wardrobe, 2 shelves.
How to declutter your home – step 1 of decluttering:
- Have I used this within the past 12 months? Yes, keep it. No, chuck it!
- Am I thinking twice about the item? Chuck it!
- Donating to a charity organisation will make it much easier
- Giving an item to a close friend/family member will make it easier and at the same time might mean the world to them – a remembrance
- Remember, it will make your life more simple, less stress, just do it!
How to declutter your life:
This is a much more difficult topic to cover but if you have accomplished step 1 you are ready for the next step
- Identify the things that are making you anxious e.g. work, colleagues, friends, traffic etc.
- Determine how to remove the negative things from your life
- Stop trying to please everyone
- Stop chasing money and possessions
- Don’t try to do everything in one day
- Spend more quality time with your children and family, talk more, listen more and laugh more
- Leave iPads, tablets, phones at home when going somewhere OR visit places without signal
- Find the quality in minimalism
Outcome:
Calmer, happier, patient, relaxed ME —> husband —> children —> family.
This is such a difficult step to take in life, but so crucial to do. Remember life is short, be happy 🙂
This is my personal findings when I started packing up our lives, I would love to hear your comments or stories on decluttering!
Us Loving Wanderlust 
Loving reading this blog, and look forward to getting more insightful and helpful tips….huge respect that you are living/loving the dream
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Thanks Mandy!
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Baie waar, ek probeer ook declutter by huis maar dit sukkel maar.
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Ek het hoeveel keer probeer en was elke keer net moedeloos totdat ek besluit het, vandag 2 kombuislaaie, more nog ‘n laai. Ek het alles wat ek dubbel gehad het eenkant gesit vir charity. Die mense was SO dankbaar. Sterkte 🙂
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Hi Eben, Melanie, Kayla en Megan, ek dink ek weet waarvan julle praat! Ek het geen idee wat in die “container” is wat hier gaan aankom nie…Rudi sê wat ons nie gemis het in die afgelope 3 jaar nie, gaan ons nie mis nie!! Ons verlang na julle en hoop julle kom ‘n draai maak in Denver!!!
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Ek besef nou eers hoeveel ekstras van alles ons gehad het! Die kinders het defnitief te veel speelgoed gehad waarmee hulle nie gespeel het nie. Ons hoop defnitief ons kom eendag in Denver uit xxx
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Julle sal moet kom kuier!!!!!
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Ons sal defnitief plan maak 🙂
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Meggie , Kayla, Tannie Melanie en Oom Eben, ek hoop julle travel lekker en veilig! Ek wens om eendag in julle voetspore te volg dit sal amazing wees! Geniet die avontuur en weet net ek gaan verlang!
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Hi Bianca, baie dankie!!Hopelik kan julle eendag vir ons kom kuier waar ookal ons mag wees xx
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My maklike manier, pak tas met klere wat jy elke dag dra.
Gee sleutels vir huis en kar vir vriendin/hospice en deel hul mee hul kan vat, weggee of koop.
Geen stres en baie gou.
Nou al n paar keer gedoen en gaan weer volgende maand die proses herhaal. Die keer hou ek darem die kar.
Ek noem dit:pay it forward, the lazy way
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Klink defnitief na die makliker manier! Hopelik hoef ons nooit weer daai roete te volg nie 🤞 Dankie dat jy ons blog gelees het en sterkte met die “trek” 😉
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