I recently turned my attention to the question of decluttering and tidying up. We are constantly subjected to the temptation to buy all sorts of things, for ourselves, for our children, to give to others, thinking that our possessions will certainly make us happier, more fulfilled and so on. Then, after 10 years of buying and cluttering up our homes with objects that aren’t necessarily useful, it’s only natural that we decide to declutter. What’s striking and what I find quite interesting is that the reason remains the same: to be happier, to lead a more fulfilled life…

Indeed, while some people decide to declutter their closets in order to fill them up later, others decide to declutter and start taking an interest in minimalism or voluntary simplicity. There’s no question here of right or wrong, or of judging. I simply note that the common objective is often happiness. And that’s obviously quite understandable! But you should know that getting rid of the superfluous won’t instantly make you happy. It just doesn’t work that way! What are you going to do if a big, empty house doesn’t make you any happier?

That’s why I think it’s important to know why you want to declutter, what the objective is behind it. Even if the ultimate goal is linked to your happiness, your well-being, it’s important to clarify your intention, to know in which direction you want to go.

You’ll then be able to keep yourself motivated by regularly reminding yourself why you’re decluttering. And if you undertake decluttering in alignment with yourself, you’ll find it that much easier to stay the course. Because decluttering is just the beginning of a change or process that’s consistent with the person you are. Can you say to me today: “I want to declutter and tidy up my home for such and such a reason, and this is part of the path to my goal in such and such a way”?

Because in the end, knowing how to declutter is easy enough. But knowing why, for what reasons, is much more abstract, and also very personal.

So, to make it easier for you, I’ve thought about my own reasons, and I’ve also done some research to discover other reasons for decluttering. I’m sharing with you the ones that speak to me the most.

YOU want to be, not to have. It’s about who you are, not what you own. You want to be appreciated and loved for who you are, not for what you have.

YOU need fresh air and cleanliness. The accumulation of objects causes a build-up of dust and you really suffocate. You’ve developed allergies to dust and dust mites, which you’d like to get rid of.

YOU need a clear head and a light mind.

YOU work from home, and the clutter and noise make it hard for you to concentrate on your work. Your children are also having trouble concentrating on their homework and lessons, their attention constantly diverted by the toys strewn around the floor.

YOU’ve made some bad purchases in the past and want to change your consumer habits by choosing quality over quantity.

YOU need more space to welcome a new person into your life, to enlarge the family, etc. Blended families know what I’m talking about…

YOU need to turn the page and let go of the memories of a painful, heavy and sometimes space-consuming past.

YOU want to reduce your ecological footprint. You’ve decided to simplify your life and reduce waste as much as possible.

YOU need money. Maintaining, repairing and keeping your many possessions in good condition costs you a lot of money. What’s more, your children have a lot of toys they no longer play with and clothes that have outgrown. Sell them second-hand or at a garage sale. The same goes for all your things in good condition that you don’t use after all, or that cost too much to maintain.

YOU need more time. You’re constantly on the lookout for your belongings, and that wastes a lot of your time. It’s true that by having fewer items, you’ll save time not only in finding them easily, but also in maintenance and cleaning. What’s more, you’ll be able to tidy up and clean up faster. All this time saved will allow you to have more time for yourself and share more moments with your family and friends.

YOU want to get to know yourself better. Be aware that when you declutter, you’ll almost systematically have to face up to your emotions, to questions with very personal answers: “Why did I give so much meaning to these objects?”, “What’s important to me in life?”, “Why am I so often in a bad mood?”, “What’s the person I want to become?”, etc. It’s not easy to answer all these questions. These are not easy questions to answer. But these questions are very often present during a decluttering process. It’s best to be prepared…

As a majority of you told me about your desire to declutter and tidy up, and I’m very curious, I’d really like to know what your personal reasons are. Tell me all about it in the comments!