Two years ago, I “Kondoed” several rooms in my house. After reading Marie Kondo’s international bestselling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I began to look at my “stuff” with a more critical eye, vowing to keep only the essentials or items that, in Kondo’s words, “spark joy.” I spent several weeks bagging and boxing up clothes that I never wore, household items that I never used but was saving “just in case” I might need them someday (I didn’t), and books that I knew I was never going to read. As each bag and box of unneeded and unloved belongings went out the door, my home looked tidier and I felt … lighter.
Unfortunately, I lost my momentum before completing a whole-house purge, but lately, I’ve been thinking that it’s time to get back to it and finish the job, not only to make space in my home but also in my head. Most of us are drowning in stuff. The average American home contains 300,000 items , and offsite storage space—to hold our piles of possessions—is the fastest-growing segment of the commercial real estate industry . But recent research shows that clutter isn’t just visually unappealing—it can negatively impact your health, your relationships, and more.
For example, one study found that women who described their homes as cluttered were more depressed and had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol than their clutter-free counterparts. Author Dr. Eva Selhub says that “clutter can create tension and conflict” between couples. It can also lead to isolation—if you’re embarrassed by a messy home, you’re less likely to invite friends over. And poor eating habits may also be a result—when your kitchen counters are strewn with junk mail and random items, you may be more likely to reach for processed foods than to prepare healthful meals from scratch. People who embrace minimalism cite even more benefits to streamlining their belongings, from saving money and having more time to spend with family and pursue passions to being better stewards of the environment (as the less you consume, the less harm you cause to the planet).
And here’s another reason to clear out the clutter: You could help animals! Instead of hauling your unwanted items to the local thrift store, consider selling them on eBay and donating the earnings to PETA. As part of its eBay for Charity program, eBay allows sellers to donate between 10 and 100 percent of their proceeds to charities. If you donate 100 percent of your auction’s earnings to PETA, eBay will even waive all its selling fees, making it completely free to sell your cast-offs in behalf of animals. After your items are sold, the donations will be sent to PETA, and you’ll receive a tax receipt. Find out more here.
If you’re ready to simplify your home and life, now’s the perfect time to get started!
