Out of sight and out of mind: how minimizing your stuff can minimize your stress

Minimalism is a big trend right now. Bloggers and designers are obsessed with the idea of less is more when it comes to wardrobes, interior decorating and graphic design, and it seems this trend is rubbing off on every day people. This is a trend Curbza can get behind. Minimalism encourages people to take an honest look at what they have, and from there decide what they need and what they could stand to get rid of.

What is minimalism?

There are tons of definitions for minimalism, and people often view the concept as restrictive or bound to many rules. Popular bloggers The Minimalists have a stellar explanation for minimalism. They describe it as, “a tool that can assist you in finding freedom.” Ever feel trapped or held down by the clutter that surrounds you? Adopting minimalist tendencies can help free you from the guilt of having a messy home. Decluttering can help you decrease that overwhelming feeling you get when you walk into the garage and think, “how did I even collect this much stuff?”

Decluttering can be overwhelming in itself, but the positives gained from getting rid of that extra stuff are worth the fuss. This may sound like an overstatement, but it’s true: every single item you own takes time away from you. Each object in your house requires maintenance, cleaning and space. Does everything in your house deserve your time, or are there items that you could let go of? As you start to clear out the garage, the spare bedroom or the basement, you’ll notice something. The more space you clear in your home, the more space that’s cleared up in your head.

How are you feeling about the idea of minimalism and decluttering? If it seems like something that’s appealing to you, the next step is committing to the cause. Instead of planning to take a whole weekend to rip everything out of those boxes under the stairs (just to get exhausted halfway through!), why not put away a small amount of time each week to focus on decluttering. Devote an hour or two each Saturday for a month to clearing out some extras, or take a half an hour each weeknight for a week straight. You’ll find it’s easier than you think once you get started. Some people even feel a rush of adrenaline as they start getting rid of all the stuff that’s holding them back!

Once you start decluttering, you may realize that although some of the extra stuff laying around is useless to you, it could be just what someone else is looking for. People are always looking for a deal, and selling your unwanted stuff is a great way to get rid of it without creating garbage, as well as make some easy cash! Canadians love to buy second hand. In fact, the average Canadian buys 76 second hand items a year through peer-to-peer commerce platforms just like Curbza. It may just be your turn to get in on some of that action.

Don’t let minimalism and decluttering be a goal you want to eventually reach, let them be tools you use to eventually reach the goal a less stressful life! Download the Curbza app to check out how you can monetize some of that extra stuff you dig up when you start decluttering.

What’s your ultimate decluttering trick? Share your purging experiences with us!