We’ve all heard the expression “less is more.” It couldn’t be truer.
I see homes filled to the brim with stuff. The stuff rarely solves problems—instead, it usually causes them.
I hear stories about how the clutter accumulated, and it’s usually the same story: I couldn’t find something I needed, so I bought another one. Or I saw an item and thought it would solve all my problems—but it didn’t. Or I decided to start a new craft project and bought all the supplies. Then the craft supplies go untouched for years. Or a loved one brought me gifts, and you can’t just throw the items away, right?
Having more is making us miserable. But we are constantly accumulating. We overlook the fact that WE ARE IN CONTROL of what enters our home.
Laundry is a prime example of how too much stuff creates overwhelm. Many of my clients tell me laundry is one of their biggest struggles. They can’t keep up. Piles of clothes cover the floor, everything gets mixed together, and finding a matching sock feels impossible. Yet these same people keep buying more clothes. Why? Because the laundry is never “done,” and they never feel like they have what they need. It becomes a vicious cycle: buy, wear, can’t find what you need, buy again.
When I suggest to clients that they reduce their clothing to one-third or even one-quarter of what they own, I’m often met with panic. They’ve been trapped in the “need more” cycle for so long that the idea of having less feels risky or impossible.
What we often overlook is that doing the laundry is essentially a full-day event. Even with modern technology, doing laundry for a family of four can easily take all day—and that doesn’t include sheets, towels, and other linens. There are many steps involved in finishing the laundry. It becomes a true test of focus and time. You have to wash the clothes, remember to move them to the dryer, fold them, and then put them away. Most of us don’t give ourselves enough time to do all of that. Instead, we pile on other tasks, forget the load in the washer, and have to rewash it. Or we forget clothes in the dryer, drag them out in a hurry, and live out of unfolded piles. Clothes end up scattered on the floor and throughout the house instead of in our closets and dressers.
Now imagine having just two loads of laundry each week instead of ten. Two loads are far easier to keep up with than ten.
The same principle applies to everything we own. The more you have, the more you have to manage, organize, and clean—and very few people truly enjoy cleaning.
So the solution is simple in theory: have less. But putting that into practice is hard. How do we manage our impulses when we can’t find what we need? How do we handle the desire to be creative and crafty without bringing home bags of supplies we won’t use? And how do we limit what comes into our home when someone else gives us things?
Change begins with a decision. You need to be fed up with your current lifestyle to be ready to change your habits. Can you acknowledge that clutter is controlling you more than you’re controlling it? Are you willing to shift your mindset and put supports in place for when old habits try to return?
When you can’t find something you need, can you commit to searching for it instead of immediately replacing it? Can you resist the impulse to buy a new item? In the moment, that urge will feel overwhelming. What can you do instead? Pause and let the feeling pass, take a walk, call a friend, or simply sit with the discomfort. What becomes possible if you don’t act on the impulse?
When you feel the urge to be creative or crafty, can you give yourself time to think it through before heading to the store? Can you let the idea sit with you for a few days or even weeks before you buy supplies? What might you discover if you wait?
When a loved one offers you gifts, can you be assertive and protect your space from the stress that clutter brings? Can you set clear boundaries to keep unwanted items from entering your home? Can you say no, even when it feels hard?
As I mentioned earlier, you are in control. You can choose to pause, think, and wait. It won’t always be easy, and sometimes others may be upset. Can you live with that? Is it better to tolerate someone else’s disapproval than to live in a home filled with stress and clutter?
If you need help getting organized, decluttering your home, downsizing, or moving, reach out to Sara Jane Organizing. Virtual sessions are available to anyone who doesn’t live in Richmond, VA. Book a FREE consultation call to learn more.
