Are you feeling overwhelmed with the thought of moving because of all of your belongings? Is being at home stressful because your clutter is suffocating? Do you have a hard time finding items in your home? It may be time to consider the joy of living with less and lighten the load you’re carrying.  

I’ve moved a lot in my lifetime and have always lived in small spaces. From a house that was less than 600 square feet to a studio apartment that was 400 square feet, I prided myself on being able to make small spaces warm and inviting yet organized and clutter-free. You don’t have to live in a small space though to live with less. You can do this in any size of home.  What are the benefits of living with less?

It makes it easier to move. When the time comes to move you can easily pack your belongings knowing that you’re not moving things you haven’t used in 20 years that were never unpacked from previous moves. You can pack faster and smarter. The less you have the less you spend on movers. Stay away from storage units. They just become a place where your belongings go to die, often never used after being stored for a long time. Move what you Need, Use, and Love, and that alone will make your load so much lighter. When your home is organized your move is organized, you can pack things room by room and unpack the same way. No more mixed-up boxes of miscellaneous items all jumbled together. This brings joy into your life because it makes the moving process so much less stressful. Moving can be joyful when done in an organized way.

Another benefit is that it’s better for your mental health. I’ve worked with clients that don’t enjoy being in their homes because the clutter is suffocating, making it hard to focus, causing fights amongst family members, and all in all, being a joy killer. Living with less frees physical space so that you have the mental space to enjoy your home. A clutter-free space brings calm and peace into your life. It makes it so that you can enjoy your home, entertain in it easily, make dinner without having to clean first, get ready faster, the list goes on and on. “Outer order, inner calm” is one of my favorite sayings from author Gretchen Rubin.  It’s so true, as the outer space comes together and you live with less it truly brings an inner calm to your mental state. It creates harmony amongst family members. And it saves money making stress go down as well. What’s more joyful than that?

Living with less also means that you’ll find your belongings when you need them. The Pixie Lost & Found survey finds the average American spends 2.5 days each year looking for lost items, collectively costing U.S. households $2.7 billion annually in replacement costs. This is a lot of time and money lost throughout the years of your life just because of disorganization. Living with less will save you time and money, and a whole lot of it in the end. Imagine having a place for your keys, your charger, and your purse. Everything that you use throughout the day has a home and you know not only where to find it but where to put it when it’s not in use. No more cleaning before the cleaning lady comes over. No more panic-stuffing items into clothes baskets and hiding them behind closed doors when company comes over. No more buying multiples of items you already own because you can’t find them. That is the joy of living with less.  

I hope that this sparks some motivation for you to get moving towards living with less. A 400 square foot studio apartment may not be in your future but moving easily, feeling joy in your home, and finding what you need when you need it most definitely is. May you find joy in your home today by living with less!

Joyfully organized,

Melissa Fortino 

​The phrase "there aren't enough hours in a day" generally rings true during the usual hustle-and-bustle of our busy lives.  Right now, however, during the COVID-19 outbreak, we are in a unique situation.  We are staying at home more than usual due to self-quarantining in an attempt to keep healthy and flatten the curve.

This situation poses the question:

Hours of sunlight are getting longer, and we are spending more time at home than usual!  What better time than NOW to jumpstart spring cleaning & decluttering and get a fresh start!

Spring cleaning & decluttering is therapeutic! Several health benefits come along with going through your house and clearing your clutter:

1. It can lower stress & boost mental health! Did you know the sight of clutter can cause a release of the stress hormone,  Cortisol?
2. It can lower the risk of depression! Spring cleaning can improve happiness and reduce fatigue. Happiness, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment are all feelings associated with having a clean house!
   
3. It can enhance your productivity! People are generally more efficient when their space appears organized because they are less distracted and stressed by the clutter around them.
   
4. It is beneficial for your safety! It is no surprise that clutter can pose obstacles to walking through the home, which can lead to potential injuries.

What is the first area in your home that you want to tackle & declutter this spring?​