Physical clutter may contribute to mental baggage, and given our voracious consumer culture, many residents are likely in need of scaling back on their belongings.
Simple Life Coach and West Akron resident Terra Milo helps residents declutter their living spaces, along with providing guidance for overall healthy living.
“People are looking for a simple life,” says Milo, who adds people can have less stress and more energy with fewer belongings.
Stuff can create a psychological burden. It can also add to “decision fatigue,” which could easily arise from having too many of something.
“We hold on to so much stuff,” Milo says, adding that we tend to keep things, even if we don’t like them. “If you bought something, and you paid a lot of money for it, it feels really valuable and it feels like something you should keep. But it becomes this thing that sits in your house and makes you grouchy when you think about how much you spent, and it takes up space in your house and in your mind that could be used for something good, something you like.”
One local woman whom Milo helped clear seven bags of clothes from her closet says she feels like she lost 20 pounds.
Milo’s mantra of keeping things simple helps her in many aspects of her life. For example, when it comes time for her and her husband to decide on dinner, “We don’t have extra time, but we cook every meal because we keep it really simple: five ingredients.”
Simple and fun are the keys, she adds.
Milo also conducts webinars, publishes free e-books and provides an e-newsletter and contests, among other educational opportunities for residents.
She also launched a five-day challenge called “Declutter Your Summer.” She says: “Each day we’re going to focus on something different.”
Sometimes non-physical things like social media could cause clutter in our lives, so a “social media diet,” where someone limits their social media use, could help reduce the amount of negativity that affects us. Other times clutter could take the form of a busy social calendar.
Milo also points out potential financial incentives to decluttering: “Go around your house and pick up all the loose change. The first time I did it, I found $17, a client of mine found $53.”
For more info, visit www.terramilo.com or find her on Facebook.
I agree with this post. I find it difficult to do anything at home when it is messy, especially homework. After I clean I feel much better. I need to remember this next time I’m not feeling productive! Sometimes I forget. Thank you for the information.