As long as I can remember I have been intrigued by organizational tools: bins, baskets, totes, boxes, shelves, hooks, files, etc. I was certain that if I just found the right system, I could keep all my junk stuff neat and orderly. I am clearly not alone – there are numerous books, magazines and even entire stores dedicated just to the pursuit of organization.

After years and years of trying to organize my belongings, I have slowly come to the realization that the only way to really get organized is to reduce how much I have. I’ve always known that, but it didn’t really sink in until:

• Cleaning out my mom’s house after she passed away made me realize how temporary and disposable material things are.
• Having kids made me realize how precious my time is – short term, because I have so little time to myself now, and long term, because time passes so darned quickly! Do I really want to spend so much time managing my things?
• I have so much, and the older I get, the more I am aware that there are way too many others who have so little, or nothing at all. I’m holding onto unnecessary stuff that could potentially help someone else.

The more stuff you have:

• The more time you spend taking care of it.
• The more time you spend looking for the things you need, which are buried under or hidden behind the things that you don’t.
• The more space you need to store it, which means you will need to buy more stuff (i.e. organizational tools) to create that space.
• The more time you spend trying to decide: what to wear, what to use, what to take, etc.
• And the biggest Aha! for me: the less I have, the less I will want. If I can weed through my things and keep only my favorites, I will feel satisfied by what I already have rather than continuing to want more!

Much of this blog is about spending less. Simplifying is about having less.

Read more about my journey to simplify.