Uncluttered: Why Fewer Things Will Make You Happier

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My husband loves hiking in Yosemite.  I adore the redwood groves, lonely hills, and rugged coastline of northern California.  Millions of us flock to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon, Greek islands and the fjords of Norway.  Or at least we take that first cup of coffee out to a porch or balcony and savor morning freshness, trees, and birdsong.





What we're made for


What is the appeal of these places and activities?  It's the beauty.  It's the cool, dewy air, the early fingers of sunlight, the incredible colors of water, sky, leaves, bark, birds, butterflies, and even rocks and the rich, loamy earth.


Really, nothing we can buy in a store can equal this perfectly designed beauty.  Just looking at the uncluttered vista of the ocean or a forest calms and refreshes us.  It gives us energy and inspiration.  It feeds our imaginations and our spirits.  It's the home we're made for.


Beauty is important.  It makes us feel good.  It makes us happier, and it brings us peace.


That's the reason an uncluttered home is so valuable, and supports us in our lives every day.  It's like the peace and spaciousness of gazing at a still lake in the early morning.  That's why the first step toward making your home more inviting isn't buying something.  It's removing the excess.


Is your home too small and crowded?  The solution is fewer things.  Is it dark or dingy?  You need fewer things.  Does your home weigh on you like a burden?  Do you feel swamped by your home chores?  Before anything else, you need fewer things.


Owning fewer things allows you to experience more open space, more natural light, and easier home care.  It lets you choose and display the items that bring you the most joy.


The good news is that the best way to improve your home doesn't cost money.  It doesn't take specialized training.  It just takes time.  Put on some good music or an interesting podcast, and it can be fun.  Stretch, squat, and lift while you do it, and it can be good for your body too.  Even just five minutes can be enough to make a start.


Declutter, and open the door on a home that supports the life you dream of.


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