How Organizing My Home Helped Me Find The Confidence to Start My Own Business
Having recently set out on a new career path in home organization, I’m enjoying sharing my experiences with others. It’s come most naturally to me on Instagram, where I share photos and tips. When I started to hit the word count limit though, I knew it was time to create a blog to house the content. Only problem was, most of what I was sharing seemed too narrow in scope for my very first blog post—how to declutter your desk, how to reclaim your living room from your kids, how to involve kids in tidying up. The value of organizing goes far beyond the look or even the function, and can be a powerful tool to transform your life. So I’m kicking off my blog by sharing the benefits I’ve experienced first-hand and what I’ve observed while helping others. The biggest personal benefit is no doubt the confidence I gained to start my own business so I will definitely elaborate on that.
First, I want to share my approach to home organization: I’m essentially identifying priorities and routines unique to the people using a space, and then optimizing the space to support those things. Taking stock of all the stuff in a space and decluttering is a key part of it. I was fortunate that Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up, came out when it did, around my second mat leave. I read it and immediately applied it, amazed by how satisfying it became to declutter. I finished my mat leave pretty pleased with the state of my home. The only problem was we kept accumulating things, and at a much faster rate than I could keep up with while working. My house became a source of stress again and it became glaringly obvious that more stuff (and more responsibility) didn’t mean more happiness. Skip forward a couple years to when I found myself off work again, and I knew I had to take my home organization to the next level. I read many more books on minimalism, decluttering and organizing and applied those learnings as well. Living as a family of four, we now try to be selective about what comes in and out of our house, so we have the space and the flexibility to grow.
So without further ado, here are the top benefits (big and small) of truly decluttering your home and giving everything a (labeled) space:
You can actually find and access your things when you need them.
You empower everyone sharing the space to tidy up.
Even when it’s messy, the mess is less intimidating.
You gain more appreciation for the things you already own and like, taking better care of them.
You waste less money when you can distinguish between what you actually need and love and all the other reasons we spend money on things.
You give things new life by repairing them or passing them on to someone else who will enjoy them more.
After sending things to the landfill (with a conscience), you think twice before buying or accepting certain things again.
Your home feels bigger and reflects your unique tastes.
You find a greater sense of clarity around the things you and your family value, and the place and purpose you want to give them in your life.
You hone your intuition and decision-making abilities, so as you grow you can let go of what’s holding you back.
The most surprising and valuable discovery that I made while organizing my home was finding the confidence to start my own business. (More on the ‘clues’ to my personal direction here.) I went through life thinking confidence came from external factors—affirmation from others that I was on the right path through grades, promotions, etc. The last couple of years have proven me so wrong. I now feel an internal sense of confidence from knowing myself, my priorities, and the values that took root in my upbringing that have made me who I am today. This comes just as much from reconciling the failures as it does from celebrating the achievements. When I spent the time revisiting my past through the stuff I had the hardest time parting with, I either held onto things with new purpose or let them go, and felt liberated in the process. I finally recognized that in life we are constantly growing and adapting and we need to keep shedding the old things that are no longer working for us, and make space for those things we know are worth the time and energy. Suddenly I found the clarity, focus and drive to run with a business idea that had been ruminating in my head for some time. I knew without a doubt that I had to take the leap to start my own business, one that leveraged my strengths and interests to help others, and aligned with the values and lifestyle of my family.
So here at be.neat studio, we’re here to help tackle areas big and small that have the potential to transform your space and life. Not just to make your home neat, but to free your time and space so you can be the neatest version of yourself.
Thanks for taking the time to follow along and if you’re interested in more, consider following our Instagram account (updated most frequently), or Facebook (where we’ll be sharing the occasional blog posts). I genuinely hope that all the posts, pictures and anecdotes I share provide a sense of comfort (recognizing common challenges), inspiration (dramatic before and afters) and empowerment (tips and tricks to apply to your own space and life). And if you’d like to know how we can help put our methods into action in your space, contact us for a free consultation.
Written by Sarah Grant
Sarah Grant
Founder & Lead Organizer