Declutter and Simplify

Spring is a time to refresh and renew. It’s a season when many of us feel a strong urge to “spring clean”. We wash our windows and air out our homes, setting the stage for fresh starts and new chapters.

Spring cleaning can open our eyes to the excess “stuff” we’ve accumulated. Taking the form of overflowing closets, garages, basements or drawers, the clutter in our lives can weigh us down more than we realize. 

Clutter is a constant reminder of chaos and disorganization, which creates overwhelming feelings, stress, distraction, and frustration. It can even become a barrier to addressing—and living in alignment with—the things that are most important to us.

Ultimately, clutter can detract from our inner peace and happiness.

Decluttering can help you live a simpler, more joy-filled life. It is also a critical component to setting the stage for a successful financial and estate plan.

Click here to read this month’s list of 4 Simple Action Items .

Decluttering, Avoidance, and Procrastination

Clutter is nothing more than a series of deferred decisions, stacked on top of each other. —Andrew Mellen, professional organizer

Clutter is a symptom ofavoidance and procrastination. Holding onto our “stuff” allows us to avoid our real issues and decisions. Each postponed decision only compounds our clutter—not just physically but mentally.

Shannon Stevens, President of Trust Company of Illinois, says clutter is an important financial topic to address. In Stevens’ experience, individuals often procrastinate in creating and communicating estate plans due to the uneasiness of discussing mortality and family dynamics or issues.

“We commonly see individuals not dealing with clutter in their own lives for these same reasons,” she says. “When you have clutter, you may, consciously or subconsciously, delay dealing with other issues.”   

Sooner is Better

“My kids don’t need to know about _______ yet.”

“I’ve already talked to _______ about that.”

“I’m afraid of what giving up this item or talking about my estate means.”

It’s hard to deal with crucial conversations or face conflict. But avoiding these things doesn’t mean they go away. In fact, the longer we wait, the more difficult and complicated they can become.

Families often have different perceptions or understandings about loved ones’ intentions or goals. Once we’ve spoken to one family member about something difficult, we may assume it will be properly communicated to all. But when everyone doesn’t hear the same thing at the same time, there’s much more room for misinterpretation.

Similarly, many of us have had relatives who didn’t want to part with coveted items or clearly discuss their estate plans because it felt like an admission of impending mortality. Yet holding onto clutter or putting off estate planning contributes to confusion—not longevity.

Kim O’Brien, CFP® and Wealth Advisor at HT|TC Wealth Partners, sees a positive connection between decluttering and clarity. 

“When you declutter first, and organize second, you are creating clarity for anyone who may need to step in and manage your affairs down the road,” O’Brien says. “Families who declutter often have more contentment when faced with the difficult challenges of handling a loved one’s affairs because they have already had some of the hard conversations. They have clarity about how to proceed.”

What Does Clutter Look Like?

Our lives are full of clutter.  Some is simple to identify:

• Documents you’ve been holding because you don’t know if or when you’ll need them
• Clothing, jewelry, or shoes that you no longer wear, fit into, or enjoy
• Old books and magazines that haven’t been read or picked up in years
• Overflowing drawers or closets
• Garages which are too full of boxes to fit cars

But clutter can also be intangible and complex, attached to deep rooted feelings that have less to do with the “things,” and more to the meaning they bring to you:

• Nostalgic items that remind you of youth, healthier times, or those you’ve lost
• Gifts or things you keep out of a sense of obligation or guilt
• Aspirational belongings
• Items that offer some kind of comfort or security

Imagine how decluttering could enhance and improve your life—both today and in the future:

• Having and accumulating less “stuff” can lead to better health, well-being, and happiness.
• Simplification means less stress and distraction now—and less work for our loved ones tomorrow.
• The space we create by removing excess “stuff” can be filled with more freedom, contentment, and energy to focus on what we value most.

Where to Begin?

The accumulation of clutter can lead to feelings of helplessness or even paralysis. Not making decisions causes us to feel stuck, unable to move forward. We may have no idea where to begin.

Taking one small step can get you moving in the right direction.

“For many of our financial planning clients, the first step in creating clarity may be to consolidate their accounts,” says O’Brien. “And when we can help an estate planning client better understand POA or executor roles, they can have safer, more productive conversations with loved ones. Having a trusted financial planning team can help demystify and eliminate confusion.”

Use the A Time to Talk™ 5-Step Approach

Change is a result of action, and action is the result of a decision. The emotional impact of finally making decisions to let go can be cathartic, empowering, and liberating.

You can utilize our 5-step approach to help you declutter and gain clarity:

Your Future Self Will Thank You

Addressing the clutter in our lives can help us bring necessary issues to the forefront, highlight the things that are most important to us, and gain clarity to improve our personal relationships and financial outcomes.

The decluttering process can also be an essential part of setting the stage for future crucial conversations, while improving our family dynamics and sense of ease.

Take the first step to move from overwhelm toward peace. Your future self will thank you for decluttering today.

Click here to read this month’s list of 4 simple action items.