How To Prevent Clutter: Learn To Say NO

N-O.

This two-letter word is extremely powerful.
Do you feel it’s power? Is it so powerful of a word, that you have a hard time saying it?

I used to be that girl. That girl who said yes to please other people. That girl who said yes because she didn’t want to feel the guilt of saying no, for fear of disappointing. That girl who was getting burned out because she couldn’t learn to say the word “no”.

Do you feel like that? Do you suffer from “no-phobia”? This may be a new syndrome that you have not heard of before, but let me tell you, it is real and something to take seriously.

Learning the word “no” can effect every area of your life. So can the opposite – saying “yes”. It can even effect the clutter in your home.

How can a simple two letter word transform the clutter issue in your home?

1. Limit your intake, by saying NO. Picture this: you are perusing the aisles of the grocery store and you see something on clearance. You never thought about purchasing this item before, until you saw the price. You HAD to have it for that price! In the cart it goes. You think “oh, just this one time…” but then it happens again, and again… . Limit what you allow into your home. Limit what you take in – what you allow in your cart, what you allow to take home in your car, and what you allow to come through your door.

2. Saying “yes” adds weight to your life and house. How much does your house weigh?

How much does your schedule “weigh”? Anytime you allow something into your home, it adds a calorie to the weight of your house. Anytime you say yes to something and add it to your schedule, it is another weight of something to do. Can you take the weight? Can your house take the weight? Once it’s on, just like pounds, they are MUCH harder to lose!

3. Say no to freebies, discount cards, 2 for 1 deals, club cards, etc. Let’s be honest. How often do you remember to use the discount card? How often do you really NEED the freebie? How often do you NEED the 2 for 1 deal? Are you taking it because it is a good deal? Why? Does a good deal make you feel good? Yes, it honestly does for me. BUT, I am learning that feeling good about a deal, doesn’t necessarily mean I should get an item. Don’t clutter your life with these “deals” if they aren’t something you would typically buy anyways.

Learn to say NO! It is worth it’s weight in gold! Say no to clutter in your house and in your schedule! Don’t let it overtake your home!

What do you have a hard time saying “no” to?

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2 Comments

Mary Alice Kenley says:

May 16, 2014 at 12:38 am

Kristin, this is my favorite one yet. Overcommitment robs who we are and puts us into mechanical mode, trying to get things done and not enjoying life. Thank you for bringing this to your readers' attention!

Reply
1. Kristin says:
  
  May 18, 2014 at 6:19 pm
  
  I love what you said about mechanical mode, Mary! That is SO true! I often sit back and wonder where the week went – I then question whether I was in mechanical mode. Something to really think about and thank you for sharing this – very inspiring!
  
  Reply