Why should we be decluttering?
Decluttering can be more than just an exercise in tidying up; it can also help you tackle stress and anxiety, enhance your productivity, and make a positive impact on the environment to boot.
Read on for reasons to clear out the cupboards, sort out your drawers and have a garage sale at the end, naturally.
How Decluttering Works For You
Cleaning out the stuff you no longer love or need, can work wonders for your mental health.
A recent survey by the folk at Choosi revealed that nearly three in five Australians (57%) find clutter causes them stress and anxiety. Fast forward to how they felt after decluttering, and 74% said their mood had improved.
The act of clearing out your unwanted and unused stuff creates a more comfortable and organised living space for you and your loved ones. It’s also been found to aid productivity and focus, giving you more time and space for managing the things you want to prioritise.
How Decluttering Works for the Planet
Clearing the decks can start you on the journey to thinking about what you buy and bring back in.
Engaging in community based decluttering is a fantastic way of fostering a culture of recycling and reuse that becomes commonplace. As we grow more accustomed to sustainable practices and reimagining new uses for old items, we become more aware of where our stuff comes from to begin with. One trend on social media sums up this shift in consumer behaviour wonderfully, and is only gaining momentum - underconsumption core.
Its ethos is about consuming less, and more conscientiously. It encourages people to not be beholden to every micro trend but instead use the products they have or let them have a new life in someone else’s home. The beauty of the movement lies in its normality as well as its accessibility.
Adopting the term “Project Pan” for the work of using up or repurposing existing goods, these decluttering buffs are shifting people’s perspective on consumption, sustainable choices and what it means to live a more mindful lifestyle.
Now that we’ve spruiked the benefits to the planet and your peace of mind, you can crack on with creating a collection that makes a secondhand shopper swoon. One of the easiest ways to then move it on of course is to have a garage sale. Of course, we think Garage Sale Trail is a no brainer when it comes to finding the ultimate clean up cure for your newly decluttered life. Just remember to thank us when you see a minimalist wearing your pleather pants on socials.
Garage Sale Trail, Australia's biggest secondhand treasure hunt, is next on 7-8 & 14-15 November 2026.
Register now to be part of it.
