A story about a break-in that improved my life
A few years ago, our house was robbed. It was scary, violating, and tragic. We lost irreplaceable, sentimental items like my parents’ engagement ring. We lost our computers, passports, and my entire jewelry box. For months we would be looking for something and realize it was stolen.
Thankfully, no one was hurt and our pets were safe. But it left us feeling vulnerable and the aftermath was stressful. We immediately got a home security system installed, re-keyed every lock including our mailbox, and bought new computers. We dealt with the banks, the police, and the insurance companies.
But, once the urgent issues were taken care of, I found some unexpected silver linings in the whole ordeal.
Less Decisions=Less Decision Fatigue
While I was excited to go replacement jewelry shopping, a part of me really enjoyed NOT having to decide what jewelry to wear every day. In the end, I didn’t replace my jewelry collection. Instead, I wear the jewelry I was wearing the day our house was broken into. Thankfully, it’s jewelry I love that goes well with everything.
It’s fewer decisions, and hemming and hawing I have to do every morning. Freedom from unnecessary decision making is energizing! It’s no wonder why people like Mark Zuckerberg decide to wear the same thing every day to save their brain power for what’s really important.
Less Stuff = Less Stress
Dealing with the robbery left a lasting impression on the true cost of stuff. It took so much stressful time and energy to handle the aftermath of the stuff we no longer had.
Think about it for a moment – we buy stuff, find a home for it, insure it, secure it, clean and maintain it, report it, and eventually fix it or toss and replace it.
I loathed spending my limited time and energy on managing our stuff (or in this case, the theft of our stuff). In the midst of it all, I made a commitment to own less, so I wouldn’t have to go through this again. Or, if I did, it would be far easier and quicker, so I can get back to what’s important.
Decluttering = Focus and Energy
I started decluttering and purging everything from my closet to my kitchen drawers. I cleared surfaces, junk drawers, and even my filing systems. It didn’t happen overnight, but today we own less than a third of the stuff we used to.
Decluttering changed our lifestyle by freeing-up our time and energy. It’s allowed us to spend more time doing the things we love – working, cooking, traveling, hosting, and spending time with friends and family.
Gratitude
I’m truly grateful for the lessons I learned through dealing with a home robbery. We have much better systems, far less stuff, and much more clarity on what’s important.
While I wish this experience on no one, I hope you’ll take the lessons learned to ask yourself the following questions:
- What daily decisions can I automate so I can use my brain power on more important things?
- Examples: when to do invoicing, meal planning, what to wear to conferences or work
- What can I declutter to open up time, energy, and physical space?
- Examples: desktop, inside your purse or briefcase, inside your car, and so on
- What’s really important to me that I would I love to have more time and energy for?
Decluttering and making a few small automations can be energizing and freeing. When you feel bogged down, in a funk, or just want to give yourself an energy boost, declutter, declutter, declutter.
