According to a recent study, 60% of adults don’t believe there are enough hours in the day to get everything done.
That’s a lot of people.
There are likely two causes for this statistic: 1) We’re trying to do much or 2) Our tasks are taking more time than we think they should.
I suppose there is a third: There aren’t actually enough hours in the day… but that amount hasn’t changed for quite a few years so that’s probably not it.
There’s no doubt in my mind that some people simply try to do or want to do too much. And there’s also no doubt in my mind that some stages of life require more of us than others (a new parent for example).
But there are also times when it just feels like life should be running a bit more efficient than it does. We sense, at the end of the day, that we should have been able to accomplish more than we did. And that reality can feel like “not enough hours in the day.”
Sometimes this is a result of wasting too much time on things that don’t matter. And that is a conversation—but I’ll save it for another day.
Today, I want to offer you a new and helpful idea. Sometimes the very things we accumulate because we think they will help us save time, don’t. Even worse, they begin to steal more and more of our time.
Consider, for example, the possessions we buy and store in our homes. Rarely do we buy an item because we want extra burden. We buy things and keep things because we think our lives will run more efficiently if we have more.
But an over accumulation of physical items in our homes robs us of time. Very subtly, they detract from our goals and purpose. They ultimately add burden and stress. And the more we own, often times, the less time we have available to us.
Here are 9 Things to Reduce in Your Home to Save You Time
1. Clothes
Among the most immediately life-changing areas to declutter in your home is your wardrobe. Owning fewer clothes will change your life overnight. Fewer clothes mean fewer decisions each morning, an easier laundry cycle, and less time spent shopping. If there’s any doubt in your mind that owning less will save you time, start here.
2. Kitchenware
It’s so interesting how many kitchen gadgets and supplies we buy to increase our efficiency that just end up collecting dust and cluttering up our workspaces. Reducing the number of seldom-used kitchen gadgets can streamline meal preparation and cleanup, making the kitchen a more functional space for cooking. This can also be applied to Tupperware, dishware, and even your pantry.
3. Toys
Toys are important, you should have some for your kids. But you should also know that research suggests that children benefit from deeper, more imaginative play when they have fewer toys. This not only nurtures their creativity but also means less time spent tidying up at the end of the day—and the less you own, the easier it becomes for your kids to help with it.
4. Decorations
I hope you can see from this list so far, I’m not talking about owning nothing in our homes. I’m suggesting a few areas where if we chose to own less, we could save more time. With that in mind, I want to include decorations on this list. Keep your most meaningful and inspiring, of course. But keeping fewer decorations in your home translates to less time dusting and rearranging, offering more moments to enjoy the most beautiful and significant of our decorations.
5. Self-Care Supplies
A curated selection of self-care items that truly make us feel our best is far more valuable than a cabinet overflowing with half-used products. This focus not only declutters our space but also our routines, allowing us to savor our self-care practices fully. Spend more time caring for yourself and less time trying to decide how.
6. Furniture
When we select furniture for our homes, each piece should have a purpose and a place. Over-furnishing can lead to crowded spaces, which in turn take longer to clean and maintain. Streamlining furniture allows for a more spacious environment, easier cleaning, and less physical and visual clutter. This creates a calm and welcoming space, giving us more time to relax and less to worry about.
7. Cleaning Supplies
Often, we accumulate a wide array of cleaning products, each promising to tackle specific tasks around our homes. Rather than making the cleaning process easier, it makes it more burdensome and time-consuming. We’ve found in our home that just a few multi-use cleaning products work better than a mountain of things cluttering up our cabinet space. By reducing our cleaning arsenal to a few effective, multipurpose products, we can simplify our cleaning routine, free up storage space, and reduce the time spent on selecting the right tool for each job.
8. Garage Clutter
A garage should be a functional space, one that supports our daily routines rather than hinders them. Take special note over the next couple days if the items you’ve collected in your garage slow the efficiency of the space—harder to park, tougher to walk around, makes finding things you need more difficult. If so, you might be surprised how much time you can save in your day by cleaning it up a bit.
9. Televisions/Digital Screens
The average American over the age of 15 watches three hours of television per day. There’s nothing wrong with taking some time each day for rest and relaxation. But that doesn’t have to be in front of a television (or screen of any kind). If you want more time in your day, here’s one of the best ways to find it: Watch less television.
If you are among the 60% of people who wish there was more time in the day, I’ve got a solution for you: Own less.
So much of what we desire to be true of our lives can be found on the other side of owning less:
Less debt, more living.
Less cleaning, more time.
Less clutter, more purpose.
Less busy, more calm.
Less stress, more freedom.
And yes, more hours in the day. Or, at least, that’s what it will feel like.
Susan Fore says
I’ve downsized my wardrobe but I think the laundry savings is a false assumption. With fewer items I need to wash more frequently. Even with smaller loads, more water and detergent used. Additionally, wearing fewer items more frequently can increase the wear and tear on those items; shortening their usable life.
So definitely downsize but be honest with yourself about the true savings.
MISTY R. says
This is an interesting article as I need to reduce in every single category! Although I see the need to reduce I don’t know how to start and still feel the NEED to hold on to everything. Lol.
K says
I’ve found that having the right amount of clothing makes laundry easier because it keeps me on a laundry schedule and it helps family members remember to get their laundry into the hampers so they don’t run out of clothes. When we had too many clothes it only took a couple days for an overwhelming amount of laundry to pile up. One time my mom came to visit and help me organize the kids rooms. We had to go to Walmart twice to buy hangers for all the clothes we kept finding stuffed under beds and in the corners. Once I pared down the clothes to a reasonable amount it got better, but I still notice it creep back up occasionally. The same thing happens with too many dishes!
Sandra Olsson says
Can anyone please explain to me why the laundry would be easier with fewer pieces of clothes. I hear that a lot, and I don’t get the logic. Nor do I experience it in my own life. I do laundry just as often, just that its the same trousers and shirts all the time.
joshua becker says
Happy to help Sandra. Laundry becomes easier because you are washing the same types of clothing (which you get better at doing) rather than washing a wide variety of different types of clothes. Much like you attest to “I do laundry just as often, just that its the same trousers and shirts all the time” is easier laundry than lots of different types, ever-changing clothes that you are washing.
Sandra Olsson says
Thanks, but I’m not sure if I agree. What you are saying is that laundry gets easier when you have less different types of fabric and colour you’ve got. But not necessarily when you reduce the number of items. For me, I’ve never had more, or less, than four types of laundry. So a minimalist wardrobe haven’t had that positive effect on my laundry routine. If any, I sometimes need to do laundry more often, because a specific piece of clothes is dirty and I have no redundancy. I also buy more expensive clothes now and therefore spend more time on maintenance. With that said I find a lot of benefits with a thought through and reasonable sized wardrobe. My laundry routine is just not one of them.
joshua becker says
Thanks Sandra. Certainly you can too few articles of clothing which would make laundry more burdensome. My goal is that my possessions would not be a burden in my life – either in too many or too few. If you are already at a point where you own the optimal number of clothes, I wouldn’t recommend owning fewer. This wasn’t really written with that scenario in mind. In my life, I found that when I simplified my closet to just the clothes I actually need and wear, laundry became a thousand times easier than when my closet was full of hundreds of things. Hope that makes sense.
Sandra Olsson says
Yes, it makes sense. I guess that it depends on where you come from. Laundry has never been a big deal for me and to be honest, I kind of like to take care of my few precious clothes that I now wear “all the time”. I have discovered that when I am present in what I do, every day chores becomes less of a hustle. Folding clothes can be a mindful activity when I don’t have to think about the next thousand chores that awaits for me…. And minimalism can help with that, for sure. As always, it’s not about the numbers, but if it supports you to live a more meaningful and fulfilled life.
I started my minimalism journey as a long distance hiker. On the trail you really become aware of how little you need, and the cost of carrying unnecessary stuff, but also truly appreciate what’s essential. Like having clothes that keep you warm, even when they are dirty… I have then tried to implement those insights in my every day life (not wearing dirty clothes though 🙂).
I appreciate that you took the time to respond. I have to admit that I was a bit starstrucked, since I have followed you for many years now. 😀 All the best to you, and thank you for your work!
Sandra Olsson says
Yes, it makes sense. I guess it depends on where you come from. For me, laundry have never been an issue. And to be honest, I kind of enjoy taking care of the few precious items that I actually wear “all the time”. I have found that even every day chores can be less of a hustle if you are present in what you do. Folding laundry can be a mindful and relaxing activity if I don’t have think of all the other chores awaiting to be done. And minimalism can support that, for sure. As always, it’s not about the numbers, but what helps you to live a more meaningful and fulfilled life.
My own journey started as a long distance hiker. On the trail you really become aware of how little you need, and the cost of carrying unnecessary stuff, but you also truly appreciate what’s essential. I have tried to implement those insights into my every day life.
I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I have to confess, I was a bit starstrucked 🙂 as I have followed you for many years. Thank you for your work!
Tom says
I’d say the simplification comes more from clothing items that can simply be separated into darks, white, colours. Once you ad dry cleaning, hand wash only items into the mix things quickly become a chore.
Kathy M says
I am slowly starting to enjoy my home again. Owning less brings so much more joy and peace into my household. Instead of managing the clutter constantly, I am finding myself with more time. I don’t feel guilty when I sit to relax either because everything is tidy and in its place.
The biggest change for me so far has been clothing. I had enough for several people. It is so nice for it all to fit in my tiny closet and I still feel like I have so many options.
The next biggest change has been the kitchen. I love my kitchen again!
Thank you, Joshua!
Jean Timpel says
The self-care one struck me with a jolt. I never thought of doing the big “dump everything on the bed and sort” task with health care items like I have done with other categories. Time to do that one I guess.
Denise says
Ooh, that resonates! I did it a month ago. I found several items well past their use-by date which got binned. Others part-used. I divided these into the “never going to use again” or the “ use it up NOW” categories. The former: in the bin..The latter category, I put away all my favoured products and have been working through the “ok” ones. Sooooo satisfying to finish them up, clean the packaging and then recycle them. No waste of product, of money or resources. And the bedroom and bathroom are getting decluttered mindfully and intentionally. And it’s got me motivated to put body lotion on every day as I wanted rid of the watery, slightly disappointing stuff. But used every day, my skin was better than only occasionally using “the good stuff”. Now I’m using the good stuff because (a) I’m in the habit; and (b) I’m worth it. Enjoy your decluttering!
Maggie says
Thank you.
My days and evenings are free. It is like being a carefree child again.
The keeping of things like a museum custodian robbed time and consciousness. Give yourself permission to let go of the distractions of memory lane, responsibility and guilt.
I am 78 and was saving things for relatives alive or gone. They didn’t want them either!
I had thought it was disrespectful to not keep family heirlooms.
We have choices….only keep things that give you joy.
I also dreamed of living in a white washed cottage by the sea with only the basics….and now I have it wherever I am.
Elizabeth Bednarcik says
I have recently found myself having extra time to enjoy activities like reading and drawing and have consciously recognized how nice it has been. We have been practicing minimalism for nearly ten years and what made the biggest difference was last year we finally found our dream house which is the smallest home we have owned. It’s very easy to keep clean and tidy. Once you own less, you understand the value it brings to your life!
Emily says
Last year I cleaned out more than 125 items from my closet alone. Many of the times were from before Covid when my work place required more dressy attire. I had a baby in 2021 and found that my body did not “bounce back” and that my work place dress code quietly changed to more casual. Many of the dressy clothes that no longer fit were no longer needed! I could not believe how much my mental and physical health improved by removing what no longer fit, what was no longer needed or necessary, and items that fit but were not quite right. It is thrilling to have open floor space, extra hangers, and breathing room in my closet. I finally feel capable of taking on Courtney Carver’s Project 333 challenge and hope that this will help guide me to paring down further. Thanks so much for reminding us that simplifying clothing can change our lives. It truly makes a world of difference!
Judy says
So true, Joshua! I took 3 bags to Goodwill yesterday!