How Can Decluttering Reduce Stress?

Natasha: For as long as I can remember, I was spread pretty thin. I’m sure that’s like most moms, right? Right? That’s just mom life. 

Mariel Gutierrez: Right.

Natasha: I’m like getting all emotional about it, but because I don’t have as much stuff cluttering my life, as much stuff to worry about, I can just focus my energies on things that really matter.  

Mariel Gutierrez: Parenting isn’t easy. It’s challenging and frustrating, but it’s also rewarding and inspiring. We just need a few reminders. Parents––dads, moms––you’re not alone. Let’s do this parenting thing together. I’m Mariel Gutierrez.

Jewell Buenavista: And I’m Jewell Buenavista. We are the tired, but inspired, moms and you’re listening to the Faith and Family podcast, a Christian family community that aims to promote Christian values for every phase of your family life.

Mariel: Now, have you ever heard that saying, “Your home is a reflection of your mind,”? Okay. Well, if this is true, my mind is––oh my gosh––Guitar Center meets Barnes and Noble, I guess. You know? So, my mind is cluttered with all the necessary things.

Jewell: You know, my home is organized chaos and a lot of stuff, which is really a true reflection of my mind because there's just a lot of things in my head and it’s chaotic but yet organized. You know? I know where things are at but if somebody was to look into my brain, they would be like, “Oh my goodness, it’s too chaotic but it’s organized somehow.”

Mariel: Kind of like you’re in a circus tent. Right?

Jewell: Yes! That’s a pretty good description, Mar!

Mariel: I feel like I’m next door––at the circus tent next door to you. Alright well, you know, so like chaos, right? We talked about it––organized chaos. A chaotic home, though, can be pretty stressful. Can we actually be better wives and moms and humans by decluttering and trying to live a minimalist life? Interesting. Today, let’s explore. Let’s explore with Natasha. Our friend, Natasha Esguerra, a busy mom of two, who decided to take the big step of living a minimalist life and found herself enjoying life a little bit more. And she’s going to share her journey and life hacks with us. Hi, Natasha!

Natasha Esguerra: Hi guys, thanks so much for having me on today.

Mariel: Of course, thanks so much for joining us! So, let’s get right into it. So, like every busy mom, you were spreading yourself thin, right? Errands, work, chores, obligations...but please share with us the top three ways you feel your life or relationships have improved since you started to declutter your home.

Natasha: So yeah, for as long as I can remember, I was spread pretty thin, like you said. I had a lot of stuff going on and I’m sure that’s like most moms, right? That’s just mom-life, right? #momlife. But after starting to embrace minimalism, I was able to look at––I felt as if my home suddenly became a place of rest. Instead of coming home after a stressful day to like, a totally cluttered house and thinking, “Oh man, now I’m home and there’s all this mess at home,” it became different. I would come home, the house was manageable and peaceful, and I felt great at the end of the day––like a place to recharge. I felt like it was a place to recharge instead of being a place for more stress. And then, on top of that, I also found more time for my family because with less things to do at home––less stuff surprisingly converted to l...