6 Ways Self Storage Can Save Your Marriage
Your Self Storage in The Southern Highlands
A happy marriage and a happy home often go hand in hand.
If you’re finding your home is overcrowded and cluttered then you may find your marriage is suffering as well.
Throwing out everything you’ve ever loved is not really the solution but clearing out some space in your home and popping things in self storage just might be.
Here are 6 ways self storage can save your marriage.
Keep your self storage access code safe and share only with someone you trust.
01. NO MORE arguments about chores
One of the biggest reasons couples argue is housework. It can be super frustrating when you feel like your significant other is not picking up their share of the slack and those dishes in the sink have been there for who knows how long.
But, if our homes are overflowing with stuff, it can be hard to know where to start on the tidying up.
Decluttering your home and putting some of those beloved [but not always used + not always loved by everyone] belongings into storage can make your home easier to keep clean.
And who wants to dust 72 soccer participation trophies from the 80’s and 90’s? No thanks!
Less stuff equals less mess, and less mess equals fewer arguments about who has to clean it up.
Stay organised. Label your boxes and keep an inventory of your items.
02. cut the lingering resentment
Maybe you’re tired of tripping over that unused exercise bike in the middle of your lounge room, or you’re dreaming of the day you’ll actually be able to park your car in the garage instead of it being full of unfinished restoration projects [you know, the ones that haven’t been touched in a veeeeery long time], work tools and gardening equipment, five different bikes [and all the accessories that comes with that - how many bikes does one person need? They only have two legs and one bum, right?].
All these little frustrations can build up to an overwhelming feeling of resentment in your home and toward your loved ones.
You might not feel it’s fair to ask your partner to throw those things away, especially if they’re important to them, so how about putting them in self storage instead?
They’re safe and accessible but out of sight and out of mind at home. Perfect!
03. creating a calmer environment
A cluttered home can feel like a chaotic home.
A space that feels overcrowded and busy can leave us feeling stressed and anxious, and that’s NEVER a good thing for a couple.
Can’t find anything? Your partner’s wardrobe is creeping into multiple rooms in the house? Or you’re moving ‘stuff’ around constantly but you never have clear space or you haven’t seen surfaces since 2019?
The answer to a calm environment is a good declutter and if you’re not ready to fill up a skip, then a self storage unit is a good temporary solution until you’re emotionally ready to work out what stays and what goes.
And if it DOES stay, make sure it’s not going to declutter up your space again!
A storage expert can help you decide how much space you need for the things you want to store.
04. spend more time together
The upside of fewer chores, less resentment and a calmer environment is a chance to spend more quality time with your favourite person! That’s your spouse, people.
Less time cleaning up means more time enjoying quality time together and smiling [rather than growling] over a cup of tea.
Less time arguing over where things should and shouldn’t go means more time going on bush walks or watching your favourite movies together, and less time stressing about why you can’t find your keys under the 50 billion cushions on the couch means more time going for drives to cool new cafes and bars.
05. more space for entertaining
Research shows having friends is not only good for your own health but also the health of your marriage.
Friends give us an opportunity to chat, be connected to the community and as a bonus, someone else to drag along to that pottery class you’ve been dying to try whilst giving your partner a break.
Entertaining and having mates over is a super fun way to keep friendships going but, if there’s nowhere to sit because the dining room is now a model railway museum or you’re embarrassed about the gym equipment that’s appeared in the lounge room, that’s not going to work.
Clear out the mess, store the stuff you don’t need for now and party on!
06. fresh start
Our homes are a reflection of our lives, both present and past.
There are so many special treasures we pick up along the way. Maybe you’ve inherited mementoes, furniture and belongings from loved ones who’ve passed on, or maybe the idea of parting with the kids' kindergarten artworks is unheard of [even if they’re now old enough to have their own kindergartners].
Guys, it’s totally okay to want to hold on to these things, but filling your home with them can sometimes make it feel like it's hard to move forward.
Placing items like this in storage means they’re still yours but also allows you space to give your home and even your marriage a bit of a fresh start. Va va voom!
Letting go or at least moving the focus of the past and taking on the future with an open mind might just be the thing your marriage needs.
So, start with the place you’ve built together and see where that leads.
Embrace the space……and each other.
This post originally appeared on The Fold Southern Highlands, and runs here with full permission and consent.
