I had amassed a collection of papers stored in drawers and bookshelves, occupying valuable space that I never find the time to clear. This December, I committed to dedicating at least five minutes each day to address this clutter, and the progress has been remarkable.
In addition to disposing of outdated bank statements, warranty receipts, and obsolete phone cases, I stumbled upon forgotten old photos, photos that had not been given home in an album for many years. I came across my husband’s old photos that speak volumes about his past life – boy you’re lucky I married you 😊 (kidding). I also found photos and documents belonging to my siblings, which I plan to give them soon.
This experience made me think that perhaps I should consider decluttering other aspects of my life too. Decluttering is known to give one clarity by removing mental and physical blocks essential for gaining clarity and optimizing space for more meaningful endeavors.
What can you declutter?
In the physical space, you could look at clothes you no longer need, or those that have been outgrown by children and donate to charity or other cause. Get rid of kitchen appliances that no longer work but you seem to be holding on to them, throw away that favorite set that’s cracked but due to sentimental value, it still stays in your cabinet. Declutter your drawers, filing cabinets etc.
Another area is on the digital space. You might want to start by unsubscribing from unnecessary newsletters that perhaps have outlived their usefulness in your life, delete old folders and files that are no longer needed, unfollow accounts that are not longer needed, remove pop-up reminders from the many apps that send you reminders – these are especially such a distraction.
Time commitments; this can be as simple as reducing time spent following news channels – many times, news only leave you with negative feelings and a bad taste in your mouth. They can set you up for a bad day or a rough night. Reducing time spent on unpleasant activities can greatly help with your mental health and overall happiness. Watching that news item over and over will not change the fact on the ground, so how about getting it on a need-to-know basis?
Another time waster is time spent on social media. Social media is an addiction – it’s designed to keep you hooked like a drug for the benefit of advertisers. Being conscious on this fact and becoming mindful on the time spent or wasted in non-value adding activities online will go along way in decluttering your time.
Relationships: Some relationships need to be decluttered. There are people who only drain your energy or waste your time (and sometimes money). You might need to assess your relationships and nurture those that bring positivity and drastically reduce time spent with those that drain. We are quick to tell our children how bad company ruins good morals, but we’re slow to reiterate that to ourselves. Look in the mirror and assess.
Mental decluttering: This involves identifying negative thought patterns and focus on positive ones. The good book talks of ‘whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. It also involves letting go of resentment by forgiving those that offended you.
You can declutter your finances by simplifying your budget and expenses. Cancel subscriptions you don’t use or don’t need. You could reduce you heavy reliance on brands in order to save.
Remember, the key to successful decluttering is to approach it gradually and with intention. Focus on what truly adds value to your life, and let go of what doesn’t. As you declutter these areas, you’ll likely find increased clarity, reduced stress, and a greater sense of peace in your day-to-day life.
Begin your decluttering journey by tackling one area at a time. Whether it’s a cluttered closet, a messy kitchen, or a chaotic life, starting small allows you to build momentum and see tangible results quickly. So how about ending your year with less clutter both physically and mentally? You could add that as part of your new year’s goals – to declutter your life.
