Declutter Your Life

Learning how to build a simple life you are proud of isn’t always easy. It takes commitment and follow through. It goes against the grain of a consumerism culture and the expectation that you will say yes to every thing.

Decluttering your life is a big job. Not just limited to the things you own and surround yourself with. It is taking a look at your social and work calendar. It’s becoming aware of where you put your energy each day. And it is also the “things” (physical, mental and emotional) that we hold onto.

So, where do we start?

I am a fan of starting on the outside stuff. It helps me feel like I am creating space without distractions so that I can work on my inside stuff without so many distractions. It’s like yoga. We do asana (postures and movement) so that our bodies are healthier and more comfortable. That way we can sit in each moment with more clarity and space to work on the deeper parts of ourselves.

1. Take inventory of your belongings. What can you sell, donate, discard or repurpose. I suggest going room by room in your house.

• If you are working on your closet, make your bed and pick you your room. That way you can focus only on the task at hand. Empty our all of your clothes onto the bed.

• I like to organize into piles by category. One pile of pants, one of shorts, t-shirts, tanks, you get the idea. This will help you to also see where you have a lot, maybe too many, of one type of garment.

• Then have boxes or bags ready, labeled to either be donated (still good quality but something that you simply don’t wear, doesn’t fit or doesn’t make you feel good when you wear it), sell (if you have some higher quality pieces you may consider selling them to a consignment shop), repurpose (if you’re crafty, you might use old shirts to make tote bags, macrame, or turn a T into a tank, but only repurpose if you are actually going to do it!), or discard (like it or not, we hold onto things that are simply ready to decompose and need to head to the trash).

• As you go through your items, only keep what you actually wear and that makes you feel good when you wear it. Have a few staple pieces in each category of garment. We need much less than we think. Create a signature style for yourself. Buy quality items going forward and avoid fast fashion.

• If you need help, call a discerning friend, or even a professional to help you sort through your things without emotional connection.

• These same general rules apply to the rest of the house.

  • Go through the rest of the bedroom(s). As I mentioned in last week’s blog your bedroom should be a sanctuary. Simple, organized, good lighting, great smell.

  • Go through your bathroom, especially all the toiletries we collect! Keep only complete, quality sheet sets, and a couple of sets of towels.

  • Go through your kitchen, pantry and refrigerator. Minimize the gadgets. Toss expired foods. Toss junk foods. Start over with a healthy, simple and well stocked kitchen.

  • Go through your living room/office/entryway and declutter. Utilize nice shelving. Keep the books you reference and adore, donate the rest. Hang a few thoughtful photos or art pieces. Have hooks for coats, bags, etc. Use baskets or bins to organize any toys, games, electronics and cords.

2. Look at your calendar. Part of decluttering your life is also minimizing and streamlining your social commitments, work day, work-life balance, and extra activities.

• If you work for another company, they will set your schedule for you. Done. If you are self-employed, this may take a little more work. Find a co-working space or create a home office without distractions. And set a calendar for the work week. Get organized in the tasks you need to accomplish and when you are setting aside time to follow through.

• Are you saying yes to every social event? Minimize your social commitments. You can say no! Think quality over quantity. It’s okay to disappoint someone if it means your cup stays full. Give your kids the same courtesy. Don’t overbook them. It is exhausting. They are just kids and deserve downtime to decompress and simply be kids!

• Make time for yourself. Once you have cleared a bit of your calendar, you might find you have a touch more free time. Schedule a massage. Go to a yoga class. Read your book. Commit to scheduling in a date for yourself every week, even if it’s just 20 minutes.

3. Learn what is an energy giver vs energy taker. Spend more time doing the things that give you energy rather than take away. Write down what gives you energy and what you feel drains you. Then make a plan. How can you add more energy givers into your day.

• Some examples of ENERGY GIVERS:

  • Time in nature

  • Consistent sleep

  • Music

  • Movement and dancing

  • Eating wholesome, nutritious foods

  • Meditation

  • Drinking plenty of water

  • Quality time with community, friends, and family

  • Gratitude and positivity

• Some examples of ENERGY TAKERS:

  • Mess and clutter

  • Social media

  • Junk food

  • Negativity

  • Focusing on the past

  • Stress

  • Overworking

  • Too much time inside

  • Too much sedentary time

4. Take a moment to envision and journal. Do you envision a simple, fulfilling, joy-filled life? Design your life and then take action to make it happen.

• Make a list of key words. When you think of your ideal day or life, what words come up? What words describe the kind of life you want to live?

• Ask yourself…do the things you do every day support the vision of your ideal life? If not, write down some action items. What can you add into your day that will support your vision. (Hint: look at the list above) Also, write down the things you are already doing and give yourself credit for the work you are putting in every day.

• Close your eyes. If you could see yourself pursuing ONE thing, anything, what would it be? Visualize it completely. Where are you? What are you wearing? Who are you with? What do you see, smell, taste, hear? Write it down. Paint it. See it with clarity and connect to your vision.

Give yourself time to work through these ideas. Take what you need. Leave what you don’t. Everyone’s version of ‘simple’ is unique. Some people love the idea of minimalism. Go for it! Others like to have a few more creature comforts hanging around. The most important part is that if feels good for you. A bit less clutter. More space for clarity and connection to the live you want to live.

Happy declutter-ing!

With love,
Loren