If only decluttering our lives were as easy as decluttering our closets! It’s a bit more intensive, but it can be done. But first, you have to admit that your life is cluttered with unnecessary stuff. I realized it in my own life when I started to think that running around harried all the time was normal. So even though much of my clutter was “good clutter”—being room mom, helping a relative manage a rental property, giving a talk at a church ladies’ day—it was still clutter. And it got in the way of me making room for the most important things.
So, little by little, I’ve been cutting back. My room mom duties are done. I’ve stepped away from the rental property, and my speech has been given. But there was still more clutter for me to cut. If you know you need to scale back too, here are 3 ideas for how to declutter your life.
First Things First
What’s at the top of the list of your most important things in life? For me, it’s my husband and children. Before you can decide what you want to get rid of, you have to decide what you want to keep. You might think keeping your family isn’t a choice. But actually, it is. You do have the ability to walk away. Does that sound crazy? Why?
Your answer to that question should help you let go of the good clutter and the bad clutter in your life. By knowing what’s most important, you can measure every other activity by how it supports or takes away from your top spot holder. If your family is in the first place, think twice before you take on another volunteer role or extra hours at work.
Look for good clutter.
Good clutter consists of things that in and of themselves are great—like volunteering in your child’s classroom, leading your book club, or helping at a homeless shelter—but that are still clutter because this isn’t the right time to have them on your schedule. Save some of those good things for later. Try to think of your life as a clothes closet. There’s only so much room. When one article of clothing comes in, another has to go out or your racks won’t be able to withhold the weight. Fully invest in what matters most in your life now so you’re not stretched too thin.
Identify time clutter.
Time clutter is anything that sucks away chunks of your very valuable time. Maybe for you, it’s the internet or watching TV. To give yourself and your life space, you need to make sure you’re using your time for the things you value most. We think time is infinite and we can just keep adding more clutter to each hour. When you make time for something, you’re not actually “making” time. You’re taking time from something else.
Time clutter is anything that sucks away chunks of your very valuable time. Click To TweetLet go of stuff clutter.
The more stuff you have, the more you have to take care of. As an oft-quoted saying goes, “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” You’ll have to be reasonable about that rule, of course, but it makes sense. Taking care of our possessions can rob us of our time. And when our time is taken, we can’t enjoy the best things in our lives. Try starting with one room or one drawer. If you haven’t used, worn, or enjoyed the item in a year, put it in a box and put it in a closet. Three months later, if you haven’t missed it, give it away.
You Can Get Organized. Here’s How!
Which type—good clutter, time clutter, or stuff clutter—takes up the most space in your life?
