8 Ways to Declutter your life
Just a few tips from an army brat with a gypsy mother.
I would definitely call my life nomadic. I have never lived in the same house for more than 3 years. Ever. I'm 24 years old and I've probably moved just as many times. So I've gotten really good at parting with my possessions and not getting overly attached to material things. When you move as often as I do, you can't afford to carry tons of stuff with you, you bring the essentials only.
Funny thing is - I married a guy who had lived in two places (that he can remember) until he married me. He was Mr. Steady. Now that we're married we've moved 6 times. Yeesh. Sorry babe. Luckily for us both, we're buying a house and setting down some roots together (whoop whoop)! BUT I still believe that it's important not to drown in material things and to be bogged down by your possessions. I will always be an aspiring minimalist. Less is more.
Also confession: I LOVE to organize. I love it. Give me a space, a travel itinerary, a filing system, a closet, anything that needs organizing and I come alive. I genuinely enjoy it. So, I admit this did come more naturally to me than for most people. I know this may not be as easy for some people as it is for me, so I'll go easy on you guys.
But I want to share some tips on how to declutter your life and give you some questions to ask yourself.
1. Does this item or activity bring joy and value to my life?
This is the big dog, the head hancho, the MOST important question to use for vetting your possessions and commitments. Put all of your possessions and commitments through this test and see what survives - anything that doesn't make the cut - get it out of here!
2. Do I have more than one of these things (duplicates not pairs)?
If so, does one of them have more sentimental value than the other? Does one of them work better than the other? Is one broken? Does one work better aesthetically with your home? Determine what's important about the items and then pick one to keep. Unless you need two (like shoes), than obviously do your thing.
3. Be Harsh
Not in every area of life, but in this one respect you can be harsh. In fact, I encourage it. Be harsh about what makes the cut to be in your life and what doesn't fit the bill. Life is short, don't spend it being bogged down by your possessions and commitments.
4. Is this item or activity dragging me down?
Is it financially burdensome? Does it have some bad memories attached to it? Is it taking up valuable space? Tell that thing that you're breaking up and that it's not you, it's them.
5. Say No
It is extremely important that you say NO to some things in life. No matter who you are, you simply do not have room in your life or house to say yes to everything. Decide what you have room for in your home and your schedule and then shout a big, resounding NOOOOO to anything else.
6. Can I use this item anymore?
Does it fit you? Do you use it regularly? No....? Well then - Buh-bye
7. Say Yes and MEAN it.
Sometimes the reason your life is cluttered is because you haven't committed fully to one thing or the other. When you say yes, close the other doors. Don't leave every option open.
8. Have I been saving it for later?
Hey, I have hard truth that I want to share. Later doesn't actually exist.
You cannot predict what your future will look like. You can plan and reach for something (which is good), but you don't actually know what that future will look like until you get there, and then - it'll be the present. So don't live in the fantasy future you've created. Live where you are now. Don't save stuff for later - thinking "one day". Make room for the life you're living now by getting rid of the life you think you might live someday.
The reason I believe it's fundamentally important to declutter your life is because of one simple truth: life it short. I don't know about you, but I don't want to wake up one day and realize that I didn't really live, I was just distracted. I don't want to be distracted. I want to be intentional. I think it's important to be really purposeful about what you allow to occupy your time, home, and heart. Your time is a valuable and limited commodity. Your home and heart should be protected and guarded.
Hope this is helpful for someone and that it gets us all one step closer to living marvelously and with meaning!
I would definitely call my life nomadic. I have never lived in the same house for more than 3 years. Ever. I'm 24 years old and I've probably moved just as many times. So I've gotten really good at parting with my possessions and not getting overly attached to material things. When you move as often as I do, you can't afford to carry tons of stuff with you, you bring the essentials only.
Funny thing is - I married a guy who had lived in two places (that he can remember) until he married me. He was Mr. Steady. Now that we're married we've moved 6 times. Yeesh. Sorry babe. Luckily for us both, we're buying a house and setting down some roots together (whoop whoop)! BUT I still believe that it's important not to drown in material things and to be bogged down by your possessions. I will always be an aspiring minimalist. Less is more.
Also confession: I LOVE to organize. I love it. Give me a space, a travel itinerary, a filing system, a closet, anything that needs organizing and I come alive. I genuinely enjoy it. So, I admit this did come more naturally to me than for most people. I know this may not be as easy for some people as it is for me, so I'll go easy on you guys.
But I want to share some tips on how to declutter your life and give you some questions to ask yourself.
1. Does this item or activity bring joy and value to my life?
This is the big dog, the head hancho, the MOST important question to use for vetting your possessions and commitments. Put all of your possessions and commitments through this test and see what survives - anything that doesn't make the cut - get it out of here!
2. Do I have more than one of these things (duplicates not pairs)?
If so, does one of them have more sentimental value than the other? Does one of them work better than the other? Is one broken? Does one work better aesthetically with your home? Determine what's important about the items and then pick one to keep. Unless you need two (like shoes), than obviously do your thing.
3. Be Harsh
Not in every area of life, but in this one respect you can be harsh. In fact, I encourage it. Be harsh about what makes the cut to be in your life and what doesn't fit the bill. Life is short, don't spend it being bogged down by your possessions and commitments.
4. Is this item or activity dragging me down?
Is it financially burdensome? Does it have some bad memories attached to it? Is it taking up valuable space? Tell that thing that you're breaking up and that it's not you, it's them.
5. Say No
It is extremely important that you say NO to some things in life. No matter who you are, you simply do not have room in your life or house to say yes to everything. Decide what you have room for in your home and your schedule and then shout a big, resounding NOOOOO to anything else.
6. Can I use this item anymore?
Does it fit you? Do you use it regularly? No....? Well then - Buh-bye
7. Say Yes and MEAN it.
Sometimes the reason your life is cluttered is because you haven't committed fully to one thing or the other. When you say yes, close the other doors. Don't leave every option open.
8. Have I been saving it for later?
Hey, I have hard truth that I want to share. Later doesn't actually exist.
You cannot predict what your future will look like. You can plan and reach for something (which is good), but you don't actually know what that future will look like until you get there, and then - it'll be the present. So don't live in the fantasy future you've created. Live where you are now. Don't save stuff for later - thinking "one day". Make room for the life you're living now by getting rid of the life you think you might live someday.
The reason I believe it's fundamentally important to declutter your life is because of one simple truth: life it short. I don't know about you, but I don't want to wake up one day and realize that I didn't really live, I was just distracted. I don't want to be distracted. I want to be intentional. I think it's important to be really purposeful about what you allow to occupy your time, home, and heart. Your time is a valuable and limited commodity. Your home and heart should be protected and guarded.
Hope this is helpful for someone and that it gets us all one step closer to living marvelously and with meaning!
Comments
Post a Comment