I do an activity in many of my coaching programs to clear out clutter. In regular coaching, I call it clearing the decks; in the money program, I talk about clearing the sludge. You get a feeling when your desk, room, or house is tidy and clean. I get that same feeling when my digital desktop is clear, and my inbox is tidy. You know that feeling.
Clutter is more than just the physical mess that surrounds us; it’s a manifestation of the mental and emotional baggage we carry. Whether it’s the overflowing closet, the piles of paperwork on your desk, or the kitchen drawer you can barely close, clutter weighs us down. It consumes our energy, creates stress, and prevents us from welcoming new opportunities into our lives.
My activities with my clients are about letting go or clearing up what no longer serves us. It’s about making room for fresh energy and creating a space that fosters growth, peace, and joy.
Living in a cluttered environment can profoundly impact our mental and emotional well-being. Studies have shown that cluttered spaces lead to higher levels of stress, anxiety, and even guilt. Seeing our spaces filled with things we don’t need, use, or love can create a sense of overwhelm and failure. The chaos of a cluttered home can mirror the chaos we feel inside, making it difficult to focus, relax, or even enjoy our time at home.
We get the same feelings of stress, anxiety, guilt, and overwhelm from the clutter in our mind or all the incomplete tasks we have. The emotional toll occurs whether the clutter is real or imagined.
On the other hand, when our spaces (or minds) are clean, organized, and free of unnecessary items, we feel lighter, more energized, and more in control. A tidy environment can boost our mood, enhance our productivity, and even improve our sleep. By clearing out the clutter, we’re creating a more aesthetically pleasing space and a sanctuary for our minds and bodies to thrive.
Clutter doesn’t just affect our mental state; it also blocks new opportunities from entering our lives. When our homes and workspaces are filled to the brim, there’s no room for new ideas, opportunities, or even new relationships. Clutter represents the past, the things we’ve accumulated over time that we no longer need but can’t seem to let go of. It holds us back, keeping us stuck in a cycle of stagnation.
Letting go of clutter is an act of releasing the past to make space for the future. It’s about acknowledging that the things that once served us no longer do, and it’s time to move on. By decluttering, we’re signaling to the universe that we’re ready for change, new opportunities, and to embrace the unknown.
The most obvious place to start decluttering is your physical space. This is where most of us accumulate the most clutter, and it’s often the most visible manifestation of our mental and emotional baggage. Here’s how to start:
1. Start Small: Decluttering can be overwhelming, especially if you have a lot of stuff. Start with a small area, like a single drawer or a shelf. Once you see the impact of clearing out just one space, you’ll feel more motivated to tackle bigger projects. Consider setting aside weekly time in your calendar to keep working towards your goals.
2. Sort Through Your Belongings: Go through your belongings one by one and ask yourself if each item serves a purpose or brings you joy. If it doesn’t, it’s time to let it go. Donate, recycle, or throw away items that no longer serve you.
3. Create Systems for Organization: Create systems to keep your space organized once you’ve decluttered. Use storage bins, shelves, and labels to give everything a designated place. This will make keeping your space tidy in the long run easier.
4. Be Mindful: Be mindful of what you bring into your space. Before making a purchase, ask yourself if it’s something you really need or if it’s just going to add to the clutter.
Just as physical clutter can weigh you down, so can outdated routines and habits. Your daily routines should serve you, not hinder you. Here’s how to refresh your routines to invite new energy into your life:
1. Evaluate Your Current Routines: Look at your daily routines and ask yourself if they’re helping you achieve your goals or just habits you’ve fallen into. Are you spending too much time on tasks that don’t matter? Are there things you could cut out or streamline?
2. Incorporate New, Positive Habits: Introduce new habits that align with the person you want to become. This could be anything from starting your day with a meditation or a workout to setting aside time for a hobby or learning something new. These new routines can bring fresh energy and inspiration into your life.
3. Set Boundaries: This means saying no to things that don’t serve you or align with your goals. It’s about protecting your time and energy to focus on what matters.
What we consume—whether it’s food, media, or even information—profoundly impacts our energy levels and mental clarity. Here’s how to be more intentional about what you consume:
1. Clean Up Your Diet: Focus on nourishing foods that give you energy and make you feel good. Reduce or eliminate processed foods, sugar, and anything that leaves you feeling sluggish.
2. Mindful Media Consumption: The media we consume can clutter our minds just as much as physical objects can clutter our spaces. Be mindful of the information you’re taking in—whether it’s news, social media, or entertainment. Limit your exposure to negative or stressful content, and instead, seek out positive, uplifting, and inspiring material.
3. Digital Declutter: Our digital lives can become cluttered, too, with overflowing inboxes, endless notifications, and too many apps. Take time to clean up your digital space—unsubscribe from emails you don’t read, delete apps you don’t use and organize your files. This will help reduce digital overwhelm and make focusing on what’s important easier.
Just as physical clutter can overwhelm your living space, mental clutter can create chaos in your mind. This mental clutter often consists of incomplete tasks, outstanding to-dos, and unresolved thoughts that swirl around, taking up valuable mental real estate and contributing to stress and anxiety. To achieve a peaceful and focused mind, it’s crucial to engage in a process of mental decluttering. Here’s how you can clear out your mind and make room for clarity and creativity.
1. Get Everything Out of Your Head: The first step in clearing your mind is to perform a mental “brain dump.” This involves getting all your thoughts, tasks and worries out of your head and onto paper (or a digital note). This exercise helps you see everything occupying your mental space and allows you to address each item systematically rather than letting it fester in the background.
2. Sort and Prioritize: Once you have your comprehensive list, it’s time to sort through it. Go through each item and decide: Is this important to keep, or can it be eliminated? This step is crucial in reducing mental clutter, as it forces you to confront what truly matters versus what’s simply taking up space.
3. Make a Plan to Complete Outstanding Tasks: With your prioritized list in hand, it’s time to make a concrete plan to complete the outstanding tasks. Break down larger tasks, schedule time for tasks, and remember to focus on one task at a time.
Remember that for each area you declutter, be kind to yourself. Decluttering can be an emotional process. It is okay to feel a range of emotions. And celebrate! Celebrate your achievements on the way!
When you take the time to declutter your space, refresh your routines, consume with intention, and clear out your mind, the benefits extend far beyond a tidy home or an organized schedule. You’ll likely find that you feel more at peace, more focused, and more in control of your life. The anxiety and stress that clutter brings will start to dissipate, making room for feelings of calm and contentment.
You’ll also find that you have more time and energy for the things that truly matter—spending time with loved ones, pursuing a passion, or simply relaxing. By letting go of what no longer serves you, you’re creating a life that supports your well-being and allows you to thrive.
Most of us who are weighed down my mental clutter – the to-do lists and calendar events cataloged in our brain – find a shocking amount of relief when we cut back on physical clutter. If your envitonment is less chaotic, your mind will be too. Erica Layne
Most of us who are weighed down my mental clutter – the to-do lists and calendar events cataloged in our brain – find a shocking amount of relief when we cut back on physical clutter. If your envitonment is less chaotic, your mind will be too.
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