The less you huddle stuff the less you pile up things that overwhelm you. Do you feel bummed out, like you're filled with redundant needs and wants or in other words "clutter" that makes you feel stressed, depressed, confused, sick, and unkempt?
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Let's discuss some easy steps that will help declutter your life.
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Cluttering is unhealthy. It simply means to remove unwanted items from an area or room. In this scenario, your life is that room.
It is one of the few most important things we don't get to discuss.
Unconsciously, these items keep us awake at night and make us endlessly worry during the day. For best results, we'll have to be deliberate about decluttering the items that overwhelm us. If they could talk, you'd probably be insane by now, with their continuous nagging. "Clean me, let go of me, fix me, respond to me! Do you know how long I've been here? It's suffocating in here!"
Decluttering means creating more space, feeling more emotionally stable, reducing mental stress, and feeling happier, calmer, and free, by letting go of the things that weigh us down.
It takes planning, time, and perseverance to scale through decluttering. Deliberately let go of different layers of your life that are out of sight, like the past.
Yes! You got rejected and now you can no longer face the world with your head up high. .
#Step 1: Reduce What Comes In:
Since we're attached to certain memories, relationships, and properties, we must take a pause, let's rather make a list of things that we enjoy. This will reduce the amount of clutter we take in, leaving room for decluttering the current items in possession.
The following are some things you should consider decluttering:
Mean things people said to you
Items that make you remember hurtful memories
Clothes or utensils you spent so much money on
Uncomfortable shoes
Toxic friendships/ relationships
Junks
Social Media platforms or gatherings you don't enjoy and care about
Hobbies you no longer find interesting
Old and unnecessary Bills, statements and receipts
Photos of things you don't remember and don't want to remember, etc.
#Step 2: Create a Cleaning Routine:
Categorize clutters in layers, to easily identify different items in a definite order. When you create a cleaning routine, it generates room for control over clutters and now, you can assign different times to clean them up. Cleaning routine saves time and creates space for your future self.
"Tomorrow's not promised. You may love someone; you may have a grudge because of something that they did to you, and it was unfair, but life's not fair. Life is very short, so clean up your grudges. Let's not hold them." -Mya
#Step 3: Take One Step At a Time:
Anxiety creeps in when you are overwhelmed with too many activities, so, it is advisable to give something away one step at a time. Do everything at your own pace because you might feel resentment and disgust when you're pressured.
"One has a responsibility to clean up one's space and make it livable as far as one's own resources go. That includes not only material resources, but psychological resources: the commitment of time and a portion of your mind to something when you'd rather be doing something else." -Wole Soyinka
#Step 4: Clear Your To-Do List:
We're faced with guilt when we don't catch up with planned schedules. We hardly see how devastating it piles up. Leave fake promises and start taking action. Gather the list, scale through it, and pin down the most prioritized to the least prioritized. It is easy to pile up clutter and takes a lot of time to get rid of it. It's more like piling clothes or the mail than clearing and putting them in the right order.
READ or Shred that mail! Or it's time to share some of those properties with charity! Create that space!
#Step 5: Say Your Goodbyes
(music starts playing: Let it Go by Idina Menzel in the Disney movie Frozen) Let it go... Let it go... Can't Hold it back anymore!! Haha!
The emotional and physical weight that comes with clutters derails your life as an individual. After carefully following the abovementioned steps, it's time to say goodbye. The sooner you let them go the better.
Here are some questions you need to ask yourself before letting go of these clutters and these questions will help you understand why you'd like to let go of these things or keep them:
Why Do I want this/ Why do I want to let this go?
Does this item make me feel good/ bad about myself? If your answer is yes or no go ahead and ask yourself the next follow-up question.
I've kept this because? or I'm letting this go because.....?
Will I ever purchase or want this ever again? If your answer is positive keep the item and if it's negative... Boom! Say Goodbye.
Is it so hard to say goodbye?
Honestly, it is hard but sometimes you just need some time to process and heal before going into decluttering. While we're processing, don't hang on to those memories for too long, and everything depends on what kind of situation or space you're in. Address every item in bits.
Take time to evaluate and ask yourself series of questions. Even though there are some items that are attached to us because of sentimental memory or attachment, we should learn to handle these items carefully so it doesn't affect our future us. Make sure it's not meddling with your mental health or life.
The times where you feel unmotivated to make your life work, settle with some "series of why questions" and be honest with yourself. These questions are meant to make us understand why we need to declutter and be at peace with ourselves.
I'm still asking myself these questions and following these steps and its been helpful and exciting seeing myself decluttering and gradually moving into the next phase of my life.
So in the comments below, let us know how we can help you with your decluttering journey.
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