Declutter your life – Steps for 2024.
Decluttering, in essence, is about simplification, organization, and prioritization. It’s not just about removing physical objects or tasks; it’s a mindset and a lifestyle choice aimed at creating space, both physical and mental, to make room for what truly matters to you.
Decluttering my physical space means freeing myself from the burden of excessive possessions, allowing me to have a more organized, functional environment. It’s about creating a space that supports my well-being and activities, rather than feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of unnecessary things.
On a deeper level, decluttering your life involves letting go of things that no longer serve you—a job that doesn’t fulfill you, relationships that drain your energy, or habits that hold you back. It’s about prioritizing your time and energy towards what brings joy, purpose, and fulfillment.
Ultimately, the purpose of decluttering is to create space—physically, mentally, and emotionally—for the things, activities, and people that align with your values and contribute positively to your life. It’s about simplicity, clarity, and creating room for growth and happiness.
That’s why I want to show you simple steps on how to mindfully declutter your physical and mental space.
Declutter your physical space
Go through your belongings and declutter items you no longer need or use. Clothes, books, kitchen gadgets, and miscellaneous items that no longer serve a purpose can be donated, recycled, or discarded responsibly.
1. Set a Goal
Every project needs a goal, right? So, start by determining the purpose or vision for the space you’re decluttering. It could be to enhance productivity, or simply to organize better. Personally, I feel like I can create a calming environment, an environment pictures by the concept of wabi-sabi – a lighter feeling and since I still love to move and not having the intention to settle (not yet) I like the idea of moving easily without decluttering right before I move.
2. Start Small
Start with simple steps. So, try to tackle one area at a time. Maybe you want to begin with a drawer, a shelf, or a corner rather than overwhelming yourself with the entire space.
3. Sort Items
Whenever I organizes my stuff, or even whenI only clean up my space I create three categories: Keep, Donate/Sell, and Discard. As you go through your items, be honest with yourself about what you truly need and use. If you haven’t used something in the past year, consider letting it go. When I watched Marie Kindo for the first time, it seemed quite appealing and convincingly to me, to hold your item in your hands, and pay attention to how it makes you feel. You know this feeling, when holding a lovely sweater in your hand? Keep it, otherwise let it go.
4. Declutter by Category
When it comes to organizing a room in specific, follow the KonMari method as well. This means, sorting items by category (e.g., clothes, books, papers) instead of by location. This helps in assessing the volume of items you have in each category.
5. One-In-One-Out Rule
This simply means, that for every new item you bring into the space, consider removing an old one. This prevents clutter from building up again.
6. Use Simple Storage Solutions
Sustainable containers, baskets, shelves, and organizers help to keep items neatly stored and easily accessible. I try to reuse containers or use one from a thrift shore – they are not only comply with my concept of living simple and creating a wabi-sabi home, but also, they are way more cheaper and provide bigger space.
7. Create Your Own System
Designate specific places for different items andensure everything has its own home. This makes it easier to maintain the organization in the long run. For example, I am using a box where all my travel items are in (travel adapter, power bank, earplugs etc).
8. Regular Maintenance
A personal advice is to set aside a few minutes each day or dedicate a specific day each month to tidy up and prevent clutter from accumulating again. Do you know the feeling when you want to tidy up? I personally sometimes really feel like it – use the potential, then it usually happens all by itself and you are more creative in your organizational ideas.
9. Celebrate Progress:
Of course, you should acknowledge and celebrate the improvements you’ve made in decluttering your space. It can be motivating to see how far you’ve come. Be it a cup of tea, a movie or going out decluttering. Simply your personal reward.
10. Relax, don’t Rush:
Take your time with the process. Decluttering is a gradual journey, and it’s more important to do it effectively rather than quickly.
Things to declutter for a personal journey
1. Time Commitments
Evaluate your schedule and commitments. Declutter your calendar by prioritizing activities that align with your goals and bring you joy. Learn to say no to activities that drain your time and energy unnecessarily.
2. Assess Relationships
You might feel to assess your relationships and consider decluttering toxic or draining connections. No one needs relationships or friends, who don’t want you to succeed or don’t want you to feel good. Rather focus on nurturing relationships that are supportive, positive, and bring value to your life. Relationships that gives you energy, rather than take energy. It’s okay to give up on something, that has last a long time. I don’t think it makes sense to hold on to something just because it’s been there before. That doesn’t mean you have to go out in a bad way, but try to communicate why you want to take a step back. Use your energy and potential for fruit-bearing friends.
3. Declutter your Mind and Habits
Declutter your mind by practicing mindfulness and letting go of negative thoughts or habits that no longer serve you. Consider meditation, journaling, or other practices that help clear mental clutter. Personally, I prefer to write them down. That way I can clear my head better and feel like I can get them out of my head. I also prefer to do sport. Whether it’s running or climbing, it really clears my head – just like a walk-in nature! When I’m beingoutside, I feel like there are no struggles. There’s nothing better than spending time outside to clear your head.
4. Finances
That’s probably the part I dislike the most, but definitely also something that makes you feel a lot lighter. When you have an overview of your finances, you feel much more comfortable and confident. Simplify your finances by reviewing expenses, subscriptions, and budgeting. There are several applications for organizing your finances. Also, try to cancel unused subscriptions, create a streamlined budget, and declutter unnecessary financial documents.
5. Digital Clutter
Thee digital component is here to stay, right? Organize your digital life by decluttering your computer files, emails, apps, and social media accounts. This could include steps like to delete duplicates, old files, unused apps, and unsubscribe from newsletters you no longer read. I try to declutter my photography on a regular base. My professional photography after every assignment, while my personal photography monthly or even weekly. By doing so I refuse to getting overwhelmed with limited data space thousand of pictures I would never go through. Which is the essence of pictures in my view – sometimes I just scroll through good memories, which gives me joy. I would hardly do that if I would have too many similar photography of the same occasion.
6. Health and Self-Care
Streamline your self-care routines by focusing on practices that truly benefit your well-being. Declutter unhealthy habits and incorporate simpler, sustainable practices for physical and mental health. Learn more about that here