I had no idea all the clutter in my life blurred my vision. Not the physical clutter. Papers on the counter, toys in the corner, shoes here, and cups and plates there.
The emotional clutter. The strained relationships. The stiffness you have with your spouse. Building boundaries you had no idea needed to exist.
It can continue to pile up in our hearts and our homes. It’s time we shoved it all away. Now is the time to clear away the clutter so we can see what is worthwhile.
Let’s look at how to declutter our physical and emotional stuff.
How to Declutter Physical Items
There is one simple rule when it comes to decluttering your home.
Don’t keep more than you can take care of.
For us farm animal lovers, it also means not getting more animals than we can handle now.
It takes time to build the muscle to say no. We need to say no when the sale comes up, or a new baby animal is available.
How to say no? Don’t do it. Don’t hesitate to see the new shirt you don’t need because your closet is more than full; say no. It’s easier to stop your mind from letting yourself know what happens when you say yes to another item.
Organize your space. Decluttering your space will help you to feel more organized and in control. Make sure everything has a place and put things away when you’re finished using them. This will help to reduce stress and make your life more manageable.
Start with one room and move on from there. It may even be one room a week.
Simplify your schedule.
If your schedule is too busy or cramped, it’s time to simplify it. Cut out any commitments that are unnecessary or that don’t bring you joy. This will help you to have more free time to enjoy the things you love.
Give Up Scarcity
I didn’t even know I had a scarcity mentality until we discussed it at a bible study one night. Not just in a spiritual way of holding onto our stuff way.
A question to ask yourself is, “What do you tend to hoard because you’re worried you won’t have enough?”
When you give stuff away, you want to be mindful and intelligent about it. So what keeps you holding on if you know something is pushing you to get rid of it?
If God asks me to give something up, why do I still have such a rugged grip on it?
I remember hearing at one of our small groups at church about giving. The group leader asked why we tend to give off-brand items to a food pantry? Why aren’t we giving the name-brand things?
It hit me hard. Instead, I would give away my free boxes of cereal and worn clothes over the new clothes with a tag hanging—the ones I haven’t worn yet.
Because in my mind, I was saying one day I might need them, I want the new shirt, and I deserve a new one.
It causes us to get stuck in a selfish act, doesn’t it? When we constantly think about our feelings or how we will appear to others, we tend to hold on to them. We like to stay in control.
When you want to declutter your mind and space, the two go hand in hand. You need to be able to have your mind free from distraction to focus on the moment.
Focus on the Moment
Draw closer to God. Let him declutter your mind.
Let go of the things that cause you to feel anxious. Instead, give what you know you need to.
Don’t hold back and embrace the moment right now, right here.
Let go of emotional baggage. If you’re carrying around a lot of negative emotions, it’s time to let them go. Forgive yourself for past mistakes and move on.
Let go of grudges and resentments. This will help you to feel lighter emotionally and mentally.
Give it Away
Hosting a garage sale when I was a kid was something I enjoyed. I have always loved handling money. I felt like a natural business person as a kid. I didn’t care about anything else.
As I got older, I made a couple of garage sales when the girls were babies. They weren’t too successful. I always felt like after they were over, that’s it?
All that work for $25?
There could be several reasons the sale didn’t go well.
Since I stopped holding onto things for a garage sale and started giving them away, my mind is more accessible.
The problem didn’t go away when you added more to the attic for next year’s garage sale. It’s hidden.
Every time I take something to Goodwill or, my favorite put stuff to the curb, I‘m satisfied.
I love putting things to the curb because I know how amazing it feels to find something you need for free!
You can join the popular Buy Nothing Facebook groups through the Buy Nothing Project.
Blessing someone else while my mind and home
I hope you take a minute to think about what is decluttering your mind or home?
A new Netflix series called “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” It will inspire you to start living with less. Or check out her book here.
Set goals and intentions
When you have a clear vision for your life, it’s easier to declutter everything else. Write down your goals and what you want to achieve.
Focus on what’s important to you and let go of anything that doesn’t align with your goals.
Decluttering your life can seem like a daunting task, but it’s worth it! These five simple steps will help you to get started. Transform your life today by decluttering your physical space and emotional baggage. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel when you let go of the things that are weighing you down.
What tips do you have to declutter your current situation?