How is your week so far? Easter is nearly upon us, and this week my husband and I decided to clean the house - but not just any clean, it was our regular every-3-months general cleaning. It was our way of starting the Holy Week fresh and spotless.
The amount of junk we kept and cleared out amazed us. We had so much that our bins were completely full after. This made me realise we all have been keeping a lot of stuff that we think are important, but are in reality just keep our houses cluttered.
Collecting Clutter
Do you ever feel buried under piles of stuff? Is your mind racing with endless to-dos? Does your digital life feel as messy as your junk drawer?
We often collect clutter in different ways. Whether it be physical possessions, digital files, commitments, thoughts, relationships, we all have done it. Why do we do it? I still don’t know. Maybe at the end of this newsletter, we will find out.
Physical clutter may mean travel memorabilia, clothes, bags, shoes, etc. Unused items, overflowing closets, disorganised spaces, unfinished projects usually describe this. We might have collected these items at the time because we attached memories to them - like memories when we traveled somewhere special or when we were with special people in our lives.
Digital clutter are those unread emails that we collect over time and never get deleted, and overflowing files that we thought were important but never get to read anyways, unused apps, disorganised photos. Can you imagine how much of our time and energy are wasted on managing these ?
Too many commitments are one type of clutter that impedes on our time more than anything else. Over-scheduling, saying yes to everything, lack of clear priorities. Do you relate to the feeling of being constantly busy but not productive?
Mental clutter are thoughts that race in our mind mostly whenever we are anxious. Overthinking, constant worrying, holding on to negative thoughts - all these have negative impacts on our focus and well-being.
Social clutter are relationships that we thought were crucial, yet have lost their significance in our lives. Draining relationships, commitments that no longer serve you are all examples of this type of clutter. It’s really important that we know and learn how to set healthy boundaries.
So, why the need to declutter?
We are all organised creatures in general. However, life happens and we easily get to the point where our belongings become “junk.” We get too busy, other things become a higher priority, and we simply forget.
There are a lot of benefits to cleaning and de-cluttering.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Do you crave for a clear environment? What about a clear mind? When our houses and mind are clean, we often become more relaxed and calm. Imagine your house is a mess - how would you feel? Isn’t that stressful? Wouldn’t you become anxious? Our spaces often affect how we think and feel. And vice versa. If our mind and heart are a mess, then so will our house be. It’s an endless circle.
Increased Productivity and Focus: Let’s face it - less distraction allows for better concentration. When our houses and mind are clean and clear, we become more focused, we have clarity, and our productivity is at optimal levels. Don’t you think better if your house is clean and tidy? The same goes for our minds. The less overthinking, the more space we have in our brains to function fully.
More Time and Energy: I just want to highlight how decluttering frees up time spent searching for things or managing unnecessary tasks. When you remember where you’ve put your car and house keys, doesn’t that save you time and energy looking for them? On the other hand, when you are trying to find an important email you’ve somehow lost among the hundreds you have in your unorganised inbox, you are wasting time and energy on it.
Improved Mental Clarity: Clearing mental clutter can lead to better decision-making and problem-solving. I don’t know about you - but don’t you think and make better decisions when your mind is clear? You are also able to easily find solutions when your mind is free of disturbing or distracting thoughts.
Enhanced Physical Well-being: There is a significant connection between a tidy environment and overall health. For example, there is less dust when you have a clean home, and there is more space to move around too when there are no unnecessary clutter or junk in the way. We can avoid accidents as well when there’s no legos lying around, or if our bathroom floor isn’t slippery, or when we don’t have a knife haphazardly out on the kitchen bench.
Greater Sense of Control and Empowerment: Don’t you love the feeling when you are in charge of your life? When you know exactly where everything is, it’s easy to do all the tasks you want to accomplish. You have greater control of your environment and your mind when all is accounted for. This gives you a sense of empowerment when you your house is clean and your mind is clear.
Strategies for Decluttering
Here are some ways we can declutter.
Physical Decluttering:
Maybe it’s time to ask key questions: "Have I used this in the last year?" or "Does it bring me joy?" or "Would I buy this again today?" If the answer is No, then either donate, sell or throw it out. There’s no point in keeping them if they don’t serve you a purpose anymore.
Digital Decluttering:
It’s wise to unsubscribe from unnecessary emails, and organise files and folders, delete unused apps, and organise and back up important data like family photos or identification documents.
Mental Decluttering:
Mindfulness and meditation techniques, journaling to process thoughts, setting boundaries and learning to say "no,” and practicing gratitude are all ways to keep the mind free from worries or clutter.
Time Decluttering:
Prioritise tasks, use time blocking and scheduling, delegate or ask for help when possible, and protect "unscheduled" time. Make sure you set aside time to pamper yourself too. This is essential to mental and physical health.
Social/Relationship Decluttering:
Identifying energy drainers, setting healthy boundaries, focusing only on nurturing positive relationships will help keep your social life happy and fulfilling. Keeping away from relationships that no longer serve you will bring joy to your life, although it won’t feel that way at first.
What To Remember
Start small and be patient. For example, start by clearing one drawer, unsubscribe from one unwanted email, or take 5 minutes for a mindful breathing exercise.
Schedule regular maintenance. Like my hubby Luke and I, we do general house cleaning every three months. This can apply to your digital, mental, time, and social detox as well.
Be mindful of consumption. Be conscious of your spending habits. Ask yourself - “ Do I really need this?” This applies to digital consumption as well like social media. Be wary of what you digest online.
Find your Why. Remember your values and goals. What truly matters to you are the only ones you keep.
Celebrate progress. Always acknowledge and appreciate any steps you’ve taken towards your decluttering goals. Any win is a win.
I hope this helps!
Here’s your poem for the week, my darlings!
Happy Easter! Clear your mind and heart!
💬 If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you, whether in a comment, reflection, or question.
Want more?
You can read more of my work and also show your support by purchasing my book, Conversations (I Never Had) With Luna and Other Stories which is available on Amazon. I’ve provided the links here.
🙏Thanks heaps for all your support!
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