5 Easy Ways You Can Cultivate a Clutter-Free Lifestyle Now

Through an 8-year minimalism journey, I designed my happiness.

It’s been eight years since I began discovering and applying minimalist mindsets. I can confidently say this route has been one of the most rewarding lifestyle choices. By regularly removing the unnecessary parts of my life, I made space for what matters.

I’ve pursued, achieved, and enjoyed several dreams that seemed impossible. Here are a few things I did before my 28th birthday:

• Traveled through Europe twice, exploring Amsterdam, Netherlands; Zurich, Switzerland; Berlin, Germany; and several areas in Spain
• Taught English for the Spanish Embassy while sharpening my Spanish language skills
• Got rid of my car and began biking or walking everywhere
• Moved to San Francisco, California to pursue a career in technology, working at two of the largest companies in the world
• Earned over six figures, saved money, and then quit to take an extended soul-searching sabbatical and recreate myself

Looking back, I feel immensely grateful for these life experiences, and a minimalist lifestyle helped me make it happen. By constantly simplifying and being intentional about what I wanted, I let go of many things that didn’t matter. For example, I released the need to impress others with my clothes, job title, fancy lifestyle, or online popularity.

Before I found minimalism, I treated shopping like a hobby. At one point, I felt claustrophobic while surrounded by all my clothes in a tiny dorm. I felt overwhelmed by the idea of a traditional career path and had no idea what I wanted to do with my communications degree. I’ve also struggled a lot with people-pleasing –maybe you can relate?

You don’t need a “perfect” journey; it’s about finding a process or rhythm that works for you. Get clear about your why, take small steps, and have fun. You will always know what’s best for you, so use these ideas as inspiration, not another to-do list.

1. Follow influencers who resonate.

Early on, my then-boyfriend introduced me to Joshua Becker, creator of Becoming Minimalist. I signed up for his email list and got new bits of inspiration every week. I soon found Courtney Carver, creator of Be More with Less, and signed up for her list too.

The ongoing inspiration in my inbox helped so much! These two experts have significantly impacted my journey. Here are a few more experts whose content I enjoyed: Matt D’Avella (YouTuber and filmmaker), Marie Kondo (TV show host and organization consultant), and The Minimalists (authors and podcast hosts).

Find what resonates with you and sign up. It only takes five to ten minutes to let yourself be inspired.

2. Focus on one category at a time.

Maybe it’s your wardrobe, pantry, book collection, or hygiene products. Research shows that something as simple as clearing off your workspace can notably improve your focus and reduce stress.

Whatever it is, give yourself some time to be with the items. Kondo recommends doing this with either no music or nature-based sounds. You can make a pile of these items and go through them one by one asking: “Does this spark joy?”

I’ve noticed a difference when I physically hold each item, sometimes up to my heart. For example, I felt surprised by strong negative emotions when I held a shirt that a family member had bought me. Each item takes up more than physical space. They also take up emotional and mental space.

Focusing on one category and one item at a time helped me notice those subtle emotional cues. I also kept affirming that I deserve to be surrounded by things that bring joy; I also felt more empowered to let go of things that don’t add to my life. It’s your life and space; it’s not worth keeping things to make others happy.

3. Reflect on what matters most to you.

The process of designing your lifestyle includes a combination of letting go of things that don’t matter while moving towards things that do matter. You’re expanding your perspective with discoveries, then synthesizing with greater clarity.

There are several ways you might do this. You could use reflective journaling prompts, do Brene Brown’s values exercise (selecting two core values), or explore the 80/20 principle.* You might ask: What 20 percent of things or efforts result in 80 percent of my happiness? Satisfaction?

*The 80/20 principle means identifying the 20 percent of things or efforts that bring 80 percent of the desired results. I used this principle for work and personal life and recommend Richard Koch’s book: “The 80/20 Principle.”

Once you find clarity about the very few things that matter most, you can start eliminating with greater confidence.

4. Listen for the full-body “yes” before starting.

Recently I was job searching and starting to feel very discouraged. I looked up a list of inspiring quotes, and this one stood out:

Before you agree to do anything that might add even the smallest amount of stress to your life, ask yourself: What is my truest intention? Give yourself time to let a yes resound within you. When it’s right, I guarantee that your entire body will feel it, — Oprah Winfrey.

Lately, I’ve been checking in constantly for any task, even doing laundry or shaving my legs. Staying connected with my intuition and inner body feels incredibly powerful. Sometimes, I simply need to rest, take a bath, read a book, watch a funny show, or write in my journal. But without tuning in to my body, I won’t know that.

Before starting the task of decluttering your wardrobe or anything else, listen for your truest intention. Checking in with yourself and listening makes all the difference.

5. Discover your unique version of happiness.

In the 80/20 book, Koch describes the “happiness islands” concept. You reflect on the happiest seasons in your life. Then, ask questions like: Where was I? How did I spend my time? Who was I with? What brought the most joy? Look for common factors.

I often refer back to my time living on campus at my college. I was constantly engaged in learning new things, writing, playing music, and spending time with friends. I walked to almost everything I needed: work, school, cafeteria, social events, gym, etc. So I made intentional changes to design my lifestyle similarly:

• Walkable city: I sold my car, bought a bike, moved to a walkable neighborhood in San Francisco, and more recently found a job I can walk to.
• Creative lifestyle: I worked through “The Artist’s Way” program almost two years ago, got back into writing, and sparked up my creative hobbies again.
• Ongoing learning: I take my reading time more seriously, try out new hobbies or activities regularly, and make sure I have plenty of room and encouragement to grow in my work and job.

If you want less clutter and more happiness, start with curiosity. Remove the parts that don’t resonate (for me, driving a car or being in traffic), and incorporate your happiness factors.

Getting started with minimalism and a clutter-free lifestyle means taking the next step. Find what resonates with you, discover your deepest intention, and start small.

Don’t let any specific version of minimalism cloud your perspective. I used to imagine I’d get rid of everything, have one bag with my optimal possessions, and be a cool digital nomad. I wanted to fit an idealized mold, but that doesn’t work well. I’ve found much more peace by being in the moment and listening to my intuition.

Give yourself the gift of slowing down and letting the process unfold naturally. Look for stillness and curiosity. Listen for the best next step, and connect with your breath as you take mindful action. You’re right where you need to be.

What’s your next step for cultivating less clutter and more happiness?

I write inspiring, uplifting, and empowering content on transformative topics. Join the Weekly Love News on my website to receive free newsletters each Tuesday in your inbox.