Summary

The article outlines a practical approach to decluttering one's life across four key areas: environment, digital, financial, and time management, emphasizing the importance of keeping items and activities that bring joy and value.

Abstract

The author of the article advocates for a balanced approach to decluttering, suggesting that while it's important to remove unnecessary items and distractions from one's life, one should not succumb to the extreme minimalist trend. The article provides actionable steps for decluttering in four areas: the physical environment, digital space, financial habits, and time management. It encourages readers to create a capsule wardrobe, organize their living spaces, manage digital clutter, prioritize financial literacy, and use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix for better time management. The ultimate goal is to make room for things that truly matter and enhance personal well-being.

Opinions

The minimalist movement is seen as extreme and unnecessary, with the author preferring a more balanced approach to decluttering.
Clothing should not only be functional but also make the wearer feel good, suggesting a move towards high-vibration clothing that positively affects one's mood and energy.
The author believes in the impact of one's physical environment on mental well-being, advocating for the removal of unnecessary clutter and the adoption of Feng Shui principles.
Digital decluttering is essential for productivity and reducing feelings of being overwhelmed, with practical tips provided for managing digital spaces.
Financial decluttering involves regular reviews of expenses, automating payments, and prioritizing debt repayment and investments.
Time management is crucial, with the author suggesting the use of time blocking and the Eisenhower Matrix to focus on tasks that align with personal goals and eliminate distractions.
The author emphasizes that decluttering should not lead to the removal of items and activities that one enjoys, advocating for a balanced lifestyle that includes personal joys.

How to Declutter Your Life in 4 Practical Steps

It’s time to be intentional

The minimalist movement is boring and quite frankly unnecessary.

Purging items from your life to fill it with things you really need and love is something I can get behind.

However, the trend seems to promote an extreme and impulsive side to decluttering that leaves no room for character and quirks.

Do I need 7 bottles of perfume and 10 pairs of trainers?

Yes.

That’s a hill I’m willing to die on and that’s okay.

Whilst minimalism isn’t my vibe, it’s now 2024 and it’s time to get rid of some shit.

I’ve compiled a list of 4 practical ways that you (and I) can use to make more room in life for the things that matter.

Environment

You are the product of your environment in every sense.

Clothing

Ditch your old, worn-out clothes for timeless pieces that you can switch out to create a capsule wardrobe.

Marie Kondo went viral years ago, emphasising the importance of our possessions ‘sparking joy’ whenever we see or wear them.

If they don’t, it’s time for the bin.

I went through a period where I opened my wardrobe and would just sigh.

Nothing was necessarily old, but equally, nothing I put on made me feel good.

If you want to go a step further, aim to replace these with high-vibration clothing.

As our skin is porous, whatever we place on top of it affects the chemical balance of our bodies, which massively impacts our mood, physical and mental well-being, and the energy we give off to others.

Researcher Heidi Yellen found that a healthy human body has a frequency of 100 MHz.

Cheap clothing often made from polyester has a frequency of 10 MHz.

FYI, that’s less than that of a corpse (15 MHz).

House to Home

I’m the daughter of a consumerist.

Everyone has that one kitchen drawer that is home to the world’s most random items — my mum has about 10 of them.

Being surrounded by ‘stuff’, can play havoc on your mental well-being and interfere with the energetic flow within your home.

Your physical environment should grant you clarity, not confusion.

Remove unnecessary clutter by:

Putting miscellaneous items back in their place
Invest in sleek storage systems
Create a system to deep clean and re-organise your home 2x a year
Use Feng Shui principles to create a calming traffic flow

Whether you’re declutting clothes or objects, Joshua Becker from Becoming Minimalist recommends the 12-12-12 rule.

Find 12 items to discard, 12 to donate, and 12 to be returned to their proper home. Simple as. Repeat as desired.

Digital

We spend so much time on our devices that they can be a silent contributor to feeling overwhelmed and can hinder our productivity.

Delete old, unused apps
Clear your notifications
Sort out old photos and organise them into online albums
Unsubscribe from unnecessary email threads
Create folders for your most reached-for apps for a visually appealing home screen

Financial

Make financial literacy a priority.

Build a system to review your expenses once a month, to keep track of where you are and where you’re trying to get to.

Eliminate temptations that would result in a cash loss.

Go through your subscriptions. Find at least 1 you can part ways with.
Automate your fixed direct debits (ACH).
Look at investments, identify what your financial priorities are, and move money around accordingly.
Find a budgeting system like the 50/30/20 rule or cash-stuffing method
Actively work towards clearing debts. Look up snowballing methods

Time

Remove the obstacles using up your time that could be spent doing other things.

You’ll end up with more opportunities for personal development, relaxation, and spending time with people that matter.

Use a time blocking method to get through your to-do list, if you’re a chronic phone scroller.

Say no to commitments that don’t serve you. It can feel brutal at times, but if you have goals to achieve in 2024, removing the distractions will get you to your destination quicker.

The Eisenhower Matrix is a decision-making tool that changed the game for me when reclaiming my time.

The tool is a straightforward way of identifying and prioritising tasks based on urgency and importance.

This is an assured way to get rid of tasks and errands that don’t serve a purpose.

Finally

Periodically decluttering areas of your life will always be beneficial, but avoid the trap of removing elements of your life and environment that you enjoy just for the sake of it.

It’s all about balance.