I was inspired several years ago when I listened to Dr. Wayne Dyer and he described how he had been simplifying his life and had seen dramatic results. Since then I’ve heard many thought leaders talk about simplifying our lives to improve our well being. I’ve learned that by releasing things that we no longer need, it opens the way for new things that we do need in our life. These things don’t have to be physical either. They can be feelings, or time related as well.
Recently I moved homes and decided to SIGNIFICANTLY declutter my life. Following are some ideas I came up with before, during and after my move that worked for me and I hope will work for you too.
How I decluttered
I started by taking a close look at different areas of my life. I made a list of things I couldn’t live without. Then I sat on this list life for a few days to notice things in my life that I never used. Or could live without. I then got to work and started either selling on Facebook Marketplace or eBay and also made many SUV-filled trips to donate to Goodwill.
I found initially that many of the items I had significant resistance around, probably due to emotional attachment. Like my surfboards for example. I loved my surfboards, but I hadn’t used them in 15 years and they mostly kept reminding me that I wasn’t surfing anymore. So I sold them, released the emotion and felt great that they were now going to be used by someone passionate about surfing!
Major areas where you can declutter
There are several major areas I suggest focusing on based on my experience, in no particular order.
Declutter your time management system
Take a look at your time management system. Are you using digital or paper? Which are you more comfortable with? Do you have too many overlapping systems? The most important calendar system is the one you actually use and works for you. Many people think they need to go digital, when a hand-written system is actually a better fit. There is no universal right or wrong, it’s simply the one that works for you. Get rid of systems or pieces of your systems that aren’t working for you.
Declutter your stuff
What stuff is in and around your house that you don’t use? Get rid of it. Don’t hold onto things because you think that your children or relatives may want them, unless they are very valuable or a family heirloom. If you don’t use or want it, chances are your children don’t (or won’t) either. Another test is if you’ve moved once (or several times) and still have unpacked boxes, there’s a good chance you can get rid of the stuff in the box.
Declutter your brain
I’ve read that we have, on average, 50,000 thoughts per day. Some researchers say as many as 70,000. That’s alot of stuff going on inside our heads. One of the best ways I’ve found to declutter my brain is to meditate or do an activity that is meditative (like walking or swimming). Meditating for about 15 minutes in the morning provides me clarity and focus. It’s a great way to start my day and declutter my brain.
Declutter your exercise routine
Many busy people don’t exercise because they don’t feel they have the time. Or they start a complicated program, or New Year’s Resolution, and then stop after a few weeks because it is unsustainable. I won’t go into the reasons for exercising, but we all know it’s really good for you. So how do you fit it in? Pick one thing you like to do for exercise. Declutter the exercise routine in your head that you think you SHOULD be doing and just go do something simple. For example, you can walk for 20 minutes, 4 times a week. It’s simple, no major commitment, can be done anytime of the day and you can fit 20 minutes into your day.
In what ways have you decluttered your life?
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Michael Hurd, Executive Coach
