5 Ways to Declutter Your Life

I am overwhelmed.

Is it just me or is it hard to focus on just one thing at a time these days? We're pulled in five different directions, doing three things at once, while two different electronics chirp, beep and buzz at us with reminders and notifications.

As part of my goals for the year I want to live a life of less. I want less of what I don't need so I can enjoy what I have more. I'm working on a minimalist journey. This is happening in multiple ways. I'm getting rid of obligations that don't serve me, I'm getting rid of physical items from our home that we no longer use or need, and I'm simplifying my online life.

5 Ways to Declutter Your Life

Unsubscribe from unwanted e-mails. Making a quick count, I manage four e-mail addresses every day and more than that on occasion. My inbox is one of the most cluttered spaces in my life. I am unsubscribing from e-mail lists from places that I no longer engage, or retailers where I rarely shop. It's very nice to see a manageable number of unread e-mails and not waste time deleting things that don't interest me.

Turn off push notifications on your phone. You don't need notifications every time someone posts into a Facebook group or tags you in a funny meme. Those notifications can easily derail you from your important tasks during the day. My phone only alerts me for calendar reminders, calls, and text messages. Anything else isn't urgent. It's very easy to get sucked down a rabbit hole from getting game or social media notifications. Avoid that all together by turning off push notifications and only engaging in the apps when you have time or when you've planned to. Turning off Facebook notifications in particular has made my life so much better. Speaking of Facebook...

Clean up your Facebook groups. For some reason Facebook allows your friends to add you into Facebook groups without seeking permission. The consequence is consistent notification of postings in a place you didn't opt-in to. Don't feel bad about ditching a group you aren't interested in, even if a good friend invites you.

Clean your work area at the end of each week. This was actually just suggested to me recently and I love it. It is understandable that you don't always have time to clean up your desk as the week gets hectic with deadlines and responsibilities. At the end of each week before you retire into your weekend clean and straighten up your work area. This sets you up to come in to a clean space on Monday morning which will help with your mood and productivity.

Clean out your fridge each week. One of my goals is to get better with eating leftovers. I'm not quite there yet, so I often have one serving of a meal leftover longer than it is edible. Cleaning out your fridge weekly keeps things neat and organized. This makes sure you can see what you have available so you remember to eat them and don't double purchase things.

Clutter - whether digital, physical, or mental - does nothing to serve you. I'm looking forward to getting rid of more excess so I can always be close to what is important. Live more with less.
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Related: Four Ways to Decrease Toy Clutter