In today’s fast-paced world with constant demands, the search for a simpler, purposeful life feels more necessary than ever before. Life can feel like a never-ending race, with work, family, and chaos stealing our peace. It’s not just about things; it’s the mental mess too. So, I decided to declutter, to find what truly matters. In doing so, I learned more about myself and my life than I ever expected. Decluttering isn’t just about tidying up; it’s about opening doors. Clutter may hide the path we seek. It felt like unlocking a new identity, discovering desires hidden under possessions.
While surrounded by unneeded stuff you too may feel an urge to regain control of your life. Let it trigger a journey. It goes beyond how to declutter your home or how to declutter your mind. It’s a life longing for simplicity.
Join me on this transformative journey toward decluttering. Together, let’s unlock the door to a life marked by clarity, balance, and a sense of purpose. Along the way, we’ll gain valuable insights and practical strategies to simplify our lives, foster mindfulness, and clean up the clutter. Let’s begin decluttering at the speed of life!
Clutter Accumulates With The Rush Of Life
My Brain Has Too Many Tabs Open…
Stuck in the busy work world, I felt caught in a never-ending race where the goal of job promotions or excessive billable hours took over my once-loved interests. While I liked my job, the constant stress was affecting my family time and personal hours.
My mind feels like a web browser with countless tabs left wide open.
The Moment I Realised I Needed To Declutter My Life
One day, sitting at my home office desk, I looked around and realised that my space wasn’t doing what it should. Right then, I realised my life was cluttered. There were too many unimportant things around me, making everything feel heavy.
It’s like a light bulb turned on, and I became more aware of what surrounded me. Clutter has a sneaky way of piling up without us even noticing. Surprisingly, it doesn’t take a lot of clutter to make a big difference in our lives.
For instance, why is my old headset still on my desk when I haven’t used it in months? And why is that 2022 planner still around when it’s almost 2024? Those makeup brushes left out after my morning routine and that forgotten floor heater gathering dust in the corner all make me wonder what’s really necessary.
Looking around, I see an empty Nurofen packet, lots of colorful pens, and some dirty dishes from quick meals between meetings. Plus, there’s a bunch of coffee mugs, each with its own story.
Yet, there’s one mug that catches my eye. It says, “My brain has too many tabs open.” It was a gift from last year, once making me laugh and feel proud of handling lots of tasks all at once. Now, it just reminds me of a life I want to leave behind, one I no longer want to be part of.
The Silence Of Clutter
Clutter, like a silent assassin, was stealing my energy.
A quote by Mandy Antoniacci describes it perfectly.
“Everything that feels suffocating teaches us how to breathe.”
Mandy Antoniacci
Inside me, a strong desire bubbled up, pushing me to get rid of things that weren’t really helping my life. It all began with that coffee mug.
A Change In Perspective
The ‘More’ Culture Leads To Clutter
In our world, it feels like we’re always encouraged to get more, creating a culture of buying a lot. Having ‘stuff’ gives us a sense of security, a habit ingrained in us since childhood as we constantly desire more. The ultimate goal is always “more” – more possessions, bigger and supposedly “better” things. It became clear that my longing wasn’t for a grand, lavish house filled with excess belongings.
Decluttering For A Simple Life
Getting rid of things I didn’t need not only made more room at home but also made me think about the life I really wanted. It was clear I wanted more than just going along with the corporate world, feeling suffocated all of the time. I recognised that the constant pursuit of material success was not bringing the fulfilment I desired, leading me to explore alternative paths.
As I navigated through each room of my house, my attention fell upon numerous items that I could easily part with. Surprisingly, there was no sense of regret in letting them go. These were things that I once believed held significant value, yet today, they had lost their importance.
The realisation dawned on me that my journey toward simplicity was not merely about clearing physical space but also about freeing myself from the emotional baggage attached to these possessions.
As I continued my journey to declutter, the desire for a simpler, less materialistic existence expanded beyond just physical possessions to touch every aspect of my life. Instead, what I yearned for was a life marked by less stuff, a deliberate pace, and a focus on what truly matters.
Now, we’re at a point where I can share some lessons I’ve learned from my own experiences. These include understanding the importance of setting boundaries, learning to let go, and the ongoing process of self-discovery that comes with simplifying different aspects of life.
Our ‘Stuff’ Reflects Our Future
Discovering Life’s True Desires – A New Identity
Getting rid of clutter is like shedding an old skin – it’s a freeing transformation. For me, it felt like letting go of an old identity I used to be proud of but now couldn’t stand. For example, donating clothes that no longer reflected my style, symbolising a shift in how I perceived myself. I now opt more for Holistic Fashion For Better Health.
Anything I chose to keep had to be something I genuinely wanted in my future. The ‘stuff’ in my life became a crucial part of my evolving identity.
“The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past.”
Marie Kondo
Clearing Space For Creativity
Let me be clear – I know tidying up won’t magically free me from the busy work life. But it can make room for my creative projects, like this blog, and hopefully ease up my mind, so my day job doesn’t completely take over… again. For instance, by creating a dedicated workspace, I found that my mind became less cluttered, allowing me to focus on my passion projects after work.
I felt a strong need for more physical, mental and emotional space. I wanted to focus my energy toward endeavours beyond the corporate treadmill. For example, I made room for creativity, personal growth, and meaningful pursuits beyond the daily work routine. These things became my priority. I also fell in love with gardening and the outdoors, which has been a wonderful shift in my wellbeing.
More specifically when I started allocating dedicated “me time” each day to read, learn, or engage in a hobby, it provided a mental break from work stress that I so desperately needed. Without having declutter my office, home and mind, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this. I’ve never been able to achieve it before!
How To Declutter – The Easy Wins
Pause for a moment and think about the value of the things surrounding you. Not the monetary value, but the value it brings you and your family throughout your everyday life.
‘Just In Case’
For instance, have you ever found yourself hanging onto things “just in case”? Like those spare light bulbs from your old place that don’t fit any of your current lights? Or maybe you’ve got a stash of items, not just a few, but a whole bunch, just in case you run out of something. Perhaps it’s time to let go.
Go Beyond What You See
Further, while a lot of clutter might be in plain sight, don’t forget to check the cupboards and drawers. They might be hiding things you haven’t used or even laid eyes on in months, or perhaps years. For example, I discovered a box of art supplies tucked away in a cupboard that I hadn’t touched since my last move, and it made me realise how much unnecessary stuff I had been holding onto. It’s time to let go.
Don’t Forget To Look Inside
This strong need to get rid of things went beyond just cleaning up physical mess. There are other kinds of clutter. Think about what this might mean for you. For instance, it could be the emotional clutter that comes with holding onto relationships that no longer serve you, and the transformative experience of letting go for your own wellbeing.
“Clutter isn’t just the stuff on the floor. It’s anything that gets between you and the life you want to be living.”
Peter Walsh
Take a moment to think about that. It really hits home, doesn’t it? Reflecting on this quote made me realise how much emotional baggage and mental beliefs were hindering my journey toward a more fulfilling life.
The True Impact – Clutter’s Harmful Grasp
Facing The Clutter Challenge
Some things in life are clear, but we struggle to act on them. It’s like knowing we should eat healthy — we all get it, but doing it can be tough. That’s how clutter feels to me, especially when you combine life’s challenges such as work, family demands and existing as a mum in constant survival mode.
Stress In A Messy Space – Living In Survival Mode
Let’s be real: a messy space is linked to more stress. We already have enough! But getting rid of clutter can free up mental space so you can think about the life you want. For instance, clearing unnecessary items in my workspace not only cleaned up the area but also made room for creative thoughts and reduced the constant feeling of chaos. It provided an element of Calm Amid Chaos.
Living in constant survival mode is tough. It doesn’t just affect your mental health but your family and everything in your life. Prolonged stress can really mess up our bodies, and dealing with it is a challenge. Too much stress messes with our body’s functions. After all, inflammation is said to be the cause of many diseases.
Further, constant stress impacts our sleep, making it harder to rest and recharge for the next day’s challenges. It becomes a vicious cycle.
Unfortunately, I deal with it through migraine. Both stress and hormone triggered. Despite trying to fix it via various means, it’s not going to work until I can reduce my overall stress. You may not automatically link your health ailments to things like stress or hormonal imbalance, however I urge you to consider the root cause of any discomfort you feel. For far too long I have convinced myself ‘it’s not so bad’, ‘it’s only a few days of pain,’ or ‘I don’t have time to be sick’. What are your excuses?
Burnout As A Wake-Up Call – Steps To A Healthier Life
Ignore the signs for long enough and your body will force you to see them. Sometimes, burnout shows us how far we’ve strayed from our true selves and desires. I reached a point of burnout, and it made me reassess my priorities, pushing me to seek a life that aligns more with my authentic self.
Consequently, eliminating one source of stress, physical clutter in my working environment, has set me on a journey to a healthier and more satisfying life. For example, dedicating time to hobbies has significantly improved my overall well-being. Importantly, I did not have the mental clarity to engage in enjoyable activities until I was able to clear my space and mind.
A Cluttered Mind
Confessions Of A Chronic Multitasker
I need to admit something… I’m very guilty of doing multiple things at once. A lot! This means my mind is often in a cluttered state. I’m getting better, but it takes practice.
Doing many things at once, even if it feels necessary, is really tiring for the brain. Balancing different projects and all the information that comes with them, along with a messy space, makes everything feel too much. It’s like having too many things happening at once and getting overwhelmed, but pushing on regardless. For instance, trying to answer emails, be in online meetings, and finish a project at the same time makes me feel tired and unable to truly focus.
New Challenges Of Working at Home
Multitasking isn’t just about doing various work tasks at once. It’s also the balance of work and home, especially if you work fully or partially from home.
I might not have to deal with coworkers talking or the smell of coffee. However, I face different challenges such as balancing work and home. For example, my kids coming home from school, and things piling up on my desk because “no one will ever know” – even though I do.
When I started working from home, I thought it would be an easier place for me to work. It is in many respects but it’s certainly not without its challenges. For example, toxic productivity was a huge challenge!
Ensuring I have a defined space for work has never been a problem. I have my office. I have been known to have far less boundaries though when it comes to doing work tasks on my phone, or doing work outside of set business hours.
These challenges remind me to find a balance between the two.
An Overstimulated Mind
Are you a multitasker? Do you struggle with work life balance? In the rush of daily life, how much of your surroundings do you really notice?
The world is full of noise, and usually, we don’t notice unless we try. So, let’s do a quick test.
Listening To Sounds
Take a moment and truly listen to the sounds around you. As I do this, I hear cars passing, birds chirping, and the shower running. If I pay more attention, I notice the fan above me and a distant dog barking.
Seeing Everything Around
Now, look around and really see your surroundings. I don’t just mean the obvious physical things – we’ve already talked about that. I mean being aware of everything. When I look around, I see the glow from my three computer screens (yes, three of them). Further, I see the sunlight shining through the window, showing some dust on my desk. My keyboard looks dirtier up close than I thought. Paying attention to these details helps me notice more about where I am.
Learning From Others
I learned about how people notice and deal with these details when I met someone with ADHD and autism. They struggled with too much stimulation. Most of us don’t pay as much attention to our surroundings. Even if we don’t notice it, our brains and bodies know when things are too much. Understanding how different people see and feel things around them has made me respect everyone’s unique way of looking at the world. I urge you to consider if over stimulation is contributing to any feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, etc.
The Unveiling Of Hidden Opportunities
In the process of simplifying your life, you might find it was standing in the way of the door you’ve been searching for.
“Get rid of clutter and you may just find it was blocking the door you’ve been looking for.”
Katrina Mayer.
I sincerely hope you realise this before facing another burnout. If you’re in the middle of one, it’s not too late to make a change. Instead of jumping back into the same exhausting routine, let’s tackle the causes, with clutter possibly being one.
So, here’s my advice for both you and me: slow down. Take the time to truly listen and see. Start by getting rid of things that don’t bring value, making more space in your surroundings and your mind for what truly matters.
Use the newfound mental clarity and space to plan a path toward the future you want for yourself and your family. You have the power to open the door to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life.
A Path to Purpose
In today’s rush, where life spins at a never-ending pace, the quest for a simpler, meaningful life has never felt more crucial. It’s not just about the physical chaos; it’s the mess in our minds too. As we embark on the journey of decluttering, we’re not just creating space; we’re reclaiming what truly matters.
Decluttering can be the shedding of the old. It can bring about a desire for a life beyond the constant work whirlwind. Emotional clutter cannot be overlooked either. Letting go isn’t just about physical possessions; it’s about unburdening oneself from the emotional ties to things.
Simplicity isn’t just about organising; it’s about finding hidden paths. Clutter, in its many forms, could obscure the doors we long to open. I urge you to declutter and make room for purpose. Slow down, release what doesn’t serve you, and pave the way to a future bursting with fulfilment.
In this crazy of life, the journey to an uncluttered life isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. As we bid farewell to unnecessary burdens, we reclaim the essence of our lives. It’s not just about tidying; it’s about opening doors to a purpose-driven existence. So, let’s declutter, creating not just physical space but mental clarity. In this simplicity, we find the key to a life marked by balance, clarity, and profound purpose.
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Further, I f you’d like more tools to guide you on living a simple yet more purposeful life, here are some additional collections for you to browse at your leisure.
