Hungry Foodie

  • About / Work With Me
  • Recipes
  • Book Reviews
  • DIY
  • Travel
  • Skincare
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About / Work With Me
  • Recipes
  • Book Reviews
  • DIY
  • Travel
  • Skincare
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Healthy Living

    How to free your life of unwanted clutter

    Published: Feb 10, 2014 · Last Updated: May 18, 2020 by Kyndra Holley

    How to free your life of unwanted clutter - Clear the clutter, mentally and physically.

    How to free your life of unwanted clutter

    Declutter Your Life

    There was a time, about 8 years ago, when my life was cluttered. I had too much stuff, and it kept coming in all the time. I had too much to do, and didn’t know how to simplify my schedule.

    My life was in need of some decluttering, and I knew it.

    When I started to change my habits, from smoking to running, to being more mindful, simplifying my life was near the top of the list.

    The question became, how to go about it? How do you start when you’re facing a mountain of clutter, and another mountain of commitments, and piles of files and mail and email and other digital information?

    The answer became clear, as I got started: start simply. Keep it simple as you go. Simple, each step of the way.

    That said, I found complications that made things harder at every turn. I’d like to help you with some of those here, briefly, in hopes that you’ll be inspired to start decluttering.

    How to Start Decluttering Your Life

    How do you get started? As simply as possible: For a little extra help, check out my post of 111 Things to Throw Away to Declutter Your Life

    • Take just 10 minutes today to sort though a pile, or declutter a shelf or table or countertop.
    • Put everything into one pile, and start with the first thing you pick up (no putting things back in the pile).
    • Ask yourself: do you really need this? Do you use it regularly? Do you love it? If the answer to any of these is no, then recycle, donate, or give it to someone who might want it. Put it in a box for these purposes.
    • Put things back that you need/use/love, with space between things. This is their “home” and you should always put them back there.
    • Stop after 10 minutes, continue tomorrow for another 10 minutes, and so on, one small spot in your home at a time.
    • If you want to do more than 10 minutes, go ahead, but be careful not to overdo it in the beginning or you’ll think it’s difficult and not want to continue.

    Keep Going

    Once you’ve gotten the ball rolling, here’s how to keep going:

    • Keep decluttering in small bits. Pick an area to focus on each week.
    • Don’t worry about perfection. Just get it simpler. You can always declutter it more later.
    • Put your box of donation/recycling/giving away in your trunk, to get rid of next time you’re out. Email friends/family to ask if they want things — often you can find a good home for perfectly good things you don’t really use (that workout equipment).
    • If you’re on the fence, use a Maybe Box (put things that you think you might need in a box, mark it with today’s date, put a reminder on your calendar 6 months from now to check on the Maybe Box. If you haven’t used it in 6 months, you probably don’t need it and can get rid of it.
    • Get help. Sometimes you just can’t bear to part with yourself, but if you can get an outside person to make the decision (friend or family member), they are usually much more dispassionate and ruthless.
    • Enjoy the space. Once you’ve decluttered an area, really focus on how much you love the simplified space. Once you’re hooked on this simplicity, you’re more likely to keep going.

    Decluttering Your Calendar & Digital Life

    Physical decluttering is only one type of decluttering. You can also simplify your day, and your online/computer life as well.

    A few simple tips:

    • Decluttering your day is about reducing commitments, and saying no to the non-essential things. So first make a list of your commitments.
    • Make a list of what’s most important to you (4-5 things) and declutter the rest. Say no to people with a phone call or email, and get out of existing commitments.
    • Be very ruthless about saying no to new commitments — and seeing requests as potential commitments. Guard your time.
    • Declutter your digital life one step at a time, just like your physical life. Email newsletters, blogs, social networks, online reading and watching, forums, etc. — are they essential? Can you declutter them?

    Dealing With Others

    Having other people in your life (home or workspace) can make simplifying more complicated. I have a wife and six kids, so I know how it is.

    Some tips:

    • Talk to them about it early on, when you’re just thinking about it (show them this article). Don’t force a decision on anyone, but involve them in the decision-making process.
    • Focus on the benefits, the why, rather than what they need to do and why what they’re doing is wrong. People don’t like to be wrong, but they do like benefits.
    • Lead by example. Show how you can declutter your space, and how much nicer it is, and how much easier it is to find things, to clean, to be at peace during your day.
    • If there’s resistance, focus on decluttering your space. Don’t get frustrated with them, because that makes it more difficult. Instead, remember that you were a clutter-holic not long ago, so empathize.
    • Don’t shy away from an opportunity to discuss simplifying, and why you’re doing it, in a positive way. Criticizing doesn’t help, nor does acting superior. Inspiring helps tremendously.

    How to free your life of unwanted clutter

    More Healthy Living

    • A mini enameled cast iron dutch oven filled with garlic cloves, rosemary, thyme and dried pepper pods in avocado oil.
      How To Make Garlic Confit
    • A freshly baked and frosted gluten free carrot cake, with a slice being cut from it.
      The Best Gluten Free Carrot Cake
    • A hardcover book copy of The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah with a bunch of green plants behind it
      Books I Read in June 2023
    • An enameled cast iron skillet with cooked chicken breasts, topped with a caramelized onion pan sauce and melty cheese.
      French Onion Chicken

    Did you try this recipe? Tell us your thoughts! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Order My New Cookbook

    Kyndra Holley - International Best Selling Cookbook Author, and the face behind this blog and Peace Love and Low Carb. When I am not hard at work creating recipes and healthy living content, I can be found exploring the world, playing with our 5 crazy pups, hiking, or just kicking back and relaxing with a cup of coffee and a good book.

    More about me →

    Salad Recipes

    • A ceramic bowl full of a salsa made with avocado, tomato, garlic, red onion, caper, artichoke hearts, and feta.
      Avocado Feta Salsa

    • A white casserole dish with roasted tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
      How to Make Tomato Confit

    • A jar of homemade caesar dressing with fresh garlic bulbs next to it and a salt and pepper cellar behind it.
      Homemade Caesar Dressing

    • a quinoa salad with tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, mandarins, bell peppers and parsley.
      Easy Quinoa Salad

    • a ceramic bowl with peaches, burrata cheese, fresh basil, balsamic vinegar and jalapenos.
      Peach Burrata Salad

    • white plate with a salad made of thinly sliced prosciutto, cantaloupe balls, mozzarella cheese, mint and basil.
      Cantaloupe and Prosciutto Salad with Mozzarella

    Popular Recipes

    • A large pan with a pasta dish made with ground beef, mushrooms, onions, and a sour cream sauce.
      Homemade Hamburger Helper Beef Stroganoff

    • a bowl of beef birria Mexican stew, garnishes with red onion, cilantro and lime
      Beef Birria

    • An enameled cast iron skillet filled with a pasta dish made with chicken, penne, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, red onion and a rich creamy sauce
      Marry Me Chicken Pasta (Tuscan Chicken Pasta)

    • A freshly baked and frosted gluten free carrot cake, with a slice being cut from it.
      The Best Gluten Free Carrot Cake

    • red bell peppers stuffed with cheese and spinach, served on a white plate
      Cheesy Spinach Stuffed Peppers

    • An enameled cast iron skillet with cooked chicken breasts, topped with a caramelized onion pan sauce and melty cheese.
      French Onion Chicken

    as featured on banner

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign up to receive our new recipes in your inbox

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Follow us on Instagram
    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2013 - 2023 Hungry Foodie