Photo: Tomas Yates / Unsplash
The pursuit of simplicity isn’t just a trendy hashtag or a fleeting New Year’s resolution. It’s a genuine path to a more peaceful and fulfilling life. But where does one start? Well, grab your metaphorical broom (or robot vacuum), and let’s sweep through five key areas of life that could use a good decluttering.
The Physical Space: Beyond Marie Kondo
We’ve all heard about tidying up and only keeping items that “spark joy.” But let’s take it a step further. Consider the “one in, two out” rule. For every new item you bring into your home, you have to remove two. This approach not only prevents accumulation but also makes you think twice (literally), before giving in to impulse purchases.
Pro tip: If you struggle to let go of things, consider using a storage space as a kind of cooling-off space. For an Australian, this could mean stowing things in self storage units in South Melbourne. For an American, it might mean sending them to your mom’s basement in Seattle or your friend’s attic in Boston. Whatever it takes, the idea is to get them out of your living space so you can get a feel for whether you really need or want them. If you haven’t missed anything when you go back to check on these items in a few months, you know you can safely rehome them.
Digital Detox: Taming the Bright, Shiny Monster
Our digital environments can be just as chaotic as our physical spaces. Begin by unsubscribing from those newsletters you never read. Next, tackle your smartphone. Those 10,000 photos aren’t going to organize themselves. Create albums, delete duplicates, and please, for the love of storage space, get rid of those 47 blurry photos your dad took before he finally got a decent shot of the family last Christmas.
Remember the golden rule: Just because you have unlimited cloud storage doesn’t mean you need to use all of it.
Mental Clutter: Spring Cleaning for Your Brain
Our minds are often more cluttered than our smartphones. Start by writing down all those swirling thoughts, tasks, and worries. Getting them out of your head and onto paper (or a digital note) can be surprisingly liberating.
Practice saying “no” more often. Every time you decline an invitation or commitment that doesn’t align with your priorities, you’re clearing mental space for what truly matters.
And while we’re at it, let’s address that mental pile of “I should be doing this” thoughts. Half of them probably aren’t even your own expectations, but ones you’ve absorbed from society, family, or social media. Learn to discern what you really want to go after, and delete all the other “shoulds” from your life.
Social Circle: Quality Over Quantity
It’s time to Marie Kondo your social life. Does that friendship spark joy, or just drama and obligation? It’s okay to let relationships that no longer serve you fade away. This doesn’t mean dramatically unfriending people (unless you’re into that sort of thing). Simply invest more time and energy into the connections that truly enrich your life.
Time Management: Decluttering Your Calendar
Take a good, hard look at your calendar. Is it packed with scribbled commitments? If so, it’s time to prioritize. Identify the activities that align with your goals and values, and start pruning the rest. Learn to guard your time because in the end, it’s the most valuable thing you own.
The beauty of simplicity lies not in having less, but in making room for more—more peace, more joy, more meaningful experiences. So, as you sift through your possessions, relationships, and commitments, ask yourself: Does this add value to my life? If the answer is no, maybe it’s time to let go.