simple shui | 33 things to declutter right now
clutter is a counterfeit of happiness, so why is it that when we finally purge + release + get it out of our way, we wrestle with doubt…anxiety…panic…relive disappointments…or crash head first into frustration + exhaustion? (which, by the way, are the very reasons we usually give up before we even start!) this is the emotional currency of clutter. the GOOD NEWS? all these feelings are temporary. when we clear clutter, we remove its energy and as soon as the stuff is cleared, those ick feelings air out + dry up, too.
so before you’re shoulder deep in it, promise yourself that if those impulsive voices scream + shout, you’ll say: THIS IS JUST INFORMATION. it’s my strategy for not slipping into the drama that often piggybacks decluttering. just information equals ‘i don’t have to have an opinion’ and ‘i don’t need to feel all the feels.’ THIS IS JUST INFORMATION.
my other strategy? momentum, baby! so let’s fling the doors open with 33 simple shui suggestions that guarantee quick returns + keep the good vibes playing. ready?
scraps of wrapping paper
leftovers in the fridge + freezer
expired goods in the pantry
the “just in case” stuff
anything that implies “more is better” but really is “just one more thing to deal with” – like bulk goods
inherited stuff that sits in the dark (a closet, a box, the attic/basement) never used
things you hoard because it represents a perceived identity, but you don’t LOVE them
odds + ends sitting in/on the bedside table
half-finished projects
email inbox + online files
pens that don’t work
tokens from past relationships
undesirable symbology for your life
cards people have given you with no sentimental value
receipts you don’t need
ticket stubs
socks with holes…stretched out elastic…or missing partners
old T-shirts
magazines
hair accessories you don’t use
shoes that don’t fit or you don’t wear
extra photo prints
lost earrings
kitchen gadgets you don’t use
cooking supplies in the multiples
tired bras
workout clothes past their expiration
pics on your phone
gifts you haven’t used
old towels
outdated makeup/toiletries
broken gadgets
now remember…
clutter makes us tired – which is why we don’t EVER have the energy to deal with it.
clutter is sticky – so we find ourselves in cycles of blame + resentment + guilt. who needs that?
clutter keeps us foggy – without clarity, life decisions feel challenging. weighty. impossible. and the opposite of progress.
clutter leads to procrastination – we live a life of if, not when.
clutter feeds negative energy – and that turns into hiccups + gossip + arguments with family and friends. no bueno.
clutter distracts us from what’s really important.
so, tackle a few things each day and enjoy the journey of reclaiming yourself wholly + making your space holy. xo