FIND MORE BALANCE + LESS STRESS
Is It Possible to Feel More Balanced with Less “stuff”? I Believe So.
Let’s talk about clutter for a minute. When I say clutter, what I really mean is things: physical items, feelings + things to do that take over your being. Excessive clutter can often cause stress + unbalance affecting every area of your world: from the time it takes you to do every day tasks to your finances + your overall enjoyment of everything. Clutter can distract you, bog you down + cause general chaos in your life.
Decreasing the clutter (thus decreasing the stress) can seem like an insurmountable task if you don’t know where to start. By dedicating a little of your time to rid the mess + maintain things relatively clutter-free, you’ll be able to enjoy the rewards of reduced stress + a more productive balance.
Since there are a few different areas clutter + chaos can creep into your life, the best way to start is to take things one step at a time. Within a few days these small steps will lead to big improvements that will be easier to maintain in the long-run!
Declutter Your Life
Reduce your commitments
Often times, our lives are scattered with all of the things we need to do at home, work, school, church, with friends, family, hobbies, etc. Decluttering your life is the most important place to find mental peace + calmness, so it’s essential to not neglect this step.
Take a look at each area of your life + write down all of your commitments. Seeing it all on paper can be quite an eye-opener. Now, look at each one: decide whether it really brings you joy + value, if it’s worth the amount of time that you invest in it.
Another way to reduce your commitments is to identify a few that you truly love + scale back the rest. Learn how to say no + politely decline offers. If you eliminate the things that don’t bring you joy or value, you’ll have more time for the things that you DO love.
Reconsider your routines
Many of us do not have set routines in our daily lives so we simply tackle our tasks, chores + obligations haphazardly. Without structure, it can lead to chaotic days or a drop in productivity with no balance whatsoever.
Batch tasks together. Instead of doing your laundry several times throughout the week, do it all on one day. Eat the same snacks or lunches every day? Batch pack them in ziploc bags on Sunday so they’re ready to grab + go. Same with dinner, my kids think I’m crazy for doing this but I cook a batch of meat in the Instant Pot on Sunday then shred it to use in several meals throughout the week. Cook once, serve 3-4 different ways. Chicken tacos, white chicken chili, chicken caesar salad, you get it.
Again, it’s so helpful to write down all of your weekly + daily obligations, chores or tasks, then plan out daily + weekly routines. Hang it up where you can see it … then follow it consistently for at least two weeks. You might find that having a routine brings you a new sense of calm + order you didn’t have before.
Evaluate your relationships
As you mature, you find some people are meant to stay in your life longer while others are not. While you should spend more time with positive + like minded people, those who help you grow, make you feel appreciated; you should avoid spending time with the toxic people who only drain your energy. I truly believe every person comes into our life with a specific purpose, so the key to finding life balance is to make sure that your tribe is filled with supportive people that can help you carry the load rather than carry the burden.
Declutter Your Workspace
Start with your desk
Clear everything off the top + empty the drawers, sorting everything into piles marked File, Store + Toss.
Polish your desk then enjoy your simple + minimal it looks. You may just decide you like it this way!
Once you’ve sorted the piles, it’s time to put it all away accordingly:
Set up a basic filing system with a folder for each project or client. Keep your office supplies + other items in designated drawers or decorative storage containers.
If you need to, label things, but your main job is to designate a spot for every item you decided to keep + make sure it goes back there when you’re done using it.
To keep flat surfaces clear, have a small inbox for incoming papers, mail + current projects. When the papers come in, sort them each day by; toss, file or deal with immediately. I try to follow the “Two Minute Rule” … if it’s going to take me two minutes or less to deal with this particular task, do it now. Pay the bill, schedule the appointment or renew the car tabs. Whatever you do, do not keep it all on top of your desk.
In the end, all you really need on your desk is your computer, inbox for mail, current documents/projects + a nice framed photo or inspirational quote. Anyone close to me knows that I will also have some greenery + a candle nearby because those are things that bring me joy!
Next up: your computer
Get rid of files + programs on your computer that you don’t need. Utilize Google Drive + Google photos or a similar system to to store all your documents + photos. Not only will it free up space on your computer, but now you can access them from anywhere.
Clean up the icons on your desktop. They not only slow down your computer, but also create visual clutter.
Regularly purge old, unused files. If organization is not your thing, utilize a program such as Google Desktop to search for your files when you need them.
Change the background on your computer screen to something either useful or something that makes you smile. Mine does double duty; I change it monthly to a seasonal photo that features a monthly calendar on it.
Now for Informational Clutter
In today’s digital world, there are a zillion ways that information creeps into our brains. Some if it good, some of it useful + some of it just plain trash.
Information in itself can become overwhelming when you have too much of it, too many choices, too many options. Instead of letting information take over your life, set limits. Reduce the number of things that you view each day to focus on what you really need to grow in your life, your family + your career! Cancel those unused magazine subscriptions, email newsletters that you don’t read or unsubscribe to the sites where you bought something once yet they keep sending you junk mail.
Set boundaries when it comes to your time online. Not just actual time on a clock, but maybe go ahead + skip the articles or posts that don’t really interest you or maybe even agitate you. You don’t need to read or view every meme or every vacation photo for someone you’ve never even met. Your time is more valuable than that.
Instead of letting information, even the kind shared on Social Media, take over your life; you control how + when you receive it by limiting what you read.
Declutter Your Home
Simplify your rooms
It’s no secret that an unorganized house can add to daily stress. If your rooms are too cluttered, you may need to simplify them.
Take each room on at a time, I tend to scan a room left to right. Make those three famous piles; Keep, Donate + Toss.
Start by clearing the floor, then move on to flat surfaces such as countertops, shelves, etc. Organize them as much as possible, getting rid of the things that you don’t need or want. Then move on to the furniture … does every piece in the room serve a purpose or is it too much? Maybe just a quick rearrange is in order to freshen it up + create more usable space?
Organize everything that you’ve decided to keep into drawers, cabinets + closets, keeping them out of sight, yet still neatly uncluttered. Do this one room at a time until each room makes you feel less anxious every time you walk in.
Tackle the closets
There is nothing more satisfying than walking into a really clean + organized closet to start your day, am I right? Closets are the ideal place where you hide things just to keep them out of view until you can deal with them “later” … well now is later.
Sort through every closet – take everything out, clean it, toss + donate as much as you can. Decide a specific place to store anything you decide to keep, saving only the things that you love or use frequently. As for your clothes, get rid of anything that you haven’t worn by season. One trick is to make sure all of your hanger hooks are facing one direction, now when you wear something put it away with the hook facing the opposite direction. At least twice a year go through + remove everything that wasn’t worn + donate it to someone who will get better use of it.
Don’t forget the shoes. A couple of years ago it occurred to me that I don’t really enjoy wearing high heels anymore. So I donated about 12 pairs of heels, opting to keep a couple pairs for special occasions in addition to my tried + true comfy wedges. Whether you don’t wear them, they’re not comfortable or you’ve loved them so hard that the sole is coming through .. it may be a good idea to part with a few pairs.
Clean out your drawers
Overflowing sock drawer? Yoga pants busting over the edges? Seventeen pairs of jeans, yet you only wear the same four? Yep, me too.
Empty out your drawers, sorting them by whether you’re keeping, tossing, or donating them. Show no mercy to socks with holes or a missing match, too worn t-shirts + those pants that will never fit again. And listen my friend, if you’re like me waiting to fit into them again.. just reward yourself with a new pair. You deserve it.
When it comes to clothes + shoes, my rule of thumb is “ONE IN, ONE OUT” … so if I see yet another sweater or pair of boots that I just have to have, I ask myself before I buy which pair of my beloved boots will I be parting with when I get home? Sometimes that helps me realize I really don’t have to have that new pair because I already have the pair I love at home.
How to Maintain Order?
Congratulations, you’ve successfully Marie Kondo’d your life + hopefully you’re noticing the nice calming peace it brings you. Unfortunately, clutter will eventually begin to creep back into your life if you let it. You must be vigilant in weeding it out on a regular basis, or it will just take over.
Set up a system
Set aside a day to reevaluate your routine, what’s working what’s not + tweak as necessary. Consider a simple system for everything, from laundry to menu planning, work projects + email.
Write down your systems + try to follow them as best as you can. Follow your systems and you’ll keep the clutter minimized. Assign one hour each week to go over your goals for the week, meal plan + double check appointments so you can be prepared for the week ahead. I find that by doing this with a large cup of coffee every Sunday morning, I’m in my happy place.
Stay with it
It’s easy to put things off for another day, but it’ll save you stress in the long-run if you deal with things immediately. If you always let it pile up again you’ll always have to start over. It’s so much easier to stay the course.
Throw it out, donate it, or put it in a designated area if you intend to use it. I schedule it in my planner twice a year (usually in spring + fall) to make a donation drop off. I have a bag or box in the garage that I add to on a regular basis in the meantime, that way anything I don’t want is always out of my way.
When you stay consistent + stick to decluttering systems that work for your family, you’ll find yourself less stressful and surprisingly lighter as you’re surrounded by a lot less clutter, both physically + mentally.
Start today + start small.