Nothing makes me happier than knowing I can share with you some easy tips that will have a huge impact on your happiness. Grab a cup of coffee and let’s do a quick deep dive into decluttering. Because you might just find that decluttering is the key to unlocking your greatest potential.
Why? Because decluttering frees up energy that you can use for nurturing your creativity. Oh, yeah.
“When we are creative we express the joy of being alive.”
- Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
And what gets me so excited is that decluttering is easy-peasy. You can start today with only 15 minutes. No lie.
Let’s dive in.
Here are the 8 parts of this guide:
Part 1. What is decluttering.
Part 2. What we mean by clutter.
Part 3. Decluttering frees up energy that you can use for creativity.
Part 4. How to know when you have a clutter problem.
Part 5. Why we keep stuff that’s making us feel bad.
Part 6. Letting go.
Part 7. How to declutter.
Part 8. Where to start decluttering.
Part 1. What is decluttering.
The hustle and bustle of everyday life can leave you feeling frazzled, overwhelmed, and stuck in a rut. There seems to be no end to our physical clutter (like unwanted clothes and knick-knacks) and our digital clutter (like notifications and emails). All this stuff can make you feel like the walls are closing in.
And here’s why decluttering is so important. Because by taking the time to reduce your physical and mental clutter, you get more time, space, calm, and energy back in your life.
Decluttering is about creating a more organized environment that can help bring joy and creativity into your life.
Before we continue down the decluttering rabbit hole, let’s first define what we actually mean by clutter.
Part 2. What we mean by clutter.
Your definition of clutter will be different from mine. Everyone’s got their own comfort level when it comes to their stuff, don’t ya know.
Your stuff only becomes clutter when it starts to stress you out.
When holding on to your clutter makes you feel stuck, that’s when you know you have a problem. (We’ll cover that some more in Part 4.)
• Physical and digital clutter
Physical clutter is easy to understand. This is the kind of mess or chaos you can see.
It's the piles of clothing, papers, dishes, and whatever you’ve got strewn around your home. It's the overabundance of things you've been holding on to for years.
But clutter can also be digital. It’s the many tabs you keep open in your computer browser or the buttload of media you consume daily. It’s all the distracting notifications and emails that keep you chained to your phone. These things can be seen. And they consume large amounts of your resources such as time, space, and money.
• Mental Clutter
Mental clutter isn't as simple to define. This is the kind of chaos that involves information overload along with nagging emotional issues that overwhelm your mind.
It’s the endless social scrolling and news watching. It’s the internal congestion of things such as your never-ending to-do list, worries, negative internal dialogue, guilt, old grudges, or habits that don't serve you. These things can’t always be seen. But they nonetheless consume large amounts of your time, space, and money. 
Part 3. Decluttering frees up energy that you can use for creativity.
Now that we have an idea of what we mean by clutter, let’s go over the benefits of decluttering.
To start with, decluttering is an intentional process of letting go in order to have more energy.
Think of your energy as your capacity to feel good, your source for creativity, and your wealth. It’s your vitality which means it’s priceless.
That’s why holding on to your physical and mental clutter is keeping you stuck. It’s making you feel frustrated because you’ve never got the time, space, calm, or energy to do the things that truly matter. As in, all the things that make you happy.
Your vitality depends on you giving yourself the space to pursue the things that light you up.
And to do that you’re gonna have to make room in your life. By letting go of the stuff that drains you, you get more energy to feel good.
Say yes to more time, space, calm, and energy:
• More energy to be happy
Think of your energy as the juice for your feel-good battery. Your energy is your capacity to feel good, your source for creativity, and your wealth. It’s your vitality which means it’s priceless.
Physical clutter and digital distractions are energy leaks.
Now think of your stuff as items that serve you energetically. So this means your stuff is either charging your feel-good battery or draining it.
• More time to be happy
Decluttering your house will make you gain precious time daily. Imagine what it would feel like if you had an extra hour a day to go to the gym or spend time with your kids. Imagine if you didn’t have to spend your entire Saturday on house chores. And imagine messing around with your favorite hobby instead.
Anything that drains your time is automatically draining your energy.
If energy is the juice for your feel-good battery, then managing your time is the key to having more energy.
In a cluttered environment, it’s hard to find your keys, the matching sock, your glasses, and more. But in a decluttered home you'll spend less time looking for things you've misplaced.
• More space to be happy
Imagine having more room to move around freely at home. And imagine how calming that would make you feel. Ya see open spaces are calming for your brain. In this way, decluttering not only frees up space in your home but also in your mind. Mental space you can use for things that truly matter to you.
Once the weight of excess stuff is lifted from you, you’ll feel lighter.
Clutter brings you down. However, having more space and less clutter lifts you up. And you’ll gain an increased sense of spaciousness in your life.
• More calm to be happy
Having less physical clutter means less mental confusion. And the sense of calm you gain from decluttering spreads to all areas of your life.
Anything that makes you feel calmer is automatically charging your energy.
Physical clutter and digital distractions zap your energy. But when your stuff no longer feels overwhelming, you’ll feel calmer and focus better.
Having less stuff also means you can start appreciating your lovely possessions. The ones you’ve decided to keep because they bring you joy. And you can give them the care they deserve.
Part 4. How to know when you have a clutter problem.
As I mentioned in Part 2, your stuff only becomes clutter when it starts to stress you out.
Let’s face it, we’ve all got never-ending housekeeping chores. There’s no end to doing the dishes, laundry, filing, and cleaning. There’s also no end to opening mail, paying bills, answering emails, and making appointments.
The truth is that we usually manage to keep up with our housekeeping without freaking out.
However, if you’ve got stuff around you that’s driving you crazy, holding you back, keeping you stuck, or making you feel depressed, then it’s fair to say you’ve got a clutter problem.
You may have a clutter problem if:
• Your stuff makes you feel overwhelmed, agitated, helpless, hopeless, tired, closed in, or annoyed
• You feel drained because you've got a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions swirling around in your head
• Being surrounded by clutter makes it difficult for you to relax and unwind
• You feel easily distracted by your phone and unable to focus, concentrate, or remember things
• You feel overwhelmed by your to-do list and unable to prioritize tasks and manage your time
Part 5. Why we keep stuff that’s making us feel bad.
Identify your physical clutter. Chances are it’s not enough to keep up with your housekeeping and purge your stuff once a year.
The process of decluttering your physical surroundings creates more calm and space. And then you’ll be in a better place to identify your mental clutter too.
We need to look at why we’re holding on to our clutter in the first place.
What’s the underlying problem here?
The problem is avoidance.
We keep stuff for emotional reasons. Usually, we don’t want to face the truth about something. Or we’re trying to fill a void or emptiness we feel. Let’s look at a few examples.
Why we hold on to stuff and create clutter for ourselves:
• We yearn for the better life we used to have or might have “one day”
Like when we save clothes that used to fit us from the life we used to have, from the way we were before. As in, we ignore the fact that our lifestyle has changed.
Or when we save clothes because we think someday they’ll fit again. In other words, we totally ignore the fact that our bodies have changed.
• We don’t want to face the consequences of some hard conversations to be had
Like when we avoid dealing with the belongings of a deceased parent because we don’t want to argue with our siblings. So we keep it all in boxes or suitcases in the garage.
• We don’t want to face the memories that make us sad
Like when we keep boxes of photos and letters that we’ll never look at again. We avoid organizing or throwing out any of it because we don’t wanna feel sad.
• We don’t want to face the feelings that we’re trying to hide
Like when we avoid getting rid of tools, machines, and appliances that are still sitting unused in their boxes. Because this would mean owning up to the fact that we buy stuff to make us feel less lonely. This goes for unused clothes and shoes, too.
Part 6. Letting go.
Not everything can be in your life forever. Letting go doesn’t mean you’ve wasted your time or money.
Letting go is part of a process of honoring yourself:
• You can honor the life you once had
• You can honor the choices you’ve made in the past
• You can honor your personal growth
When you honor yourself, you can recognize that it’s time to let go of the things in your life that no longer serve you.
"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."
- William Morris
The solution is letting go.
We think by holding on we’re making our lives better somehow. The irony is that holding on is only taking up precious space in our lives. It’s keeping us stuck. It’s not how we go about creating the future we want.
When it comes to clutter, the problem is avoidance. And the solution is letting go.
Only by letting go are you making your life better. Only by charging your feel-good battery are you increasing your vitality. And only by accepting your current circumstances can you change them.
“If holding on is holding you back, it’s time to let go.”
- Mel Robbins
Holding on to worries, relationships, friendships, projects, living situations, work, clothes, habits, guilt, judgment, and old thinking patterns is draining the life right out of you. Your vitality depends on you giving yourself permission to let go. And trusting your intuition is how you do it.
Your goal is to declutter and as a result, give yourself more energy to feel good.
By trusting your intuition you’ll know what to let go of. Use your energy as a barometer. If it gives you energy, keep it. If it drains you, get rid of it. 
Part 7. How to declutter.
Reminding yourself of why you’re decluttering is a powerful way to ensure your success in the process.
Set your intention for how you want to feel.
When you’re decluttering, your goal is not to set a housecleaning record, break your back, or wear yourself out. Nope. Your goal is to free up time and energy so you can do the things that truly matter to you.
So make sure to ask yourself:
• What do I value most in my life?
• What do I want to spend my precious time and energy doing?
• What are my top three reasons for decluttering?
The trick to decluttering is to do it consistently for short periods every week.
Decluttering will only be sustainable if you keep it simple. What you need is a 4-step decluttering game plan and it goes like this:
Step 1. Start small
Step 2. Create a sorting system
Step 3. Use the joy rule
Step 4. Purge regularly
Keep reading for more details.
Part 8. Where to start decluttering.
You’ve gotta start with the physical clutter. It’s the easiest place to start because you’ll make immediate improvements and gain instant energy boosts.
Remember that your mental clutter is the kind of chaos that involves information overload. Along with nagging emotional issues. So the first step in sifting through your mental clutter is to be aware of it.
As you declutter your physical surroundings, you’ll create more calm and space around you. And then you’ll be in a better place to identify your mental clutter.
Okay. Let’s do this.
Your 4-step decluttering game plan:
Step 1. Start small
The best way to go about decluttering is to do it consistently for short periods. Pick one declutter task from the list below in Step 4.
Choose a small area of your home to start. Maybe you choose your bedroom, for example. Select one thing from the bedroom list and simply start there.
Set a timer for 15 minutes and grab an empty box or garbage bag.
Here are a few examples of how to start small:
• Clear out one drawer in your dresser, kitchen, bathroom, or desk
• Throw out old food in your fridge or freezer
• Clean out your wallet, handbag, or backpack
• Clear the clutter or mail off of your kitchen counter or desktop
Step 2. Create a sorting system
Before you begin, label your boxes or bags with the categories KEEP, DONATE, and DISCARD.
Make sure to keep a running list of items you need to replace. For example, you’ll probably be getting rid of kitchen appliances that are too old or broken to fix. The same goes for tools, cables, and electronics that no longer work.
Keep in mind that after decluttering, you can organize your stuff in new places.
For example, you can take advantage of high spaces on top of closets and low spaces under beds for storing your stuff. If you’ve got high ceilings, you can hang a long narrow shelf in your hallway above your head.
So grab your measuring tape and jot down how much room you’ve got to work with in any of your new storage places. This will help you buy the right size storage boxes and bins when the time comes.
Step 3. Use the joy rule
To decide what to keep you can use Marie Kondo’s excellent advice:
Ask yourself whether the thing in question brings you joy. If it does, keep it. If it doesn’t, then it’s time to let it go.
As I mentioned in Part 6, use your energy as a barometer. In other words, if it gives you energy, keep it. If it drains you, get rid of it.
Take note that you can also use the joy rule to help you say no to impulse buys. In other words, before you buy, ask yourself if what you wanna buy will bring you real joy.
And when it comes to buying fashion, I’ve got a great list of questions to help you be a smart consumer and not get sucked into buying sale items.
Ten questions to ask yourself before you make a purchase:
1. Does this fit me? Is it my size?
2. Will this work with my existing wardrobe?
3. Is this practical and easy to take care of?
4. Is it well made? What do I know about the details?
5. Is it made from a material I’m sensitive to? Is the weight pleasing to me?
6. Does the color flatter my face? Does it boost my mood?
7. Does the shape flatter my body? Does it feel like me?
8. Does this breathe new life into what I’ve already got in my closet?
9. Does owning and wearing this make me feel good?
10. Is this an investment in myself?
Step 4. Purge regularly
Little by little you’ll start making space and your momentum will keep you moving forward. Make it a weekly habit to declutter some small areas.
It’s helpful to keep in mind that not all decluttering tasks are equal. Some you can get done in 15 minutes and some might take you a month or longer.
And finally, you may prefer to get some easier tasks out of the way first. Like any clutter that’s driving you crazy. It could be that desk drawer full of crap where you can never find a decent pen. Or that kitchen cabinet full of unusable Tupperware with missing lids. Smile.
Well, we’ve pretty much made it to the end of this guide. The only thing left is...
Your handy-dandy big-ass list of small decluttering tasks:
Choose an area of your home to start decluttering. Then select one task on the list and simply start there. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes. Grab an empty box or garbage bag and do what you can. Repeat until you can move on to another decluttering task.
Declutter your closet:
• Turn worn-out or damaged clothing into rags
• Get rid of clothes that don’t fit
• Get rid of worn-out underwear
• Get rid of worn-out socks
• Get rid of worn-out pajamas
• Get rid of worn-out swimwear
• Get rid of shoes that hurt your feet
• Get rid of scarves and hats you’ll never wear again
• Get rid of old wallets, bags, and purses
• Get rid of old tote bags and backpacks
Declutter your bedroom:
• Turn any worn-out sheets into rags
• If you have damaged blankets, keep them in the garage for other uses
• Get rid of old or uncomfortable pillows
• Get rid of broken jewelry
Declutter your books/paperwork:
• Get rid of books and magazines you won’t read anymore
• Keep important personal papers and IDs in a file
• Keep important paperwork in a file box
• Recycle old documents no longer valid
• Recycle manuals for products you no longer have
• Recycle old calendars, diaries, and journals you no longer want
• Recycle old phone books
• Recycle old take-out menus
• Recycle correspondence you’ll never look at again
Declutter your desk:
• Clear the clutter and/or mail sitting on your desk
• Clean out a desk drawer
• Throw out pens that don’t write
• Get rid of eyeglasses you no longer use
• Get rid of cameras you no longer use
• Get rid of electronic devices you no longer use
• Throw out broken electronic devices
• Throw out used batteries
Declutter your kitchen:
• Clean out a kitchen drawer
• Get rid of containers with missing lids
• Get rid of extra shopping bags
• Get rid of unused kitchen gadgets
• Recycle excess plastic containers
• Recycle unusable plastic containers/Tupperware
• Throw out broken kitchen gadgets
• Throw out old food in your fridge and freezer
• Throw out leaky water bottles
• Recycle old plastic bottles
• Recycle chipped glasses and mugs
• Throw out worn-out scrubbers and sponges
• Throw out expired medicine and supplements
• Throw out cleaning products you no longer use
Declutter your bathroom:
• Turn worn-out towels into rags
• Keep only the products you’re using on hand, store the rest in a cabinet
• If you have travel-size toiletries, keep them in a small bag with your luggage
• Get rid of old combs, brushes, hair bands, and hair tools
• Get rid of old perfumes you’ll never use again
• Throw out expired makeup and creams
• Throw out expired sunblock
Declutter your living room:
• Get rid of old CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes
• Get rid of puzzles and board games with missing pieces
• Get rid of old remote controls
Declutter your garage:
• Get rid of old luggage you no longer use
• Get rid of electronic cables for gadgets you no longer have
• Get rid of old toys
• Get rid of unused exercise equipment
• Get rid of unused sports equipment
• Get rid of unused holiday decor
• Get rid of repair parts for stuff you no longer own
• Throw out damaged luggage
• Throw out expired paints
• Throw out expired yard products
• Throw out damaged craft supplies
• Throw out rusted tools
• Recycle boxes from old purchases
notes:
Getting rid of something does not necessarily mean throwing it into the garbage. You can recycle it. Or give it away. You can take it to a thrift store. And in some cases, you can sell it online.
And check with your local area about how to throw out chemical products like old paints, cleaning products, and medicines. Because these items along with batteries and electronic devices may have special collection places where you can drop them off.
Conclusion.
Your vitality depends on you giving yourself the space to pursue the things that light you up. And to do that you’re gonna have to make room in your life.
By decluttering you create more time, space, calm, and energy for yourself.
When it comes to clutter, the problem is avoidance. And the solution is letting go. Only by letting go are you making your life better. Only by charging your feel-good battery are you increasing your vitality. And only by accepting your current circumstances can you change them.
Reminding yourself of why you’re decluttering is a powerful way to ensure your success in the process. And the best way to go about decluttering is to do it consistently for short periods.
To begin, use the list provided in this guide. Choose an area of your home to start decluttering. Then select one task on the list and simply start there. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes. Grab an empty box or garbage bag and do what you can. Repeat until you can move on to another decluttering task.