Five Ways to Cut Clutter and Create Space in Your Life
Ever get that feeling that your life feels too cluttered? Like your breathing space is shrinking? You want to do something about it, but don’t know where to start.
Take that “something-needs-to-change energy” and channel it toward a step in the direction you want to go. The key is to act, not sit and wish things were different. You have the choice to make your life less cluttered. And that’s great news!
Here are five things you can do today that will instantly help reduce clutter and create more space in your life.
1. Clear kitchen countertops.
The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where people gather and connect. If the kitchen is uncluttered, that “got-it-together” feeling radiates to the rest of our lives. Keep your kitchen countertops as clear as possible. Put the coffee maker away in a bottom cupboard. Store dish soap and countertop sprays under the kitchen sink. Keep paper and pens in a nearby drawer. Hang a wire basket on the wall and store fruit and veggies there. The visual clutter that items stored on our counter create is more than we realize. We store them in sight so we can access them easily. But how often do we really use these things? The extra time it takes to pull out the coffee maker in the morning is worth not having to look at it all day. Studies are showing clutter is linked to depression and higher cortisol levels (in women), so a little extra work to clear a countertop is worth it.
2. Have a system for papers.
Hang a paper organizer and put all papers and magazines there the minute they come into your home. Chances are you’re not going to look at them immediately anyway. Don’t let them sit on the counter for days (remember, clutter can increase stress levels). If the papers are organized and off counters, then they aren’t vying for your attention or adding to your to-do list. Have a set time each week (maybe Saturday morning) where you go through all the papers. File away what you need and recycle what you don’t.
3. Say “no.”
If your life is feeling cluttered, this is a clear sign it’s time to say no. Your schedule needs space and only you can create it. If you’re new to saying no to things, it can feel difficult at first and can take practice. But the skill is a vital one to master. When practicing, remember that you can say anything to anyone with the right tone of voice. Drop your pitch and bit, slow your rate and say what you need to. Also, remember that when you say no to something, you’re giving someone else the chance to say yes to it. You aren’t expected to do it all, nor are you called to.
4. Do a clean sweep of your clutter areas.
Does your home have a clutter crutch? An area that seems to collect stuff throughout the day? For us, it’s the counter space to the left of the fridge. At our old house, it was the top of the wine chest. I’m guessing your home has one too. Take a box or garbage bag and sweep everything into it. Then take the box and put it somewhere you can address it soon (maybe back in the master bedroom). Figure out a time you can go through the box (that evening when kids are asleep). Get rid of what you don’t need and put misplaced items back where they go. Do this as often as needed to keep areas clutter free.
5. Clean our your car.
Your car is likely an afterthought when it comes to spaces to declutter. But since it’s a small space, you can make a big impact there in a small amount of time. Just grab a trash bag and go for it. Get everything out of the car that you don’t need. Then go through the trash bag and sort through what needs returned to your home. Chances are you’re in your car often. The next time you drive somewhere, you’ll realize how nice it is to be in an uncluttered space. Are you breathing more deeply? Feeling more relaxed? This may help build momentum to declutter a space in your home.
If you’re feeling like your life could use a little more breathing room, take action today. Only you can do it. The choice is – and always will be – yours. Small things done consistently each day eventually produce lasting change.
What’s one thing you could do today to make your life less cluttered? Why wait?