7 Things to Declutter to Live Lighter in 2023

Our oldest daughter turned nine last month. In true minimalist fashion, I gifted her an experience: ice skating. Just she and I, for two whole hours, gliding among a thin crowd on the ice. 

It was our first solo outing since baby Emelia was born, and, if you’d asked our oldest, the fact that she was out dodging strangers instead of her siblings was super meaningful.

Blades on frozen ground, our strides were shaky at first. But within ten minutes we were gliding in a rhythm. And we were having So. Much. Fun.

As we skated, my mind began to drift. I’d been working on social media earlier that day, and soon, it began barraging my thoughts. 

Would I document this outing on my Instagram? Would we do a selfie, a video, a solo shot or pose?

I was in the moment. But I wasn’t. 

Not completely. Wondering how I’d capture the moment and if I’d display it to the world was keeping me from really experiencing it.

I was experiencing it, distracted. 

The “ah-ha moment” to my semi-present state was all I needed. I began intentionally tuning into my senses, absorbing the bright colored snow gear on swirling skaters, the faint smell of coffee from a nearby shop, the cadence of blades on ice, the weight of my daughter’s hand in mine. 

I was back. Distracted thoughts silenced with the power of now.

The deeper I journey into minimalism, the more I realize there’s always something more to declutter. Although these days, it’s usually some type of inner clutter (like distraction), instead of physical possessions.

The more I work to release the things that aren’t serving me, the lighter—and better—life becomes.

Here are 7 things to declutter to live lighter in 2023:

1. Physical clutter

Decluttering your environment is often the first step toward crafting a lighter, more meaningful life. 

The true cost of our excess physical stuff goes well beyond the money we already spent on it. Studies show we are physiologically wired to have a stress response around clutter, especially if we are the ones tasked with maintaining it. This leads to overwhelm, distraction, and higher cortisol levels. Our physical and mental health is far from optimized in a cluttered environment.

We were designed for adventure, connection, freedom, space to create, explore and love. We weren’t designed to live surrounded by piles of stuff. Life becomes lighter when we let our excess stuff go.

2. Worry

Did you know that 90% of what you worry about never actually happens? And that worrying takes up 25% of the time the average person spends thinking each day?

Playing out worst-case scenarios in our mind exacerbates fears, paralyzes action, reduces creativity and stunts problem solving. While rationally accessing a situation is prudent, ruminating is counterproductive.

Bottom line: Worry weighs us down. Life becomes lighter when you catch your worrying, and, instead, ask yourself this question: “What if it all works out?”

3. Negative self-talk

We have up to 50,000 self-talk thoughts a day and 80% of them are negative. Also, 90% of them are repetitive. Cycling self-talk thoughts that aren’t rooted in truth need to be decluttered. Read how to do that here. 

You talk to yourself more than anyone else. What are you saying? You deserve to talk to yourself the way you would a good friend. Life becomes a whole lot lighter when you do.

4. Distraction 

We live in the most highly distracted era ever, thanks to our smartphones. These six-inch rectangles are designed to be addictive and many brains are hooked. One study showed even just seeing your phone nearby reduces your cognitive performance. 

Phones foster impulsivity. In mid conversation, a question comes up, so we instantly grab our phone to Google it. We remember a text we need to send while playing with our kids and we feel compelled to do it immediately.

Fight back against digital distraction by disconnecting regularly. Designate a day of the week to be off your phone (or on it a very limited amount). Silence notifications. Keep your phone out of sight but still within earshot for calls.

Life becomes lighter when we show up more present in our relationships.

5. Non-stop activity 

We weren’t made to live lives of constant motion. Yet our culture promotes hyperliving—doing more and doing it faster. But when we’re constantly moving, pursuing what’s next, we miss the beauty of the here and now.

This could look like constant errand running, obsessive house cleaning, or non-stop working. We don’t have to fill up all the spaces in our schedule.

When we slow down and prioritize reflection and rest, we’re more able to see the meaning behind life events.

The hurry makes us hurt. Life becomes lighter when we reduce our pace.

6. Escapist behaviors 

How do you distract yourself when overwhelmed? A long social media scroll, Netflix binge, impulse shopping, overindulging in food or drink? No judging here—I’ve done them all.

When our own needs are pushed by the wayside—either because we don’t make time to meet them or we are simply out of touch with what they are—this can lead to escape behaviors.

Practicing a day of rest (off day, do nothing day, sabbath) each week can counteract this. A day off allows you to see how you’re distracting yourself and provides needed space to build healthier habits. Life becomes lighter when you take time to meet your needs in a productive way.

7. Indecision 

Studies show that the average adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. Researchers at Cornell University estimate we make 226.7 decisions daily on food alone. 

The problem is that our daily decision making reserves are finite. Each decision we make leaves us with less decision-making power for the next one.

Save your decision-making reserves for important decisions by streamlining the routine ones. How? Limit your options. Create a capsule wardrobe to simplify deciding what to wear. Put guidelines around mealtime (breakfast is always a smoothie, but you vary the ingredients). Create a morning or evening routine. 

By spending less decision-making power on small choices, you have more mental capacity to make the big decisions well. Life becomes lighter when decision fatigue in reduced.

To design a life that is focused on the things that matter, we first need to let go of all the things that don’t. Life is too short to allocate our time and attention toward the frivolous and superfluous. 

What are you feeling called to declutter from your life in 2023?

If any of these areas above resonated with you, I encourage you to ruthlessly declutter them from your life. 

Life will become lighter when you do.

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Julia Ubbenga is a freelance journalist whose teachings on minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living have reached thousands of people worldwide through her blog. Julia practices what she preaches in her Kansas City home with her husband, two extremely lively young daughters, two-year-old son, and six-month-old baby girl. You can also find her on Instagram and now also on Facebook.

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