Simplify your life this spring. Now is the time to clean the cobwebs, organize closets, tidy files, and feel energized. The best part is how much easier life is once you simplify.
“Our life is frittered away by detail…simplify, simplify.” – Henry David Thoreau.
Simplify Your Life: Easy Ways to Clear Out Clutter
To simplify your life, think of spring cleaning. Spring is traditionally associated with cleaning, so get to it. Get out the dust cloths, brooms, and other cleaning aids and literally sweep away everything that’s no longer useful.
While this is a metaphor for ditching bad habits and discarding the people, places, and things linked to past behavior, it also means physically cleaning and simplifying. Check out these tips.
Clear Out Clutter to Simplify Your Life
Why is this important? How can the simple act of clearing out clutter simplify your life? For one, it brings peace of mind. For another, it’s easier to find what you need. Finally, solutions to other problems appear magically when things are neat and orderly.
First, though, you must ditch the clutter.
Get Rid of the Junk
Think of all the accumulated junk. Look at the piles of stuff sitting around.
- Here’s a leftover from weeks ago in the refrigerator.
- Over there is an item we kept in case it might be useful.
- What about the piled-up flyers, newspapers, and magazines?
- Ditto the clothes that no longer fit or are out of style.
- What about dusty canned goods in the pantry?
What to Do
There are better places for all of these items.
- Discard what is worn out, broken, and missing parts and pieces entirely.
- Recycle what is appropriate.
- Donate what may be usable and valuable to someone else.
Of course, if documents contain personal information, be sure to shred them before recycling. Safeguarding privacy will always be important, especially in today’s society, where identity theft is so prevalent.
Gain Peace of Mind When You Simplify
Clearing out the clutter can simplify life and bring new meaning. In addition to a more pleasant living environment, you also gain peace of mind knowing you’re doing something constructive. It’s a way to lighten the burdens. Many of us have put this off for quite some time. Other things took precedence.
This spring cleaning should be done now, but it could just as easily happen any time of the year.
- Consider practicing tidiness regularly.
- This proactive behavior helps you center and focus on the task at hand.
- You can see what needs to be done and prioritize tasks so you can dive into them.
Simplify Your Life: Organize Paperwork
Bills piling up? Categorize them. Assign them priorities. Decide to pay them before they’re due or work out payment plans with the provider. Consider setting up auto-payment so bills won’t fall through the cracks.
Are essential meetings and dates coming up? Circle them on the calendar, use Post-it notes, or send reminders via email or smartphone.
Work on Streamlining Goals
Where’s that list of goals to work on? Keep high-priority items nearby and within reach to avoid frustration when needed.
It all comes down to making life as simple as possible. Clearing out the clutter is just one small way to accomplish this goal so that you can tackle others on your list. The good news is that the more you practice simplifying your life, the easier it gets. Before long, it will become part of your everyday routine.
Simplifying your life is good for your overall health and well-being.
