HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE
Being swamped by excessive clutter seems to be a symptom of modern life which can have a wide-sweeping effect on most aspects of our existence, weighing us down and enveloping us in chaos which then detracts from our enjoyment of the simpler things in life.
Here are four good reasons why we should all declutter our lives:
1. To reduce stress - basically, the more stuff we have, the more energy we need to devote to taking care of it and the more it drains us.
2. It gives you a fresh start – a chance to evaluate the reasons why we like to have so many possessions or so many rituals in our life.
3. It saves you time – unless you are very organised having an excess of stuff means that you will waste hours looking …show more content…
You could save (and possibly make) money – some of the things we hang on to can be costing us money and many of the things we own but never use could be sold to release capital for new and more enlightening experiences.
How can you start to declutter?
1. The home
Go through your home room by room and make a list of every single surplus thing in that room and then ask yourself three questions:
a. Do I like it?
b. Do I need it?
c. Do I use it?
Everything that you don’t like, need or use should be either thrown away, donated or sold. This should include clothing, books, DVDs and CDs. Unless you can think of a very real and urgent reason to keep the item, it needs to be gone.
2. Your computer
• Get rid of files and programs that you don’t use.
• Get rid of most or all of the icons on your desktop - they slow down your computer and slow you down when looking for an important icon.
• You can use a program such as Google Desktop to search for your files when you need them.
3. Your Desk
• Everything on top of the desk should have a current purpose.
• Go through your drawers and file away loose papers.
• Ditch random items which accumulate for no good …show more content…
Cancel subscriptions
• Unless you are actually using your gym membership, cancel it – a regular long walk in the countryside will keep you fit and healthy, give you breathing space and time to think and help to reduce stress.
• Magazine subscriptions are a nightmare – we subscribe and six months down the line find there is no time to read the magazine so they pile up waiting for that gap in our schedule which never comes. Cancel the subscriptions and throw the magazines away or donate them to someone else.
6. Free up your time
This is a tough one, particularly for those who have their own business, an all-consuming high powered job, a family or all three! So hands up all those who:
• Are guilty of spending too long at work and never get home before the kids are in bed.
• End up eating take-away five nights a week because there is no time to shop or cook.
• Don’t have enough time to spend with friends and family, even at weekends.
• End up cancelling long-standing arrangements at the last minute, frequently.
Why not consider hiring someone to help take the strain:
At Work - a well-qualified PA would take some of the strain from you by organising your work life; by booking your appointments, arranging travel, dealing with all your daily correspondence and much, much
Being swamped by excessive clutter seems to be a symptom of modern life which can have a wide-sweeping effect on most aspects of our existence, weighing us down and enveloping us in chaos which then detracts from our enjoyment of the simpler things in life.
Here are four good reasons why we should all declutter our lives:
1. To reduce stress - basically, the more stuff we have, the more energy we need to devote to taking care of it and the more it drains us.
2. It gives you a fresh start – a chance to evaluate the reasons why we like to have so many possessions or so many rituals in our life.
3. It saves you time – unless you are very organised having an excess of stuff means that you will waste hours looking …show more content…
You could save (and possibly make) money – some of the things we hang on to can be costing us money and many of the things we own but never use could be sold to release capital for new and more enlightening experiences.
How can you start to declutter?
1. The home
Go through your home room by room and make a list of every single surplus thing in that room and then ask yourself three questions:
a. Do I like it?
b. Do I need it?
c. Do I use it?
Everything that you don’t like, need or use should be either thrown away, donated or sold. This should include clothing, books, DVDs and CDs. Unless you can think of a very real and urgent reason to keep the item, it needs to be gone.
2. Your computer
• Get rid of files and programs that you don’t use.
• Get rid of most or all of the icons on your desktop - they slow down your computer and slow you down when looking for an important icon.
• You can use a program such as Google Desktop to search for your files when you need them.
3. Your Desk
• Everything on top of the desk should have a current purpose.
• Go through your drawers and file away loose papers.
• Ditch random items which accumulate for no good …show more content…
Cancel subscriptions
• Unless you are actually using your gym membership, cancel it – a regular long walk in the countryside will keep you fit and healthy, give you breathing space and time to think and help to reduce stress.
• Magazine subscriptions are a nightmare – we subscribe and six months down the line find there is no time to read the magazine so they pile up waiting for that gap in our schedule which never comes. Cancel the subscriptions and throw the magazines away or donate them to someone else.
6. Free up your time
This is a tough one, particularly for those who have their own business, an all-consuming high powered job, a family or all three! So hands up all those who:
• Are guilty of spending too long at work and never get home before the kids are in bed.
• End up eating take-away five nights a week because there is no time to shop or cook.
• Don’t have enough time to spend with friends and family, even at weekends.
• End up cancelling long-standing arrangements at the last minute, frequently.
Why not consider hiring someone to help take the strain:
At Work - a well-qualified PA would take some of the strain from you by organising your work life; by booking your appointments, arranging travel, dealing with all your daily correspondence and much, much