Our lives are cluttered with junk and unnecessary stress: it's inevitable. In today's world, constantly surrounded by social media, opinions and drama, it is easy to get lost in the whirlwind of others' lives. Sometimes we need to focus on ourselves and cleanse our spaces—which can include people. Although it is never easy to cut ties, if someone is only a source of negativity in your life, then you are setting yourself up for failure.

I've burned bridges because of toxicity in my life. I am sure people left my life because they felt the same way. You provide different aspects of yourself to different people and sometimes it might not be a positive side. As part of growing up, you discover who you are and learn to accept the bad with the good. Although we never want to admit that, it's true. Here are a few tips to help declutter your mind and space.

1. Start With Your Space.

The most tedious task is cleaning out your closet. Start by pulling everything out. Make a mess. Go through everything. I promise you don’t need the shirt you wore on the first day of junior year in high school. Give it to a new home. Once everything is out, you have no choice but to clean it up and get rid of things in the process.

2. Go Through Your Phone.

The apps you use when you’re sitting in a waiting room are taking up space on your phone. While you’re at it, delete your voicemails and inbox messages since they're taking up space. Then go through your contacts. You don’t need your classmate's phone number from a group project four years ago.

3. Social Media.

We all went through the phase when you were only cool if you had the most friends and followers. Do you care about seeing posts from people you’ve never met but have one mutual friend between? Probably not. It’s adding clutter to your timeline.

4. Last But Not Least: Relationships.

We all have someone who hits us up when they need a favor or a friend who only talks about their latest boy drama. Then there are close friends, who we think will be in our lives forever since we've been through thick and thin, from whom we grow apart. As we grow, we change. It’s inevitable. If a friend changes into someone you don’t enjoy anymore, be grateful for the past and move into the future without them. It takes time, it won’t be easy but it’s necessary to live a happy life.

"What I know for sure is that when you declutter

—whether it's in your home, your head or your heart—

it is astounding what will flow into that space that will enrich you, your life and your family."

— Peter Walsh