More isn't always better, unless you’re talking about love, family or pets. In today’s society, we witness both sides of the coin: people who never seem to have enough and those who prefer to gather memories and moments rather than handbags and hair products. It can be rather freeing to weed through everything you own, from clothing to Facebook friends, computer files to thoughts: the files in your head. Keep the essential and discard the debris for a clutter-free lifestyle.
Clothing
When you don’t remember half of the things you have and your closet has more clothing in it than free space, it may be time to get rid of a few things. Remember that you only have one pair of legs, so you probably don’t need twenty pairs of pants. It doesn’t have to look like an episode of Hoarders for the need for purging to exist. Free space isn’t a bad thing and can make your room and your mind feel lighter. This doesn’t have to put you off of buying new things either, but make it a point to get rid of something each time you acquire a new article of clothing. Somebody probably needs (and wants) those burgundy corduroy pants more than you, anyway.
Facebook friends
When you’ve drifted away from half of them and most of the rest annoy or stalk you, it’s probably time to cut back on your extensive list of “friends.” Having too many friends just allows for a crowded news feed, burying posts from family members and acquaintances that you’re closer to. People who add negativity to your life can be unfriended as well. The depressing posts for attention, the ranting paragraphs with profanity every other word and the endlessly shared Humane Society videos can be an unnecessary distraction from positivity.
Computer files
There’s something so mentally pleasing, even cathartic, about having an organized, junk-free computer. While some things are nice to keep, like family photos and old essays from high school, I doubt you need the document of notes from ninth grade geography. Not only does this make searching for the more important folders easier, but also saves space on your computer. When it comes time to sift through it all, the “add folder” option will become your best friend. No one likes being brain-slapped with dozens of icons when opening your documents screen; it’s a simple fix. This is one aspect of your life which you can infinitely set order to.
Thoughts
Now, if only you could organize all the signals and thoughts in your head as you would with computer files. It’s a jumbled mess up there, and it’s up to the biological functions to keep every cognitive stimulation in check. For the times that your brain is moving faster than your mouth, or you’re lying awake thinking about something that humiliated you five years ago, I highly recommend utilizing a diary (or a journal, if calling it that makes you feel like less of a teenage girly girl). By making lists, diagrams and even doodling, releasing your thoughts on paper can help to bring about a calm and clear simplicity that sets you back on track.
These are just a handful of ways to simplify and de-clutter your life. They’ll hopefully reduce the chance that you’ll spend hours trying to find a file or article of clothing, watching depressing videos and reading frustrating posts, or trying to remember something that you were just thinking about two gosh darn seconds ago!
Checklist: Clothing donations bag. “Delete friend” button on Facebook. Right click + delete. Diary or journal (pink feathered and sequined pen optional).
Happy downsizing, folks!
