This is the second article in a four-part series on decluttering your life.
Decluttering your personal life can help you live with purpose and intention.
“Decluttering is an investment in your well-being and you are worth the investment,” says Angela Buttimer, MS, NCC, RYT, LPC, a licensed psychotherapist at Cancer Wellness at Piedmont. “Sometimes we put our life on autopilot and are not really ‘awake.’”
She adds, “There is a lot of decluttering we can do on an emotional, mental, physical and behavioral level. You can declutter your life by paying attention to your self-talk, avoiding overstimulation and adjusting your habits.”
1. Pay attention to your self-talk. “It’s important to pay attention to our self-talk and clear out the cobwebs and negative thoughts,” says Buttimer. “This will enhance our clarity and calmness. A calm mind is a healthier mind.”
2. Avoid overstimulation “Take a look at how often you are stimulating your mind with the internet, radio or television,” she advises. “Overstimulation is addictive and it is really costing us.” Give your brain some margin to relax and process information so you can make clearer decisions.
3. Address difficult emotions. “Emotionally, there are things we need to attend to, like jealousy, comparing ourselves to others, overly ambitious mindsets, unforgiveness and grudges,” says Buttimer. “It can feel dark and scary to address these issues with a counselor or coach, but once you have done the work, you are free.”
4. Renew your physical health. “Spring and summer are a great time to declutter your diet and look at what you are eating,” says Buttimer. “Most of us naturally change and lighten up our eating patterns this time of year.” Warmer months also allow us to get outside and spend time in nature, which has many de-stressing benefits.
5. Consider your habits. “It’s important to say no to yourself if something in your life isn’t serving you well,” says Buttimer. For example, if bingeing on Netflix or scrolling through social media for hours each night isn’t improving your life and giving you joy, consider replacing this habit with something that is meaningful to you, such as taking a walk with your spouse, reading a book, calling a loved one, volunteering or enjoying your favorite hobby.
For additional decluttering tips, check out the rest of the series: