My Step Four to Live Simply: Decluttering is another way to reach simple life

My Own Utopian Experiment #13: Declutting my space in the way I thrive

Decluttering is more than throwing things away. It is an attitude towards life and re-evaluation of what’s really important. This is one of the ways to reach simple life I want. There are so many things that you can declutter. If you have a toxic relationship, you can let that go to make more space for you to connect to yourself or better people. You can clean physical spaces or anything that occupy your time and energy that you do not feel fair. This is what I have been doing since I started this blog. It is spring time and I know it’s the favorite season to do spring cleaning so I just want to share to motivate myself and my friends here. I am no near done but we all have to start somewhere. Let’s begin!

• Bill Managements, consolidating Accts and credit cards

I put almost all bills on auto-pay except a few and change to paperless statements. We consolidated our insurances and other accounts so we have everything under one. No more multiple logins to remember. No more missing bills. No more mails piling up. This definitely decluttering my mental space. My financial books are so much simpler. It almost gives me an illusion that I get less bills.

• My Phone

I admit my SIM card was full twice last year. I cleaned up all my contacts. I uninstall apps that I am not using. I turned off all notifications except one that I use for urgent matter at work. I closed the other two email accounts that I am not using often. I kept only one for myself and one for blog readers. I unsubscribe things I do not need in my inbox as well. I occasionally delete some of my photos too. I take photos to reference something. When the purpose is severed, I delete them. I care about my digital spaces too.

• Papers: Documents, mails, kid’s art works

This is the first physical thing I cleaned up. Mails, documents, school papers and art works are piling up very quickly. I now put unwanted mails in recycling bin right away. I no longer put them on the dining table to go through later. I save some of my little one’s art works but I can’t save them all. There are too many. We pick our favorite ones and clean up the rest. I sometimes take a photo before I clean them up. If we really want it later, we can print it but it rarely happens. All old documents are out of my bookshelf. I can put more books there. I am a reader so it is important that my bookshelf is not cluttered.

• Clothing

This is one thing that I did heavy-lifting.  Experts recommend to take all out and put it in each category so you know what you have as extra so you can be sure to give or throw away. This strategy makes sense but it does not work out for me. I can’t dedicate a few hours to do this and finish in one or two days. This is what works for me investing 15-20 mins when I can. The progress is noticeable which gives me motivation I need for the project. When I am done with my closet (I am not done yet), I plan to arrange my clothes in categories, pants, tops, jackets, coats, jeans, etc. I have them in seasons as of now but categories will give me much better looks. I will know the extras I do not wear often this way.

First, I took out the clothes that are too small or tight for me.

Many ladies including me keep clothes that are too small with a very good intention and high hopes. I will lose weight and plan to fit in. does it sound familiar? The victory day has not come for a few years. I am happy with the body I have. A few more pounds can’t change the way I feel about my own body. I learn to say ‘So what? on gaining some pounds past a few years’. I let them go to donation box. Many of them are work clothes. I used to like to wear casual suits so work pants, tops, blouses and blazers. I am sure they would put it in a good use.

Second, I took out pretty but ill-fitting clothes.

This reflects how I chose my wardrobes not too long ago. I even wore high heels. I sacrificed comforts for the looks. I no longer do that except one time a year for an evening gown. My most valuable possessions are comfortable clothes. My days just go so much better with ease.  I feel like myself. I put them in the donation box as well.

Third, old clothes I do not wear

I will be honest I am not sure why I was keeping them for so long. I sent it to trash can.

• Drawers

Things piling up there. This has been a place to “hide” things. I cleaned up the things that I have not used past a year. Some says three months but it is one season. For me, that’s too short. I have dressers in my room and kitchen. I had one full box worth of things I do not need or want.

• One comes in one goes out

I had this rule at home. When I bring one item, one goes out. I apply this to myself but not my family members. I revisited and reevaluated. It is necessary. Clean one thing but bring two things will not help. This now applies to everyone. We also limit buying things consciously. It is good for the environment, our wallet and my mental health. All are important.

• My own goal for this year not to buy any clothes

When I clean my closet, there are two things I learned. I had a lot of stuff that I do not use them fully. I set up my own goal not to buy any clothes this year except a winter jacket I need. I have not purchased any clothing for me so far this year. I can actually use what I have and I have enough.

• Simplify skincare

If you are a lady, you would agree that there’s no limit on skin care. I used to have a few kinds of masks, serums, sunscreens, moisturizers for morning, evening, dry, sensitive and even for specific seasons. There are so many gadgets that appear working for my problematic areas. There is always something new. I simplified it. I have one for each category and that’s it. After trying out many, it all does similar things in my personal opinion. When the bottle is empty, I get one. I do not have to decided what to put on. No more expired skincare. Once it is opened, I use them up when the ingredients are still fresh.

• No more stock up

I no longer dream about a big pantry. I typically buy one week worth of grocery and some dry food. when I am low on any of household products, I get one when I do weekly grocery shopping. Stores keep all products for us like our own warehouses. whenever we need one, we can go and get it. Let’s use their space and keep ours open and simple!

• Gentle but conscious reminder

It is so easy to swept away into busy life and let things accumulate. I need to remind myself that I deserve the space reflect what I want and need until it becomes a default lifestyle. At the end, it is my home where I spend most of time. It is important to remind myself it is so worth investing time and energy into building the right environment for myself. It is another way of self-love and self-respect.

I am no near done but I am not in a hurry. It is important to celebrate small successes and trust the process. It may take a few more months to years but every day is a progress. What’s most important is that we celebrate small successes when the project is tedious one. Wish you a good success with your spring cleaning and have fun! Sending my love.