Life is full of distractions that we can’t escape.
First, those external distractions. The visual (aka shiny object syndrome), social obligations, music, and all things cell phone.
Then there are internal distractions like hunger, fatigue, illness, worrying, and daydreaming.
I’m currently reading a book called Love People Use Things. It talks about the benefits of living with less to live more deeply and fully.
And let’s face it, with our homes and heads full of “stuff,” we have to bushwack our way out.
At the pandemic’s beginning, the thought of being “stuck” at home for who knew how long felt very claustrophobic. My house was full of a lifetime of stuff.
~ Everything my kids accumulated over their lifetime that they no longer needed (or wanted?)
~ All my Mom’s belongings that I was too emotional to sort through after her death
~ Family hand-me-downs that we were now stuck with
STUFF is distracting! We have to clean it, fix it, store it, pack it, unpack it, and move it. But are we even USING it?
I ordered a dumpster and got to work. We donated, discarded, painted, redecorated, and downsized, only keeping what was necessary or loved.
Our final project was remodeling the kitchen. I found great satisfaction in decluttering that space. After installing new cabinets and appliances, I was very selective about restocking with the minimum necessities. How often do you use a cherry pitter anyway?
I felt pretty good and light about the whole business of being basic until I started reading Love People Use Things. Because when I took an honest look, I realized that things were beginning to pile up again.
~ Too many clothes
~ Too many toiletries
~ Too many condiments
~ The reemergence of a junk drawer (which I swore I’d never have again).
When chaos is around us, imagine the junk going on within us.
You’ve seen people who don’t “look” healthy. Usually, they’re not.
Likewise, people who have a healthy appearance usually are.
What if de-junking and living simply and freely in our outer world – ultimately uncluttered and improved our inner world?
We are constantly cleaning up our outer world and need to do the same with our inner world.
These are seven things I focus on to keep my inner world clutter-free.
- Sleep
- Get outdoors
- Journal
- No multitasking
- Set priorities
- Exercise
- Limit consumption of social media
Accumulation happens. Keeping life’s clutter to a minimum is an ongoing project. You’re worth it.
