At one point in my life, I could easily close the door to a messy room in my home, forget about the clutter, and enjoy my day. But once I did this one too many times, the disorganization began to pile up and overwhelm me both physically and mentally. I noticed that when my living space was cluttered, my mind was cluttered.
With a cluttered mind, I was unable to focus on my physical and mental health. I had a difficult time planning out my week, getting ready in the mornings, and even winding down at night. Not only was my home a mess, but I was also a MESS! Once I identified and attacked the root of my problem, I regained energy, direction, and focus. If you’re looking for a way to increase your energy, improve your wellbeing, and get back on track, consider this simple way to declutter your mind and living space.
Have you ever done the “I don’t have anything to wear” dance? It looks a lot like opening up your cluttered closet, pulling out 15+ pieces that don’t fit right, throwing them on the floor, struggling to put on jeans that are way too tight and frantically pacing around the room worried that you don’t have anything to wear. This little dance underlined the root of my clutter problem… My closet!
I had been holding on to items that I had hopes of fitting into in the future. When I tried those items on, I continually felt guilt and shame, which caused me to shut down. Instead of feeling intimidated by my clothes, I wanted to feel confident and motivated by them. I began by organizing my clothing into three piles. I called them the “No way am I ever going to wear these” pile, “I love these and want to keep them” pile, and “Purgatory” pile. Once I had organized both my hanging and folded clothes into the piles, I chose to donate, throw away, and keep what I felt was necessary. I was sure to discard anything that made me feel like a failure for not being able to rock it. I neatly organized my remaining items with matching hangers and a fresh fold.
I still remember the feeling of opening up my clean and organized closet the next day. I could breathe easier. I felt lighter. I was able to think more clearly. Without stress or frustration, I grabbed my workout clothes and conquered my day. If you’re interested in doing the same, set aside an hour or two of your day, approach the task with an open mind, ask an honest friend to join you, and begin. Starting is often the hardest part of decluttering.
For more tips on ways to increase your energy, improve your wellbeing, and get back on track by organizing your living space, download the Fit Is Freedom Decluttering Worksheet here and listen to Episode 1 of the Fit is Freedom Podcast here.