Talk to them about it early on, when you’re just thinking about it (show them this article).I have a wife and six kids, so I know how it is. Having other people in your life (home or workspace) can make simplifying more complicated. are they essential? Can you declutter them? Email newsletters, blogs, social networks, online reading and watching, forums, etc. Declutter your digital life one step at a time, just like your physical life.Be very ruthless about saying no to new commitments - and seeing requests as potential commitments.Say no to people with a phone call or email, and get out of existing commitments. Make a list of what’s most important to you (4-5 things) and declutter the rest.So first make a list of your commitments. Decluttering your day is about reducing commitments, and saying no to the non-essential things.You can also simplify your day, and your online/computer life as well. Physical decluttering is only one type of decluttering. Once you’re hooked on this simplicity, you’re more likely to keep going.ĭecluttering Your Calendar & Digital Life Once you’ve decluttered an area, really focus on how much you love the simplified space. Sometimes you just can’t bear to part with yourself, but if you can get an outside person to make the decision (friend or family member), they are usually much more dispassionate and ruthless. If you haven’t used it in 6 months, you probably don’t need it and can get rid of it. If you’re on the fence, use a Maybe Box (put things that you think you might need in a box, mark it with today’s date, put a reminder on your calendar 6 months from now to check on the Maybe Box.Email friends/family to ask if they want things - often you can find a good home for perfectly good things you don’t really use (that workout equipment). Put your box of donation/recycling/giving away in your trunk, to get rid of next time you’re out.Once you’ve gotten the ball rolling, here’s how to keep going: If you want to do more than 10 minutes, go ahead, but be careful not to overdo it in the beginning or you’ll think it’s difficult and not want to continue.Stop after 10 minutes, continue tomorrow for another 10 minutes, and so on, one small spot in your home at a time.This is their “home” and you should always put them back there. Put things back that you need/use/love, with space between things.Ask yourself: do you really need this? Do you use it regularly? Do you love it? If the answer to any of these is no, then recycle, donate, or give it to someone who might want it.Put everything into one pile, and start with the first thing you pick up (no putting things back in the pile).Take just 10 minutes today to sort though a pile, or declutter a shelf or table or countertop.How do you get started? As simply as possible: I’d like to help you with some of those here, briefly, in hopes that you’ll be inspired to start decluttering. That said, I found complications that made things harder at every turn. The answer became clear, as I got started: start simply. The question became, how to go about it? How do you start when you’re facing a mountain of clutter, and another mountain of commitments, and piles of files and mail and email and other digital information? When I started to change my habits, from smoking to running to being more mindful, simplifying my life was near the top of the list. I was in need of some decluttering, and I knew it. I had too much to do, and didn’t know how to simplify my schedule. I had too much stuff, and it kept coming in all the time. There was a time, about 8 years ago, when my life was cluttered.
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