This funny little time of broken world is quickly filling up with in-numerous YouTube videos on how to declutter your life, how to Marie Kondo your world, how to turn yourself and your cat into a minimalist. Apparently it’s the way to go, our future. Do you think so too? I’m not a huge fan of sparking joy and throwing out your furniture in the name of extreme minimalism. But I most definitely approve of owning and buying things with intent. And a part of that obviously is a big tidy up & a declutter. And when would be a better time to start than today?
5 less obvious places in your home that you could declutter
Books (even on your Kindle)
Especially when you’re a big book and literature lover, this will be so hard for you. Getting rid of books pains me and I absolutely hate doing it but every now and then there’s a point when you just need to say enough is enough. You bought (or perhaps been given) a book which you stopped reading after page 3. The form and the language piss you off. The story line is absolute wank. The main character is as flat as a fart. There is absolutely no reason to hold onto these books. Even if the cover art is the most beautiful things you’ve seen. Your bookcase is just as important as your blog homepage, your business card, your CV and your phone screen photo. Be proud of it, let it speak for you. And if you have so many books you don’t even know what they’re all about, set yourself a challenge the way I’ve done it.
Logins and passwords
This is a tedious task but one that will add value to your life. Have you signed up to two million websites that now keep sending you newsletters? Unsubscribing is the obvious choice and is recommended by many a minimalism expert. But – why are they sending you these newsletters? Because you created an account with them. Do you need the account though? No? Then go and close your account. Remove all your personal information. You never know who can access it. And I don’t mean that in a paranoid someone’s gonna knick my phone number and sell it to an insurance company kind of way. Of course websites can get hacked. Or they can misuse your information. What’s more important to me is having a clear vision of where my personal information sits. What e-mail address I used for logging into that particular website. Sit down and make a list of all the places you’ve signed up for lately and reevaluate whether it’s an account you see yourself using in the future. If it’s not say goodbye to it.
Houseplants
Are you a devoted plant mamma or daddo? I am. But I’m also a prolific plant murderer. Surrounding yourself with a beautiful lush green jungle is so calming. It straightens your mind and helps you find your inner balance. Dead plants less so. Just man up and get rid off all the ones that you can’t resurrect anymore. It will hurt. You will feel terrible guilt. Maybe you might need to whisper a little sorry and a farewell to them. But once they’re gone you’ll feel SO MUCH BETTER. What if there’s a tiny twig that might survive? Read my posts on propagation, you just might be able to save a life or two.
VIP (very important papers)
“Important papers and documents” are the bane of my life. I have a whole drawerful of them and I absolutely hate the thought of opening it. Ever. I’ve already gone 3 years without opening it. Apart from those handful of times when I needed something super important, panicked, shoved everything from the drawer on the floor, panicked some more, rammed it back into the drawer and ignored said issue that made me open the drawer in the first place. Clearing out that drawer and ideally digitalising all your important documents is soul cleansing. No word of a lie.
And people
That might sound a bit harsh and you will most definitely feel a little mean and guilty for doing this but you’ll thank me later. Think about all your friends and acquaintances. All the people you send Christmas cards to. Those people you wish happy birthday on Facebook. Those you follow on Instagram. Is there anyone – ANYONE – that makes you feel shit? Makes you feel down? Makes you feel angry? Just delete those wankers. Delete them off your Facebook, Instagram and your life. Equally if there’s someone you’ve been missing terribly over the past days, weeks, months, or even years. Give them a ring. Bring them back into your life. Make your life full of people that make you happy!