Where can you reduce clutter in your life?

There are two types of clutter that affect me: mental and physical. While only one is physically seen on the outside, for me they go hand in hand.

Mental Clutter

Mental clutter is a constant in my life. I’m constantly juggling meetings, child activities, meal planning and prep, house chores, and fitness training plans. Sometimes my mental clutter can be overwhelming. There are a couple ways that I can reduce and manage this:

1. Keep a calendar: Keeping a physical calendar is one way I can keep my life in order. I have a large monthly wall calendar and write each family member’s schedule in a different color. Even just the process of filling out the calendar every month helps me organize my thoughts and feel less stressed out.
2. Take a mental break: I always have an urge to be working on something. For example, if I am going to take time to “relax” and watch a movie, I often can just unwind and only watch a movie. I also fold clothes, write a grocery list, or some other task to feel productive. While sometimes it’s necessary to multi-task, it also can be anxiety-inducing. One way I reduce my mental clutter and take a break is to take a walk. I often listen to a podcast or music, and it allows me to take my mind off the many things causing my mental clutter.

Physical Clutter

I find that when my mental clutter overwhelms me, the physical clutter follows. As a busy mom of a small child, sometimes the constant toy cleanup, dishes, and laundry can feel never-ending. There are some ways I try to keep the physicial clutter to a minimum:

1. Make a list: I find that if I make a list of things to get done in a day, I am more likely to accomplish those tasks. It’s always satisfying to cross something off a list. The key is to make sure that your task list is attainable within the time frame that you have.
2. Complete your task before starting a new one: One of my bad habits is to start a task and not finish it. This is something I am working on. I’m trying to be better about not just folding clothes, but putting them away promptly instead of letting them sit on the bed (and then tossed right in the laundry basket at bedtime). Now that I’m a mom, I’m trying to encourage my son to clean up after playing or making a mess. Otherwise, our house is constantly strewn with toys.
3. Let your support system help: I tend to want to do everything myself. Although I personally may be picky about how the dishwasher is loaded or how clothes are folded, those are not reasons to stress about. I try to take help when I get it and it makes our lives all that much better (and less cluttered).