For most of us, January is always the perfect time to set new goals and make new plans. This is usually the time when we are so motivated and determined to make all these changes and improvements that would help us live better for the rest of the year.
I definitely feel this way too but often it always gets too overwhelming too fast. I mean, there are just too many things that need to get done, and often, honestly, I don’t have the mental strength and space needed to support these big changes.
I realized that one of the most important things that we can do before we push ourselves to make all those new goals and big plans is to start with a little decluttering, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Doing this not only helps us get rid of the things that are only weighing us down and let go of anything that’s no longer serving us but it also helps us make space for the things that truly matter to us. Things that will help support our new goals, plans, and overall health and well-being.
In this post, I will be sharing with you the things that I declutter every January to help me create a safe and calmer space to grow and improve as I move into the year. Please know that these things are not huge and overwhelming. This is not meant to be a huge project that you need to tackle everything all at once.
You can do this at your own pace. You can start with one or two and go from there. Remember that even just tackling one simple step can already make such a huge difference in how we feel.
Things To Declutter For A Clearer Mind
Mental And Emotional Decluttering
1. Old Goals That No Longer Align With Your Priorities
I know how easy it is to feel pressured to carry all the goals that we had last year into this one. I have always been guilty of doing that. I thought that since I wasn’t able to achieve those goals last year then maybe this is the perfect time to revisit them again.
While that could certainly be the case, there are also times that those goals that I feel so pressured to carry into this new year no longer feel “like me”. Like it just doesn’t excite me the way that it used to before. Now it just feels like this draining and burdening task that I HAVE TO DO just so I wouldn’t feel like a failure.
If you feel this way too, please know that letting go of old goals doesn’t make you a failure. Doing this doesn’t mean that you weren’t good enough. We are constantly growing, changing, and evolving, and often that means that some of our old goals don’t really fit with who we are now.
And you know what? That’s perfectly okay. It’s okay to acknowledge that we have outgrown some of our old goals. The best thing that we can do is let them go and make space for the goals that truly align with the person that we are becoming.
So, take some time to list down all your old goals. Go through each one of them and ask yourself if these are still the things that excite you and set your soul on fire.
2. Limiting Beliefs That You Held Onto Last Year
We are often guilty of holding on to limiting beliefs without even realizing it. These are the beliefs that are making us question our capabilities, second-guessing our abilities, and keeping us small.
Now is the perfect time to ask ourselves what types of limiting beliefs we were holding onto last year. What were the beliefs that kept us from going after the things that we truly want? Let’s take a moment to recognize all those beliefs and remind ourselves that we don’t have to carry any of them into this new year.
Please know that doing this doesn’t mean that we will be able to just recognize them and let them go overnight. This step is simply about being aware of these beliefs so that every time those beliefs creep up into our thoughts, we can then make a conscious choice to replace them with a more empowering narrative.
An example would be, every time the belief that good things would never happen to me pops up in my head, instead of believing that narrative immediately, I pause and question it, I replace it with the thought that there were so many good things that happened in my life, so how can that belief be even remotely true.
3. People Pleasing Habits
Are you also guilty of this habit? Well, you’re certainly not alone. I have always struggled with this. I have always assumed that for me to be worthy and valued, I always needed to gain other people’s approval and validation.
I’ve held on to that habit for the longest time and honestly, doing that was not only emotionally and mentally draining, it also made me feel like no matter what I do or how much I achieve, it would never be enough unless I received validation from someone else.
If you’re guilty of this too, please know that your worth is never based on how people see you. You don’t need to gain anyone’s approval just so you can be worthy and valued. You are worthy just as you are now.
The only validation that you would ever need is your own. This new year, please give yourself permission to let go of this habit. Every time you do things or say yes to others, ask yourself if this is truly something that you want to do or if you are just doing this to please someone at the expense of your own needs.
4. Resentments
I know that often holding on to resentments is so much easier than forgiving. I truly know how this feels. Growing up, I was deeply hurt by the people who should have protected and loved me. I was made to feel like I would never amount to anything and that I constantly had to earn their love.
I carried that anger with me as I grew older. I thought that as long as I was holding on to that anger and resentment, I was somehow protecting myself from getting hurt again. But that wasn’t really the case. The truth was, it only made me stuck and unable to move forward.
It only made life heavier and honestly, it just made me angry and bitter. It took some time for me to finally realize that holding on to those resentments does so much more harm than good. I’ve learned that forgiveness is not about minimizing the wrong that they have done or invalidating the pain that they caused.
It’s about choosing to set ourselves free from the pains of the past and finally allowing ourselves the space to heal and move forward. Let this new year be the chance to finally do that so that you can finally let go of that giant emotional weight that you have been carrying for so long.
5. Guilt For Resting
Do you ever feel like rest is something that you have to earn? How many times have you felt so guilty for taking some time off and just doing nothing? I know how you feel. I’ve always had this notion that I needed to be constantly productive for me to achieve all my goals.
I thought that I needed to constantly push myself and that rest is something that I would only do once I feel like I’ve finally made it. But I was wrong. No one should ever feel guilty for taking a break. No one should ever feel guilty for prioritizing rest and their needs.
Please always remind yourself that rest should not be treated as a reward. It’s a necessity. Rest is not something that will keep us from achieving our goals. It’s actually essential in achieving our goals.
This new year, let us allow ourselves to let go of the notion that rest should be earned. Let’s remind ourselves that for us to continue being our best, we have to honor our bodies and respect our needs.
6. Regrets That Keep You Stuck
Most of us are often guilty of still holding on to all our regrets in life. We constantly allow ourselves to ruminate on those regrets, replay all our past decisions, thinking that if only we could somehow change the past. I know how easy it is to fall into this cycle.
I can’t even begin to tell you the number of times I’ve done this without realizing that by constantly doing this, I was somehow keeping myself stuck in the past and unable to move forward. I continued to let all my regrets define what was possible for me to achieve. If you feel the same way too, please know that you are allowed to leave your regrets in the past.
Doing so doesn’t mean that you are just simply ignoring what happened. It simply means that you are no longer allowing those regrets to dictate who you are becoming and who you will become. This new year, let’s give ourselves permission to leave all our regrets behind and finally let ourselves move forward.
Home And Physical Space Decluttering
7. Expired Products
Are you also one of those people who hold on to expired products? I’m certainly guilty of this. It just feels so hard to let them go. I had this notion that as long as I’m still keeping them, then I’m not really wasting anything.
But of course that’s not really the case. Holding on to those items doesn’t really make me responsible. It just adds more clutter without really giving any value or purpose to my life. If you’re guilty of doing this too, together, let’s start the new year by getting rid of all those expired items. Let this step serve as a reminder for us to be more mindful of the things that we bring into our lives.
8. Clothes You No Longer Wear
Still holding on to old clothes that don’t even fit you anymore? I know how difficult it can often be to let go of pieces that had once made us feel connected to certain memories. I struggle with this too. It wasn’t always about the clothes, it was more about who I was during that time and how those clothes made me feel.
But the truth is, allowing ourselves to hold on to those pieces is really only taking up the space that could be used for items that could truly fit our current lives. Instead of holding onto them, maybe it’s time to pass them on and donate them to other people who could really actually use those items.
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9. Excess Mugs, Cups, or Glasses
I have always been guilty of having so many different cups. Different cups for different seasons, buying cups just because they look cute, or because I convinced myself that I needed a new one. Before you know it, the cabinet was just overflowing with these cups.
At first, I thought that there was really no harm in it as long as I continued using them. But sadly, that wasn’t really the case. I only ever use three different cups and the rest are just sitting there, unused. It was only adding so much visual clutter. The moment that I decided to let go of the cups that I wasn’t using was surprisingly freeing.
My cabinets didn’t look so cluttered and chaotic anymore. It wasn’t only pleasing to my eyes, but it also made my space calmer.
Digital Decluttering
10. Emails
Do your unread e-mail messages reach a surprising amount of 25,000 too? You’re certainly not alone. I can’t even begin to tell you the number of times I’ve been in that situation. Sometimes, I just find myself subscribing to newsletters I tell myself that I’m going to read and yet that never happens and eventually they all just pile up in my inbox.
If you’re guilty of this too, now is the perfect time to purge those emails and give yourself that much-needed digital reset. Start by identifying those newsletters you haven’t opened in months and just go from there.
Trust me, these small simple steps can make such a huge difference in how you feel every time you open your inbox.
11. Social Media Accounts That Trigger Comparison
It’s so easy to start comparing our lives with the lives of those people we see in social media. I mean, most of them just look so polished, like they just have everything figured out, and while we are still here, just stumbling through life.
When I was navigating one of the lowest points in my life, one of the very first things that I did was deactivate my social media accounts. I was struggling so badly and I didn’t really want to put myself in the situation where I end up comparing my life with others. Honestly, at that moment, I didn’t really have the emotional and mental strength to absorb all the negativity, comparison, and noise of social media.
Now, I’m not saying that you also need to do this because often, social media can also be inspiring and motivating. But we have to be honest with ourselves about how certain content makes us feel.
If the account you’re following constantly makes you feel like you are not doing enough or that you are behind in life then maybe it’s time to unfollow that account. With this new year, let’s make it a priority to protect our mental space.
Let’s give ourselves permission to follow accounts that inspire and motivate us to become better people instead of making us feel small.
12. Screenshots You Don’t Need
Last year, my phone was filled with so many screenshots. Some of them were even from a couple of years back. Random online receipts, inspiring quotes I thought would certainly change my life and so much more. It was filled with all these random things that I didn’t really need anymore.
So, one day, I finally decided to sort through them. I honestly can’t even believe why I was still holding onto most of those screenshots. Clearing all those screenshots not only freed up space on my phone but it was also weirdly cathartic.
With this new year, let’s use this opportunity to clear out screenshots we no longer need and make room for all the new memories we will be making this year.
Schedule And Routine Decluttering
13. Outdated Routines
Have you ever found yourself holding onto certain routines even if they’re really not benefiting you anymore just because they feel familiar? I did. I have never been a big fan of change so I always found myself sticking with old routines just because they felt comfortable.
It took some time for me to realize that by doing this, I was somehow holding myself back and keeping myself stuck. Yes, those routines were comfortable and familiar but honestly, they were not really helping me grow. They were only keeping me from trying new opportunities and adopting healthier habits.
If you’re guilty of this too, maybe now is the time to ask yourself if these routines are still adding value to your life. Are they helping this current version of the person you are becoming? If not then maybe it’s time to let them go and create new routines that will support this person that you are trying to grow into.
14. Unrealistic To-Do List
Most of us are guilty of making all these unrealistic to-do lists. I’m certainly one of them. Honestly, I really thought that I was doing the right thing. I thought that by creating this unrealistic to-do list, I was somehow pushing myself to work harder.
I thought that doing this would motivate me even more. But that wasn’t really the case. Instead of actually motivating me, it only made everything more overwhelming for me to the point that I was constantly stressed and anxious. If you’re also doing this, please know that there is nothing wrong with adjusting your goals to something more manageable.
It’s okay to take small steps. Doing this doesn’t mean that you are not aiming high. It simply means that you are giving yourself permission to grow in a pace that’s healthier and doesn’t lead you to burnout.
15. Draining Commitments
Do you also find yourself saying yes to so many commitments just because you are afraid of disappointing other people? How many times have you agreed to something even when you were already feeling so exhausted and drained?
I’ve been in this situation a hundred times. I always believed that if I said no, I would no longer be worthy and accepted. If you feel the same way, please know that your worth and value are never measured by how much you can do for others. You don’t have to keep draining yourself just to accommodate everyone’s request.
You, just like everyone else, deserve to respect and honor your time, energy, and needs. Saying no to commitments that drain your energy doesn’t mean that you are being unkind or selfish. It simply means that you are protecting your peace and mental health and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.
So this new year, please don’t hesitate to give yourself permission to say no to those commitments that don’t align with your beliefs and priorities.
Final Thoughts
As you move through the list above, please know that this is not a race. You don’t have to complete everything all at once. Work at your own pace. It’s okay to start small. Don’t give yourself any unnecessary pressure and if you find yourself reverting to old habits and patterns, please don’t beat yourself up.
Please know that the goal here is not perfection. There will be days when you feel like you are making headway with the list, but there will always be days when you feel like you are not making any progress or that you are taking a few steps back. During those days, please remember to be kind to yourself.
Know that progress is not linear, and what matters is that you are trying. Always remember that I’m rooting for you.
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