How to declutter your life and feel more organized (4 quick and easy tips)

Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. — William Morris

Whether it's your office, your desk, a kitchen draw, your handbag, or even your head, there is likely something in your life that you can declutter.

Removing unnecessary items from an overcrowded or untidy place can produce remarkable clarity.

And can make you instantly feel more in control and organized. Which, if you’re anything like me, is an important feeling to promote.

But for many people, organizing isn’t a natural talent (yes, adding structure to things is a strength!). Or they simply don’t find the time to make it a priority.

So today, I wanted to share three quick and easy tips for decluttering, getting more organized, and taking ownership of your environment.

#1 Clean your desk and remove as much as possible from the surface

Having a clean space and minimalist approach to your workstation will help keep you focused, offer fewer distractions, and make you feel better in general.

When my desk is full of crap like undone items, folders, pieces of paper, post-its, etc, I just don’t feel like I'm on top of things.

Removing items from my desk allows for clarity and a clear head.

Granted, I am not someone whose desk has one pencil, a computer, and an Instagram-able coffee cup (and that’s it) — but I do follow my “everything has its place” system. And I feel more content when I’ve put items where I intended them to be.

Of course, your optimal environment is all about ...wait for it... YOU!

So don’t be discouraged if your desk doesn’t look like this immaculate writing space (from Kaleigh Moore) :

And looks more like this (from my own desk!):

Whether you opt for minimalist, the “everything has its place” philosophy, or something totally different — keeping it organized (according to you and your preferences) will make you feel better every time you sit down to do your best work.

#2 Clear out your handbag or gym bag of ALL non-essential items.

Maybe your bag isn't as crazy as mine used to be but I'm sure there are few things floating around in that black hole that you can remove.

Whether it's to make it easier to find your keys, change bags at the last minute, or simply to remove all the rubbish, random tissues, loose coins, and old chewing gum wrappers — it will feel good to do it.

I found $30 in coins, five hair bands, and ~one million Bobby pins when I cleaned out my bag (#winning.)

And now, I subscribe to the same philosophy as my desk, where I have a place for all the important items and know exactly where they should be.

#3 Clean out your head of all the tasks and to-do list items that you have on a constant loop

This is arguably my favorite exercise. And one I teach all my students in my Manager of One program.

It’s called a Focus Finder, and it’s super simple.

Grab a pen, a piece of paper, and a timer.
Set it for 50 minutes, then put pen to paper.
Write down everything and anything that comes to mind.

For all the tasks, whether it’s personal or business-related, get them out of your head, and write them all down. And if you think you've finished or run out of stuff to write, read over your list — I guarantee there will be more.

Get detailed and specific. Chunk each item down.

The idea is to use the entire 50 minutes to free your mind of the overload of information you’re keeping trapped in there.

#4 Clean out your wardrobe of anything you haven't worn in 6 months

You’d be surprised at what you find when you rummage through your wardrobe.

I know I personally have ~25 pairs of heels that will never be worn again. And a smattering of summer dresses I wore while pregnant (which have been stretched out now, and won’t fit the post-baby bod).

Getting rid of unnecessary, outgrown, or just plain uggo clothing items will not only free up space in your wardrobe but reduce the overwhelm when it comes to picking what to wear.

The “less is more” approach works wonders for cultivating a cleaner and more stylish look.

Of course, you don’t have to get rid of anything straight away (I know it can be hard) so just pack it into an unused suitcase or Ikea zip bag.

Then, put it aside and see how long you can go without it. And if another three months pass and you don’t miss it:

donate it,
sell it, or
throw it.

I’m about to do another wardrobe cleanout, as we’re moving house soon. Which incidentally is a great time to purge your home of any items that you no longer have use for.

(Time to fire up the ol’ eBay account and sell some stuff secondhand!)

What can you declutter today?

Most people get stuck making changes because they think too big or try to tackle an epic project first.

So that hallway cupboard filled with everything you’ve ever bought from Amazon is probably not the best place to begin.

My advice is to start with something small to make it as easy as possible.

Here is my challenge for you:

Remove one unnecessary thing from your life, each week, for one month. If you can do more, great.

Things to consider getting rid of:

A pair of shoes you never wear
A set of Tupperware that stays holed up in the back of your cupboard
The box set of DVD’s you own that's available on Netflix
The makeup palette you never use and is probably off (yes makeup goes off)
The bottle of near-empty shampoo from your shower

If none of these tickle your fancy, try it with something else that feels disorganized, cluttered, or just plain messy. Find the things that no longer have a use — and throw them out, give them away or sell them. Just remove it from your life.

Because if all you do is eliminate one thing from that clutter — you've won.

The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less. — Socrates

What can you get rid of today?