Declutter Your Life: Three Steps to Take

By Lev Novak

Let’s get zen, dawg.

1. Throw Out Everything

Want a cleaner apartment? Throw out everything.

No, not your computer. Not your shoes either. But what about that old Esquire? Sure, you might read it, but are you? Out it goes. Same with those post it notes. They’re more trouble than they’re worth.

Socks that don’t fit? Trash. Worst pair of underwear? Trash.

Some of these things might be useful, but if there’s no obvious reason not to throw it out, get rid of it. If those leftovers aren’t going to ever get eaten, cut out the middle man and throw them out now. Those books you don’t read? Pile them in a closet instead of leaving them out on your desk. You aren’t impressing anyone, and you can get them when you need them. Besides, having that Textbook open right by your lap top is just shaming you extra hard.

2. Throw Out Everything (Pt.2)

Get rid of everything on your iTunes that doesn’t make sense. Delete every Facebook friend you don’t actually know. Get rid of every Facebook friend you don’t actually like.

Look, when things are free- like social media- it can be easy to collect countless things. Downloading music, especially, can feel free, but time is a cost. Even if you get the full collected works of Young Buck, you’re going to have to be brutally honest with yourself and ask: how much do you like Young Buck? “A little” isn’t enough, because every Young Buck song distracts you from a potentially better song by a new artist.

Your time is a currency. Don’t waste your time on the less interesting things on your computer.

P.S: Please don’t hurt me, Young Buck. I liked “Shorty Wanna Ride.”

3. Stop Making Your Life Harder

If you’re doing yoga and you hate it, quit.

This isn’t likely, but a lot of us have habits we’ve gotten ourselves into for no particular reason. Maybe you’re cooking and it’s awful and the sandwich place by you is super good and healthy. Hate to say it, but quit cooking.

Now, obviously, cooking and yoga are cool things. I wish I did them. But I’m young, and so are you, and right now I have enough on my plate: I’m working jobs, I’m living in my new apartment, I’m adjusting to a new city, and I don’t have time in my life to do things I hate just because I’m supposed to.

Save the gym and the resolutions for a quieter time. Put the energy you have now into doing the things you need to do, and even the things you love, at a better level.

Yes, you should make things other than peanut butter sandwiches. But peanut butter sandwiches are plenty good, and stir-fry might just be too much right now. Don’t invite challenges into your life until you’re ready for them.

Difficult relationships- be they with people or activities- should be reviewed for the new year. Why make life harder than it has to be?

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