Declutter Your Life and Free Your Mind

How many of you heard, "if your house is a mess, your life is a mess." This statement pertains to the holistic being. When you look around your home, do you find yourself afraid of letting go of things such as old magazines with Idris Elba on the cover, an ex-boyfriend's sweatpants, or old save the dates from past baby showers and weddings from five years ago? If you are giving this article a side-eye or sucking your teeth, significant because I am making you feel uncomfortable, and you know you have work to do! My mission is to help you de-clutter your life and free your mind of old ideas, grudges, unforgiveness, bad habits, and a toxic environment.

I used to watch the television show "Hoarders" because I wanted to know how people exist with clutter, and I also wanted to know what led that person to spiral out of control to become a hoarder. Well, I have learned that being a hoarder occurs over time. It is a kind of comfort and protection for that person who experienced traumatic events such as abandonment, various abuse, and just not feeling good about oneself but find comfort in their stuff and muck whether or not the property added value to their life or not. Also, hoarders usually isolate themselves from loved ones because they hide their toxic environment and mental health illness.

Unfortunately,  I actually have a close family member who is a hoarder, and I have learned that this particular family member has experienced abandonment, lost herself in a lifetime abusive marriage, and took on other people's toxic "stuff" by giving them permission to dump their toxicity onto her. My family member has many undercover strengths, skills, and abilities, but she is stuck in clutter. She is holding herself captive of her toxic environment, which has caused isolation, depression, and ongoing health issues. Underneath that clutter is a broken person who does not know how to celebrate nor embrace her light because it is dark underneath all that "stuff."

I wanted to shed light on how you can de-clutter your life and free your mind with a few tips that help me refocus, regain creativity and release harmful and toxic relationships. When I am surrounded by people's negative energy, unwanted and unused stuff, and being idle, I am held caged to my thoughts, my energy is lethargic, and my creative vibe is stuck. Whenever I feel that way, I pay close attention to my environment, such as who I surround myself with throughout the week, what I watch on the tube that got me stuck, what I eat, and my thoughts. Evaluating these things are essential because clutter will cause you to become stuck.

Here are Five Ways You Can De-Clutter Your Life and Free Your Mind:

1. Clean One to Two Rooms Daily: How often do you clean your home? Do you have time to clean your home an entire day, or do you usually wait to clean your home on the weekends? I typically wash my house daily by using the 30-minute rule. I usually clean my house one/two rooms at a time, depending on the severity of the messiness. Dishes are washed daily, floors are swept daily and mopped twice a week. I noticed that I didn't have time or energy to wait for the weekend and do a total clean sweep to clean my home. I like to hang out with my husband, family, and friends on the weekend, not dedicate my entire weekend to cleaning my house.
2. Clean Closet Every Season: I usually clean our closet every change of season. We accumulate a lot of clothes, shoes, and accessories that we usually forget about or don't wear due to them being out of season. I typically get boxes and bags, start filling the boxes and bags and donate items to those who need clothing. If you haven't worn an item for over 6 months, it is time for you to donate that item. Stop trying to save that item and think you may wear it again because you may not ever wear it. Instead, contribute to the local shelter, especially the homeless and domestic violence shelter. I had a friend tell me that she donates typically two to three articles of clothing every time she buys something. That's awesome! If you want to sell your clothes, you can check out Craigslist, E-Bay, Thred Up, and other online or local consignments shops.
3. Recycle Old Magazines/Newspapers: Look around your home and notice that year-old Essence magazine with Idris Elba on the cover. Are you still admiring Idris's handsome face? Come on now, why are you really holding on to that old Jet, Essence, Ebony, or your favorite magazine? You can take those magazines and start a vision board by cutting out pictures, words, and quotes. You can also donate those magazines to your local nonprofit agencies because some are looking for magazines to teach a media class or dream exploration class. For example, I am a Girl Scout leader, and I am always looking for old magazines to do a collage and do a dream board with my girls. 
4. Hire a Feng Shui consultant: Yes, ladies and gents, this is an actual career field which is impressive. A Feng Shui consultant helps you clear clutter, tips on decorating your home, assess the best colors and furniture positioning for a harmonious and happy. Feng Shui also helps attract positive energy, health, and a comfortable environment. 
5. Create a healthy boundary and limitations on toxic relationships: We thrive on love, friendships, and belonging to someone. We don't realize how toxic relationships affect our mindset and overall well-being. Relationships take a toll on all of us. We usually are vulnerable within our close-knit relationships because we care and love our relationships. Still, we often forget that some people don't love or care about us as people. Many people usually are emotional vampires, users, abusers, and just downright toxic. Whenever you are faced with a toxic relationship, you must create a boundary and limitation on the relationship, and if that doesn't work, you must release them with love. You don't want to surround yourself with those who will make you a better person. 

We live in a culture in which we are bombarded by materialistic things. Material things actually bog us down in which we are constantly on the hamster wheel trying to obtain more to keep up with "The Joneses." Always, we heard more is more instead of less is more. We should all strive to live a simple life instead of being consumed and swallowed by stuff. We are often consumed by people's things in which we do not need to take ownership of their property. Do practice to rid yourself of clutter and free your mind.

Coaching Question for you: What do you need to free yourself from? How will you de-clutter your life today?

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Thanks for reading Brown Girl From Boston
XOXO,

Drea