We’ve all seen those minimalist influencers on Instagram living in white rooms with exactly one plant and a single, very expensive spoon. They look peaceful. They also look like they haven’t eaten a carb since 2014.

While I’m not ready to throw away my comfortable couch or my collection of “just in case” cables, I’ve realized that my life has become a bit like a junk drawer—full of things that were useful once but are now just taking up space.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here is my guide to reducing the clutter in your life, starting from the outside in.

1. The Physical Junk (The “What if I need it?” Lie)

We all have it: the drawer full of menus for restaurants that closed in 2019, the treadmill that has become a very expensive clothes rack, and the box of charging cables for phones that haven’t existed since the Blackberry era.

The Fix: If you haven’t touched it, worn it, or wondered where it was in the last year, it’s not an “asset”—it’s a squatter. Give it to charity or throw it away. Your house should be a sanctuary, not a museum of your past shopping mistakes.

2. Digital Hoarding (The “9,999 Unread Emails” Nightmare)

Your phone is likely a digital landfill. You have apps for a “7-day yoga challenge” from three years ago and 4,000 photos of your lunch. This is mental clutter. Every time you see that “Storage Full” notification, a tiny piece of your soul dies.

The Fix: Delete the apps you don’t use. Unsubscribe from those “FLASH SALE” emails that tempt you to spend money on things you don’t need. A clean home screen is a clean mind. Plus, you’ll finally be able to find that one photo of your kid without scrolling past 50 accidental screenshots of your lock screen.

3. The “Yes” Clutter (The Social Burnout)

This is the most dangerous clutter of all: the “Yes.” We say yes to meetings that could be emails, yes to coffee with people who drain our energy, and yes to favours that make us miserable. We are hoarding obligations.

The Fix: Start practising the “Golden No.” You don’t have to be mean; you just have to be honest. Your time is your most valuable currency. Stop spending it on “emotional hoarders” who take everything and give nothing back. Declutter your calendar so you actually have time for the people who matter—like your family and God.

4. The Mental Noise (The Worry Loop)

We clutter our brains with “What ifs” and “Should haves.” We replay an awkward conversation from 2007 like it’s a blockbuster movie. This is the ultimate clutter—it blocks our peace and prevents us from hearing that “still, small voice” of guidance.

The Fix: This is where my faith comes in. When the mental noise gets too loud, I hand the clutter over to God. I realize that I don’t have to solve every problem by Tuesday. Some things just need to be deleted from the “Brain Desktop” so I can focus on the present.

The Goal: Room to Breathe

Decluttering isn’t about owning nothing; it’s about making sure that what you do own (and what you do keep in your head) actually serves you.

When you clear the junk, you find something amazing: Space. Space to think, space to grow, and space to actually enjoy the life you’ve worked so hard to build.

So, what’s the first thing you’re throwing out today? Is it that old toaster, or that old grudge? Let me know in the comments!