Spring Clean Your Life
Essentials|September 2017

Here’s how to declutter your home, clear your mind, and make space for what really matters

Giselle Wainwright & Vicky Silverthorn
Spring Clean Your Life

Feel like it’s time to hit the refresh button? Some experts believe that finding inner peace starts with sorting out your sock drawer, so here are our tips to help you spring into action.

Clutter is anything that gets in the way of what’s important to you. Physical clutter is the ‘stuff’ you immediately think of when you hear the word, like the sweet wrappers lying in the back of your car, the pile of old newspapers stacked up in the garage, the clothes hanging in your cupboard that no longer fit, and the ‘I’ll deal with it later’ drawer in the kitchen (yes, every house has one).

Because your mood is often affected by the physical places you spend time in, if your home is a mess, it can make your mind feel muddled, too. In this way, clutter doesn’t just refer to physical things – a busy or cluttered mind can result in emotional clutter such as forgetfulness, tardiness or irritability. And it’s often emotional clutter that triggers negative reactions like anger, guilt or resentment. As we can’t see this sort of clutter, it’s easy to pretend that it doesn’t exist, but often it’s emotional clutter, more than physical, that is holding you back from living the best version of your life. Maybe you’re hanging onto an old jersey because it reminds you of happier times, or you’ve resisted trying something new, like an art class, because you’re worried that you won’t be any good.

Sometimes it’s not our own emotional clutter that’s causing us to lash out – you might be carrying someone else’s baggage: the friend who often unloads all of her issues onto you, or the regular Thursday lunch date you have with an old colleague because you don’t know how to say no.

Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av Essentials.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av Essentials.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA ESSENTIALSSe alt
Find Balance In A Wired World
Essentials

Find Balance In A Wired World

Tech was supposed to make life easier, but have our days got more, not less, pressured? Here’s how to reclaim your time and your sanity by managing your online habits

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2020
Essentials

Food To Boost Your Mood

Are you feeling stressed out or lacking energy? Turns out can eat your way to happiness

time-read
1 min  |
June 2020
Are You Eating Your Emotions?
Essentials

Are You Eating Your Emotions?

Lots of us reach for food when we’re down, stressed or tired. Here’s why we do it – and how to break the cycle, fast!

time-read
5 mins  |
June 2020
‘I dream of having A VINEYARD'
Essentials

‘I dream of having A VINEYARD'

AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS SCARLETT JOHANSSON ON PLAYING COMPLEX FEMALE CHARACTERS, RAISING HER DAUGHTER AND CO-PARENTING AFTER A DIVORCE

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2020
MEAL MAKEOVER 'FRIED' CHICKEN
Essentials

MEAL MAKEOVER 'FRIED' CHICKEN

MEAL MAKEOVER 'FRIED' CHICKEN

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2020
FOCUS ON AVOIDING GERMS
Essentials

FOCUS ON AVOIDING GERMS

Staying well has become our biggest priority. Fight the nasties with this expert insight

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2020
HOW DO YOU FIND LOVE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC?
Essentials

HOW DO YOU FIND LOVE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC?

Life as we know it has changed – with social distancing and curfews putting nights out on hold, we find out if romance is off the table, too

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2020
DITCH THE GUILT FOR GOOD
Essentials

DITCH THE GUILT FOR GOOD

Are you carrying remorse, regret and guilt around with you? You’re not alone...

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2020
DON'T TELL ME I CAN'T LAUNCH MY OWN BUSINESS AGED 40
Essentials

DON'T TELL ME I CAN'T LAUNCH MY OWN BUSINESS AGED 40

BUSY MOM LUCY PARLEY WANTED TO EMBRACE HER CREATIVITY

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2020
Don't Tell Me I Can't: Rediscover My Childhood Hobby
Essentials

Don't Tell Me I Can't: Rediscover My Childhood Hobby

Esther Wane realised it was a shame to leave her talents in the past

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2020