Less is More

Where can you reduce clutter in your life?

For a long time, I believed clutter was just about possessions. Extra clothes, crowded desks, piles of books I intended to read. But I’ve realized that the most draining clutter isn’t always visible. It’s the kind that quietly builds up in attention, time, and thoughts.

I first noticed this during a hectic academic period. My desk was technically “organized,” my calendar was overbooked, and my mind constantly felt interrupted. Nothing was seriously wrong—yet everything felt overwhelming.

Physical clutter

I started small by cleaning my desk at the end of each day. I let go of clothes I was holding onto for a future version of myself. What surprised me was how much lighter my mornings felt. Less visual clutter made it easier to get started.

Digital clutter

My phone was next. I deleted apps I hadn’t opened in months and muted notifications that didn’t require urgency. The silence was awkward at first—then comforting. I hadn’t realized how often my attention was being pulled without my consent. I’m gradually stepping back from social media to focus on real-life connections.

Time clutter

This was more challenging. I started noticing how often I said yes out of obligation rather than intention. Reducing clutter didn’t mean doing less; it meant focusing on what matters with more presence.

Mental clutter

Some clutter exists entirely in the mind: unresolved decisions, replayed conversations, quiet self-doubt. Writing things down helped. So did making small decisions quickly, rather than letting them linger. Clarity, I’ve learned, often comes from closure.

Reducing clutter isn’t about control or perfection. It’s about alignment. Every small clearing—of space, time, or attention—creates room to think, to rest, and to imagine more honestly. In a world that constantly demands more, choosing less has become one of my most grounding practices.