You’ve probably heard of or participated in “spring cleaning.” And if you’re like me, it can sneak up on us and by the time we realize it, we’re already at the end of May, with no cleaning done yet. Summer is often known as vacation and pool season, but it’s also the perfect time to declutter your space, both physically and mentally.
While the heat outside may be welcome for many people, some may want to take more time off from work or their weekly grind and enjoy the air conditioning at home. The Bible reminds us of the importance of placing our hearts and material possessions under God’s authority, as Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” This summer, I made it my goal to declutter my home and my mind. If you want to know more about how, please follow us.
Take stock of your thoughts and surroundings
Before you start cleaning, you need to think about what you are planning. Cleaning can be a grueling journey. Taking a close look at your home, each room, and secret spaces will help you formulate a plan of attack. When cleaning out your home, the first thing I recommend is to look for items that are still in the boxes they came in. Have you opened that box in the past year or two? Do you need to take out items and put them in a place where you’ll see them often so they can be used? Look in your closet and see if there are any clothes you’ve only worn once or twice. Maybe the size no longer fits? The three piles I like to organize my items into are: Keep, Recycle/Trash, and Give to Others. Browsing through clothes and home items that look great but don’t need to be kept is a great way to get in the mood for decluttering.
Similarly, do you need to take inventory of your thoughts?I learned about metacognition in college, and “thinking about what you’re thinking” is a phrase I’ve been using for a while to explain what it means. What thoughts are putting you in a negative mood? If you don’t know what you’re thinking, listen to how you talk to others and yourself. As Luke 6:45 says, “…the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Are the thoughts that emerged in your speech really true? Did it come from the Word of God or was it something you heard on your Instagram story late at night? I admit that it’s hard not to get stuck in a negative thought loop when the reality around you seems to confirm what you’re thinking, but let me remind you that our minds are powerful. Taking a hard look at your thought life over the past few days or weeks is a healthy first step and can help you get on the path to a more positive outlook. Be kind to yourself, don’t judge what’s out there, and be ready to work on it.
Pray about what you need to let go of
The next healthy step to decluttering your home is to start thinking about how you can bless others. Pray about what you’ve been holding on to and see if God is nudging you to let it go for something greater or to use it to bless others. Listen to conversations around you at work and with friends. After all, someone might need the very item that’s gathering dust in your closet. If you’re planning on moving in the next year or so, it might be a good idea to pray about what you need to bring into your new space. This will also help you see what kind of space you need to move into or what dreams you want to realize by creating more space in your home right now (for example, an art room, music room, exercise room, garden shed, etc.).
To declutter your mind, you will need prayer to help you avoid the cobwebs, green lights, and stop signs you encounter in your brain. Ask yourself if your thoughts are consistent with Philippians 4:8: “…whatever is true,…noble,…right,…pure,…lovely,…worthy of praise, good, worthy of praise…” If you notice warning signs in a situation you’ve been thinking about lately, ask God for discernment. Maybe you are burdened and unable to ask for help or have no one to help you. Pray that God would move those around you, such as family, friends, and mental health professionals, to support you and take on some of your burden. Prayer helps keep us centered and gives us peace, even in the midst of turmoil.
take conscious and physical action
The final step to decluttering your home is actually decluttering. Now that you have “store, recycle/trash, give away” in mind, you’ll find some boxes to start filling. Some people need help from family and friends, while others decide to do it all themselves. Revisiting items filled with memories can be emotional and cathartic. If you take your time with this process, you can bring healing to areas that you have been putting off for a long time. Also, if you sell products, why not consider donating some of the money to a charity or to a child who needs financial help to go to camp this summer? Whichever way you donate, remember that the heart behind it is just as important as the action itself. We are all reminded in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “…that we should give what we have decided in our hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Clearing away clutter or giving it away will not only make your home feel more open, but it will also enrich your soul.
Similarly, clearing your mind requires action. This may look like finally reaching out to a counselor who can help you get through the mental stuckness and confusion you’ve been praying about and taking stock of. Your actions may include reaching out to friends and family who can help you organize and grow mentally. Another action step might be to write in a journal about what brings you down. We understand that writing down your feelings can be a difficult task for some people. If so, it might be as simple as writing a few bullet points on a piece of paper and throwing it in the trash afterwards. Or, if you prefer to write, you can keep a journal about it so you can read it back months or years later. It can be great to look back and admire God’s faithful hand in your future life and your growth. Regardless of how you do it, the act of writing or talking to another trusted person can help you “keep” your emotional and mental turmoil away from immediate recall and keep it in another source. We are so thankful that we have a kind and patient Father who helps us to sort out our hearts with God’s Word, God’s people, and God’s peace.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Kathrin Ziegler
Mandy Smith is the proud author of Almost There: A 30 Day Journey Where Tomorrow’s Uncertainty Takes A Back Seat to the Promise of Today and loves using her writing talents to lead readers to a life of dependence on Jesus.
