I guarantee you’ve heard of or participated in “spring cleaning.” And if you’re like me, this may come as a surprise to us, and before we know it, we’ve already reached the end of May and no cleanup has been completed yet. Summer, while often known for vacations and pool time, can also be a great time to declutter your space, both physically and mentally.
While the heat outside may be a welcome companion for many, others might find themselves at home, enjoying the air conditioning, with more time free from work or their usual weekly obligations. The Bible reminds us that it is important to keep our minds and physical possessions under God’s authority, as Matthew 6:21 said: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. » This summer I made it a goal to declutter my home and my mind, and if you’d like to learn more about how to do that, follow us!
Take inventory of your thoughts and surroundings
Before you start cleaning, you need to have an idea of what you plan to do because it can be a crazy journey. A careful, thorough examination of your home, individual rooms, and secret spaces will help you organize your plan of attack. When decluttering a home, the first thing I would recommend is looking for items that are still in the boxes they came in. Have you opened this box in the last two years? Do you need to take items out and display them somewhere you will see more often so you can use them? Take a look through your closet and see if there are any clothes you’ve only worn once or twice. Maybe they are in a size that no longer suits you? The three piles I like to organize things into are: “keep, recycle/throw in the trash, and give to others.” Starting to take a look at clothes and home items that are pretty but don’t need to be kept is a great way to get in the mood to declutter.
Along the same lines, do you need to take inventory of your thoughts? I learned about metacognition in college, and “thinking about what you think about” is a phrase I’ve been using to describe what that means for a while now. What thoughts put you in a negative mood? If you’re not sure what you think, listen to the way you speak to others and to yourself. As it is said in Luke 6:45“…the mouth says what the heart is full of.” Are the thoughts that surface in your speech actually true? Are they from the Word of God or the word you heard on an Instagram story late at night? I admit it’s hard not to get stuck in negative thought loops when the reality around you seems to confirm what you think, but let me remind you that our minds are powerful. Taking a hard look at your mental life over the past few days or weeks is a healthy first step and can help us on the path to a more positive outlook. Be kind to yourself and try not to judge what you find there, but be willing to work at it.
Pray for what you need to let go of
The next healthy step to decluttering your home is to start thinking about how you can bless someone else. Pray about the items you are holding on to and see if God prompts you to let them go for something greater or bless someone else with them. Listen to conversations around you at work or with friends. After all, you may discover that someone needs the very item that’s gathering dust in your closet! If you’re planning to move in the next year, you may want to pray about what to bring to your new space. It can also help you see what type of space you need to move into or what dreams you might want to bring to life (for example, an art or music room, exercise room, garden shed, etc.) by freeing up more space in your home now.
To declutter your mind, you will most likely need a little prayer to guide you around the cobwebs, green lights, and stop signs you encounter in your brain. Ask yourself if the thoughts agree with Philippians 4:8 as something that is “…true,…noble,…just,…pure,…charming,…admirable – if something is excellent or praiseworthy…” Ask God for discernment when you find a warning sign in a situation you’ve been thinking about a lot lately. Maybe burdens are placed on you and you are too afraid to ask for help, or you don’t know anyone who can help you. Pray that God can move people around you to support you and take some of your burden, whether it is a family member, a friend, or a mental health professional. Prayer can help us refocus and give us peace, even in the midst of confusion.
Act consciously and physically
The final step to decluttering your home is to do it. Now that you hopefully have the “save, recycle/waste, and give to others” piles in mind, you can find some boxes to start filling! Some people may need help from family or friends, while others may decide to do everything themselves. It can be emotional and cathartic to look through your items that hold memories. Taking your time in this process can help heal the parts of you that were procrastinating all the time. And if you sell items, maybe consider donating some of that money to a charity or a child who needs financial support to go to camp this summer? However you decide to give, remember that the heart behind it is just as important as the action itself. We are reminded in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that we “should all give what you have decided in your heart to give, without reluctance or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Not only will your home feel more open once the clutter is put away or given to someone else, but your mind and heart will benefit as well.
Along the same lines, decluttering your mind now requires action. This might look like finally reaching out to a counselor who can help you overcome the mental blocks or clutter you’ve been praying about and taking inventory of. Your action might include reaching out to a friend or family member who supports your mental decluttering and growth. Another action step might be to keep a journal about what has been making you depressed. I understand that writing down your feelings can be a daunting task for some. If so, it could be as simple as writing a few bullet points on a piece of paper and then throwing it away. Or if you prefer to write, you can journal about it in a place that you can read again in the months or years to come. It can be nice to be able to look back and admire your growth and God’s faithful hand in your life later. However you do it, writing or talking with another trusted person can help move the emotional and mental clutter away from your immediate memory and onto another source. I am so grateful that we have such a kind and patient Father who can help us unclutter our minds with His Word, His people, and His peace.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Kathrin Ziegler
Mandy Smith is the proud author of We’re almost there: a 30-day journey where the uncertainty of tomorrow takes second place to the promise of today and enjoys using the gift of writing to guide readers toward a life that rests on Jesus.
