Make More Time! 12 Steps To Declutter Your Schedule

I decided one day I was done being a slave to stuff that didn’t matter a whole lot to me. This is the day I learned to say ‘no’. No means no. Period,

I realized how much my commitments were taking away from me.. 

If you are fortunate to have family members nearby wouldn’t you choose to spend time with them rather than sit in another meeting that is going nowhere and bored to tears?

12 Steps to make time

In addition to decluttering physical possessions, it’s equally important to declutter your schedule to create time for the important things in life. Here’s a list of 12 things you can do today to declutter to make room for what truly matters:

Unproductive commitments

I have sat in more unproductive meetings than I care to remember. No more. If I can help push an agenda that aligns with my values give me an action step to take. Otherwise don’t waste my time. 

Unproductive meetings allow time to get away from you and leaves less time for the things that truly matter in your life.

Quality over quantity

Would you rather spend time doing fewer fun and rewarding things than hop breathlessly from one thing to the next because this is the way you have always filled your schedule?

By reducing your commitments you will shift from a quantity-focused mindset to a quality-focused mindset. Instead of cramming days with numerous activities, we can prioritize a few meaningful and fulfilling adventures.

It is hard to be present during any given activity when you are constantly looking at your watch stressed you will be late for the next thing.

Deeper connections

With more time and availability, we can foster deeper connections with others. Engaging in meaningful conversations and spending quality time with friends and families strengthens bonds and creates lasting memories.

Personal growth

A less cluttered schedule allows for more self-reflection and personal growth. Take time to assess your values, passions, and aspirations. This will lead to a better understanding of who you are and your purpose in life.  

A great place to start is to schedule ‘me’ time. A friend of mine in upper management schedules 45 minutes a day in the office to think quietly without interruption. No calls are put through to her. Her best ideas come during this ‘me’ time.

Reduce burnout

Constantly juggling multiple commitments can lead to burnout and exhaustion. Start new habits and include lightening your schedule to prevent burnout.

This will allow you to recharge and enhance your overall well-being.

Focus on health and well-being

A less hectic schedule is far more conducive to a clutter-free lifestyle. More time will enable you to prioritize your physical and mental health.

Engaging in regular exercise, practicing mindfulness, and adopting healthier lifestyle habits, will lead to improved overall well-being and may very well reduce chronic stress..

Pursuing passions

An effective way to pursue the really important stuff in your life is to coordinate your schedule to create space for friends and family and to pursue hobbies and passions that may have been neglected before.

No matter what interests you dedicating time to these activities that bring you joy will be incredibly rewarding.

Living in the present

A less cluttered schedule allows us to be more present and mindful in our daily activities. Being immersed in what we are doing without feeling rushed and with fewer distractions is a great way to reduce stress levels.

Increased creativity and innovation

Scheduling unstructured time for yourself will lead to a simpler life and will pave the way to creativity and innovation. You will find the mental space to explore new ideas and think outside the box, leading to fresh perspectives and creative solutions.

There are so many areas of your life you can explore with free time. An hour of fulfilling unstructured time is way more fun than an hour of scrolling mindlessly.

Focus on priorities

If you can’t make a list of your top priorities in life without pause maybe it is time to consider these questions? If I had all the time and money in the world what would I do today? or If I was not afraid what would I do today?

Find what truly matters to you and you will be on your way to more purposeful, fulfilling days with some peace of mind, which these days can be elusive.

No means no

To instill a little peace in different areas of your life a good idea may be to learn how to say no.

Such a wee word is the word ‘no’. I learned how to say no long ago. I have found the key to saying ‘no thank you’ is to stop at that. Do not offer lame excuses. The best way to say no is simply ‘no. No means no. 

Embracing opportunities

By opening up space in our schedules we create the flexibility to seize unexpected opportunities that align with our values and goals.  Say “yes” to experiences that you would have otherwise not taken the time to engage in.

Freeing up your busy schedules and saying ‘yes’ are good habits to add to your life today. With a few simple steps on a regular basis in addition to a clutter free home you will now have a clutter free schedule.

It is hard not to love Iiving a more intentional and fulfilling life. Doing so allows us to prioritize our well-being, deepen relationships, explore passions, and pursue personal growth—all of which contribute to a more meaningful existence.

I treasure not be being beholden to schedules and to do lists. With a bit of time and practice I am betting you will embrace this simplified lifestyle too. See you at the beach!

Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutterer and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. “Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.

For more Declutter Buzz & Freebies check out our safe and private Decluttering community on our Facebook page. We are a safe and private space of like minded folks tackling this all encompassing clutter thing once and for all. No shame allowed! We will have a few laughs too!

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