Simplifying your surroundings can contribute to a more engaged society
Since starting my professional organizing company in Washington DC, I’ve thought a lot about the link between decluttering and democracy - the first tagline for my business was “Cleaning up the capital, one home at a time.” I wanted the homes of leaders in the city to feel joyful and calming, as one way to better support them to do good work on society’s behalf in their offices.
This was personal to me because when I left my nearly two-decade career with the US government, I felt very overwhelmed and tired - and I knew that many of my former colleagues felt similarly. Decluttering was one of the practices that showed me how when we feel more calm and present in our homes and shared spaces, we are better equipped to address every other stress in our life–including stress from work and the (gestures wildly) state of the world.
And now, in January 2025, the state of the world is very much in flux. Ideas and possibilities of democracy feel overwhelming. So how can we use decluttering practices to center ourselves and the causes we care most, especially about amidst the changes underway right now, in our larger society?
Problem #1 - Too many ideas compete for our attention
Modern life has increasingly become overwhelming (work demands, less purchasing power, broader expectations for parenting, social media draining our focus, etc.). When we pay attention to those things (and our phones), we are less engaged with community and political efforts for causes that concern us.
We see this all the time with clutter around our things, too: it is easy to order a non-stop flow of packages to our doorways, immediately crowding homes with things we may not even need. And just like with fast fashion or duplicate beauty products, an excess of non-substantive or correct information online fills our minds (and our homes) and detracts from things that matter.
It’s Time to Reclaim Our Time, Energy, and Focus
The current administration has caused negative consequences already for many people, especially women, immigrants, and the working class. Many of the policies have a direct influence on our health, physically and mentally.
Stress management is key right now. Mindfulness is a regular, repetitive practice of paying attention to the present moment, not as a way to accept injustice everywhere we see it, but rather, to stay steady amidst the storm. The more often we check in with our bodies and practice mindfulness, the better for our brain chemistry as it gets rewired.
Decluttering and being decluttered can help stabilize emotional regulation, mental health and executive functioning–all of which allow us to act with more purpose and less reactivity to the constant stream of news coming from the world. Decluttering can allow for more time and effort to be spent addressing causes and concerns that trouble us, so we have the clarity and energy to speak up and show up.
Begin by noticing how you feel during certain activities
Mindfulness and mindful decluttering encourage people to focus on one task, one category, and one goal at a time. That way we don’t fall into the trap of overwhelm.
It could be as simple as your sweater drawer or your news consumption that needs reexamination after work. You can ask similar questions - do I like wearing this? Is analogous to how do I feel when I listen to this channel or that social media influencer? What am I getting from this and how much time do I want to devote to this newscaster/paper/pants style?
The goal here, among many things, is to reclaim how we spend our time and energy.
Problem #2 - Too much money goes to businesses that are not aligned to our values
It’s never just about the stuff - it's everything we can do with our lives, our wallets and our communities when we aren’t burdened by the weight of what we don’t need anymore.
Decluttering can be a tool for fostering a more sustainable and equitable society, especially in the context of democratic principles like justice and fairness.
So much of intentional decluttering entails looking at where the excess of stuff comes from, as well as how there are inequitable distributions of resources like food, housing, and clothing. When we talk about things like the mass production of fast-fashion items, we’re also talking about where that excess waste ends up. We’re talking about where people spend their money and how that money could be spent on things that actually increase joy, such as access to healthy food, local parks, and clean air.
Fighting against apathy and individualism is good for democracy
Many argue that overconsumption and materialism undermine democratic participation by fostering apathy and individualism. How can mindful decluttering challenge this cycle and encourage more intentional engagement in both personal and public life?
With my clients, we work on unintentional shopping and subconscious habits because materialism has become the norm. By directly addressing our consumption habits, we’re not only able to reduce our environmental footprint, but we’re also able to redirect where our money goes.
Refer to Tip #3 (below) for an idea of how to reassess your spending and feel better about how you spend your income.
Staying focused amidst it all: 3 tips to declutter for democracy
So many people want simple tips. In my book, Decluttered: Mindful Organizing for Health, Home, and Beyond, I have a lot of exercises and prompts to help people get going.
Here are three ideas that have helped people redirect their energy, attention, and shopping habits to causes that matter.
- Tip #1 - Focus on one task at a time. For example, if you are decluttering your home, narrow that down at first. Start with clothes, or even better, start with one category of clothing, like sweaters or socks. You may notice a reduction in stress when you declutter regularly, and reassess how clutter is manifesting in your life.
- Focus on one cause at a time. Decluttering for democracy also looks like focusing on one cause at a time, and diving deep with it–rather than trying to advocate for everything all at once. For example, if you want to focus on climate change, write letters to your representatives or join a local advocacy group where you can grow your collective impact.
- Make a Someday/Maybe List. Rather than buying more things right now, start your Someday/Maybe List. I’ve kept one on my phone since 2011. The premise is simple: Add things you would like to buy to the list–but wait for some time before you buy them. Find a place to keep your list, whether it’s your notes App, an actual notepad, etc. Make it easy to access. Keeping addingitems that you want to buy right now. Next, rather than actually buying anything, just add them to this list. Try a spending freeze –even for one day or one week–and notice when you feel called to buy something. Is it linked to procrastination, boredom, or stress? If you wait a few days before you click, “purchase,” does the initial buzz disperse? When someone asks you what you want (for a holiday, birthday gift, etc.,) return to this Someday/Maybe list and pick something from there. Slowly, you will be able to reassess what you actually need.
All of the above ways can help you examine where your money and energy is going, and think about how you could reallocate. homes with things we may not even need. And just like with fast fashion or duplicate beauty products, an excess of non-substantive or correct information online fills our minds (and our homes) and detracts from things that matter.
It’s Time to Reclaim Our Time, Energy, and Focus
The current administration has caused negative consequences already for many people, especially women, immigrants, and the working class. Many of the policies have a direct influence on our health, physically and mentally.
Stress management is key right now. Mindfulness is a regular, repetitive practice of paying attention to the present moment, not as a way to accept injustice everywhere we see it, but rather, to be able to stay steady amidst the storm. The more often we are able to check-in with our bodies and practice mindfulness, the better for our brain chemistry as it gets rewired.
Decluttering and being decluttered can help stabilize emotional regulation, mental health and executive functioning–all of which allow us to act with more purpose and less reactivity to the constant stream of news coming from the world. Decluttering can allow for more time and effort to be spent addressing causes and concerns that trouble us, so we have the clarity and energy to speak up and show up.
Ready to simplify your surroundings?
Your individual and communal actions add up. Think of the decluttering process like an exchange: sometimes you are going to need other people to show up and simplify your life, and other times, you may be in a space to give back. Maybe you want to get a tool-lending library started in your neighborhood, or a safer, nearby greenspace for your kids to play in.
Ideas abound when we commit to decluttering together. If you want more inspiration in your inbox, sign up for my mailing list. I’m here to simplify your surroundings, one decluttering action at a time.
*This article pulls from a talk I gave as part of a decluttering discussion hosted through Emory University on January 15, 2025.
