Things to Declutter Today for Instant Relief…….I swear, decluttering has been the only thing keeping me from fully losing my mind some days. You know when you walk into your kitchen and there’s just… stuff. Everywhere. A random water bottle on the counter. Four different coffee mugs even though you live alone. Mail you swore you’d deal with last week but instead just shuffled into a slightly neater pile like that somehow solved the problem.
Yeah, that was me. For years.
And here’s the thing—I’m not even messy by nature. Like, I actually like a clean space. But life piles up. Target trips happen. Amazon boxes show up at the door (why did I order measuring spoons at midnight??). Then suddenly, I’m sitting in my living room wondering why my brain feels like 47 browser tabs are open at once, and the answer is… clutter.
So, I made a list. Not a perfect Martha-Stewart-approved list. A real list of 21 Things to Declutter Today for Instant Relief that gave me instant relief. And when I say instant, I mean like—within 30 minutes, I felt my shoulders drop. I could breathe again. It wasn’t enlightenment or anything, but it was like unclogging a mental drain.
1. Mismatched Socks
Start here. Don’t even argue. I had a drawer full of single socks, like some sort of sock adoption center. Newsflash: their partners are not coming back. Toss ‘em.
(Unless you’re into DIY sock puppets, in which case… Godspeed.)
2. Expired Spices
Do you really need that paprika from 2012? No. You do not.
Pro tip: shake them. If they sound like gravel, they’re basically dust.
3. Old Receipts
You’re not writing a documentary on your Walgreens purchases. Toss them.
Unless it’s a receipt you actually need for taxes or a return, let it go.
4. Broken Hangers
These things are sneaky. They hide in the closet like gremlins, snapping your clothes into weird shapes. Trash ‘em.
5. Free Tote Bags
I know, I know—they multiply like rabbits. Every event, every store, every fundraiser—suddenly you’re buried in tote bags you never actually use. Keep two. Donate the rest.
6. Expired Makeup
Oh, this one hurt. But let’s be real—if the mascara smells weird, it’s basically a bacteria farm.
(Also: do not keep the glitter eyeliner from your 2009 rave phase. I promise you will never need it again. I tried.)
7. Half-Burned Candles
Why did I keep fifteen jars with one centimeter of wax left? Like I was gonna scrape it out during some “candle emergency”? No. They’re gone.
8. Unused Apps
Not physical clutter, but digital clutter counts too. Delete that meditation app you downloaded in January and never opened.
9. Manuals for Appliances You Don’t Own Anymore
Somewhere in my drawer: a manual for a toaster I owned in college. WHY.
10. Pens That Don’t Work
This one is magical. Grab a piece of scrap paper, test every pen. The dead ones go in the trash. Boom—drawer space reclaimed.
11. Free Hotel Shampoo Bottles
Listen, unless you’re running a bed-and-breakfast, you don’t need seventeen tiny bottles of Herbal Essence.
12. Junk Mail Piles
You’re not going to read the “coupon booklet” from 2018. Promise.
13. The “Maybe I’ll Sell This” Pile
We all have it—that sad stack of jeans, random electronics, and workout gear you swore you’d sell on Facebook Marketplace. But let’s be real… you haven’t touched it in 2 years. Donate. Free yourself.
14. Worn-Out Dish Towels
If they have holes, bleach stains, or smell permanently funky? Bye.
15. Expired Medicine
That bottle of Advil from 2015 isn’t helping anyone. And no, your kid’s pink bubblegum antibiotic from 3 years ago is not “just in case.” Toss it (safely).
16. Coffee Mugs You Don’t Love
This one was hard for me because I’m a mug hoarder. But seriously—why did I keep the chipped “World’s Best Boss” knockoff mug? Keep the ones that make you happy in the morning. That’s it.
17. Random Cords and Chargers
Ah yes, the “cord graveyard.” Half of them don’t even match devices you own anymore. Sort them out, toss the mystery ones.
18. Shoes That Hurt Your Feet
If you can’t wear them for more than 20 minutes without pain—why are they in your closet? Life’s too short. Donate them.
19. Old Greeting Cards (Mostly)
Okay, okay—keep the meaningful ones. But do you really need the birthday card from your dentist’s office?
20. Water Bottles and Travel Cups
How many do you need? Two? Three? Not eight. Not twelve.
21. The “Someday Projects” Box
That knitting kit. The broken lamp you swore you’d fix. The adult coloring book with one page half-finished. If it’s been sitting there longer than a year, let it go.
The Weird Thing About Decluttering about Things to Declutter Today for Instant Relief
It’s not just about stuff. It’s about mental space.
Like, when I got rid of the expired spices and the dead pens, my brain felt lighter. And I didn’t expect that. I thought I’d just have a tidier kitchen drawer, but instead I felt like I could finally exhale.
It’s wild how much our environment mirrors our brain. When my space is cluttered, my thoughts are cluttered. And when I cleared out these 21 little things? I felt this weird relief I didn’t even know I needed.
You don’t need to KonMari your whole house in one weekend. Just start small. Socks. Pens. A mug. You’ll get a tiny dopamine hit every time you toss something that’s been secretly stressing you out.
And suddenly, your house—and your brain—feel a little less… noisy.
Suggested Outbound Links:
- A fun piece on travel-inspired movies to pair with these books
- A quirky personal blog about [accidentally booking the wrong flight](https://www.the Everywhereist.com/)
