I have been living in a clutter free home for years now and I enjoy the benefits of it every day. I am calmer, more productive, and simply more happy. However, what didn’t fit into this lifestyle was my cluttered phone. I am pretty good at keeping my emails and text messages to a minimum but my pictures were endless. I found that digital photos created mental and emotional clutter. Besides the pictures that I regularly took during vacations, outings and fun moments, I got into the habit of saving screenshots, videos and random pictures. As a result, I accumulated tons of photos. To be honest, the thought to declutter my pictures made me feel nervous and overwhelmed. I wondered what could I do to make this doable? During my research, I found that these simple steps were very useful. I incorporated them into my decluttering practice and can gladly report that the process wasn’t bad at all. 

If you feel overwhelmed by your digital photo album, these steps may be helpful for you:

1.     Check the status of your picture storage on your phone

With pictures, and unlike physical items, you are not able to see how many items you’ve already decluttered. This can be unmotivating and frustrating. As you keep going through the process, check your picture storage. You will see how exciting it is when the number goes down. 

2.     Delete videos

Go through your videos and look at which ones really spark joy. If they do, ask yourself if it is realistic for you to re-watch them. If the answer is no, delete them with gratitude. More often than not, we don’t even remember having the videos in the first place. Also, you could stop filming videos and enjoy the present moment instead. It makes these experiences so much more valuable. On the iPhone, you can just go into your photo albums and select the videos folder to see them all in one spot. This makes the decision process much simpler. 

3.     Delete your screenshots

It is so tempting to take screenshots of quotes, inspiring Instagram posts, etc. This was something I was totally guilty of. But let’s be real: how often do you really look at them afterwards? Do yourself a favor and just delete them all at once. Just like with the videos, the iPhone gives you the option to select the screenshots folder. If you find it too difficult to delete them all at once, go through them over time but make sure to do it quickly to make it more manageable.  

4.     Stop saving pictures automatically 

Certain apps give you the option to save pictures automatically. As much as you enjoy the pictures that were being sent by your family or friends, think about how often you go back to look at them. I used to have tons of pictures saved in my photo library because of this reason. It made such a big difference to change that setting. Now, I only save a picture if I really think I am going to look at it again or use it for a purpose. 

5.     Create a declutter “To Do” goal list to tackle your project

To make the decluttering project less overwhelming, I created a “To Do” list that worked for me. I categorized the months and years, and my goal was to work on one month at a time. Once I started, I frequently ended up working on a few month at the time so I went through the process pretty quickly. However, knowing that I only had to work on one month at the time, it gave me motivation to start in the first place and feel accomplished with my goal. Make sure to work on it daily, or at least weekly, so you get the decluttering done efficiently. 

This is my “To-Do” list from my iPhone notes:

6.     When decluttering your images, ask yourself questions to help with the process

• Does the image spark joy?

• Do I need to keep this picture in order to remember the moment?

• How does my life benefit from this picture?

If the answer is yes to any of these, keep the picture with pride and joy. If the answer is no, delete the image with gratitude. 

7.     Create a weekly or monthly routine. 

Once you have decluttered your digital photos, get into the habit of doing a weekly or monthly clean up. By the end of the week, I usually go back and do a joy check on my recent pictures. I realized that many times, the joy of a picture or screenshot is in the moment I took it. In frequently keeping my pictures organized and decluttered, I became more conscious about the photos I was taking, and whether I wanted or needed them. That’s why keeping a weekly or monthly routine is so good. It helps you stay on top of your images, be in the present moment, and fully embrace the time versus making sure you have a ton of photos.  

I am curious. How many pictures do you have on your phone right now? Have you decluttered your digital photos before? How did it go? Share in the comments. 

Social distancing has forced us, rightfully so, to stay at home. This has a big impact on our society; one that is usually non-stop and on the go. For many of us, our home is now our office, playground, restaurant, and gym. 

While an organized home is always important, I believe that, now more than ever, we need to have a surrounding that makes us happy, comfortable, and relaxed. Why not use this additional time to declutter your home and create a space that brings you joy? 

Why it is beneficial to create a joyful and peaceful home? Here are five things to think about:

1) Clear mind 

In this current time, it is a human reaction to be uneasy about the uncertainty. Our mind is running and afraid of the outcome. Physical clutter increases stress and anxiety to our mental health and distracts our brain. An organized surrounding gives us an immediate sense of calm. It helps you to think clearly and with less distractions. A lot of items that we no longer need, or don’t spark joy, can trigger anxious thoughts and discomfort.

2) Productivity

Most people are working from home during the COVID-19 crisis. It can be challenging to stay focused with our home being cluttered. Our brain tends to feel overwhelmed with the extra stimuli which has a psychological effect on our concentration. Once you have decluttered your external space, you will find that it helps you feel more focused and less stressed. This is the key to success. If your work place is organized, you can concentrate on important tasks. 

3) Financial benefits 

Businesses are closing down and work hours are being cut. Many people are losing jobs during this difficult time. Decluttering your home can have benefits to your financial situation. Items to be discarded can be sold or you could find cash or gift cards during the tidying process. Once clutter is removed, you can create an additional space in your home that may be rented out. Over the long term, you could even think about downsizing to a smaller house with less costs. 

4) Easier cleaning

If clutter is spread around our home, it can be challenging to keep the space clean. It automatically creates an obstacle in your mind that leads to procrastination. The fewer belongings we have, the easier it is to keep a home clean. The KonMari Method™ recommends to have a designated place for every item. When people don’t put things away where they belong, mess is created. 

5) Gratitude

When you have less stuff, it makes you aware of what you actually own. If these are all items that spark joy, or have an important function, you want to take care of them. When we know what we have, we value and appreciate them more. Living in this isolated time brings us a whole new awareness of appreciation and gratitude. Why not feel calm and excited about our home when we get to embrace it 24 hours a day?